BEND, Ore. — A new piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, aims to close a critical gap in Oregon’s school security systems by preventing sex offenders from gaining access to school buildings. The proposed bill, House Bill 3839, was announced on Monday and comes nearly three years after a troubling incident at a Bend middle school, where a convicted child sex offender was allowed through a secure door and into the building.
The legislation, which has garnered support from local school officials, would require the Oregon State Police to make Level 1 and Level 2 sex offender information accessible to school districts and entities that manage visitor services. Currently, Oregon’s existing sex offender screening system can only detect Level 3 offenders, approximately 5.3% of all registered sex offenders in the state, leaving nearly 95% of offenders undetected.
The issue gained national attention after the June 2022 incident at High Desert Middle School. Thomas Lee Bear, a convicted child sex offender, was allowed into the school through a secure door to use the restroom. Surveillance footage later showed Bear interacting with several people inside the building before being escorted out. While the district emphasized that Bear never had access to classrooms or hallways, the breach raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures.
Bend-La Pine School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Cook, who worked closely with Levy on the proposed legislation, explained during a public hearing that despite the district’s significant investment in sophisticated visitor management systems, such as the Raptor system, the security protocols were not as comprehensive as originally thought. “Our current system in Oregon, which we believed was comprehensive, can only identify Level 3 sex offenders, leaving almost 95% of Oregon’s registered sex offenders undetected,” Cook said.
Following the 2022 incident, the district launched an internal investigation, which revealed that Bear’s unauthorized access was not an isolated event. Additional instances were uncovered where individuals had entered schools without going through the proper check-in procedures, particularly to use restrooms.
The proposed bill aims to prevent such lapses by ensuring that a broader range of registered sex offenders are flagged before they can enter school buildings. Under House Bill 3839, school districts would receive information about Level 1 and Level 2 offenders, who are typically considered at lower risk but are still potentially dangerous.
The legislation is a response to mounting concerns about school safety and the vulnerability of children to individuals who may slip through the cracks in current security systems. Rep. Levy emphasized that while schools have made significant strides in securing campuses, the recent incident highlighted a critical flaw that needed urgent attention.
“This bill is a step toward ensuring that our schools are safe from individuals who may pose a threat to our children,” Levy said. “By providing school districts with more comprehensive information on sex offenders, we can prevent situations like what occurred at High Desert Middle School from happening again.”
If passed, House Bill 3839 would mark a significant change in how Oregon’s schools handle security screenings and could set a new standard for other states looking to enhance their own systems.
The bill’s introduction is a reminder that, despite advances in school safety technology, there are still vulnerabilities that need to be addressed to ensure the protection of students. With the support of local school officials and law enforcement, Levy hopes to close the gap and strengthen school security across Oregon.
