House Bill 2215, which would establish the "Oregon Right to Rest Act," allowing people experiencing homelessness to camp in public parks, is unlikely to become a state law.

That's because bills that don't receive a public hearing by Friday are officially dead, and the House Judiciary Committee, where the bill is now, has its final meeting of the week today. They are not scheduled to hear HB 2215.

The bill would allow "persons experiencing homelessness" to use public spaces "without being subject to harassment, citation or arrest by law enforcement officers, public or private security personnel or employees of local governments."

It would also protect the privacy and belongings of homeless people, even if those belongings are located on public property.

According to a report from KOIN, some Portlanders are worried about this aspect of the bill because it could make it difficult to remove tents and other items from public property.

According to language in the bill, however, the goal isn't to necessarily have homeless people in every park. Instead the idea is to re-focus efforts from making sleeping a criminal act for people without a home to solving the root problems of homelessness.

"Why do we have to fight to sleep when it's a human right?" homeless advocate Ibrahim Mubarak asked KOIN.

The stated goal of the law is to "decriminalize rest," which, according to the bill, "allows local governments to redirect resources from local law enforcement activities to activities that address the root causes of homelessness and poverty."

Unless a hearing is scheduled by the end of business on Friday, the bill is dead.

Betsy Hammond and Gordon Friedman contributed to this report.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker