SALEM - On a second try, the Oregon House approved a bill Friday to suspend portions of a voter-approved measure to toughen sentences against repeat property and drug crime offenders.

The majority House Democrats say the state can't afford Measure 57 right now and that delaying parts of it would prevent cuts to the Oregon State Police and other public safety programs.

"Phasing in Measure 57 will keep faith with the voters by keeping all aspects of our public safety system intact until Oregon digs out of this severe recession," said Rep. Chip Shields, a Portland Democrat who is a leading backer of the bill.

The bill narrowly failed to win the required two-thirds vote last week. But a compromise version was brought back up and passed by the House on Friday on a 40-19 vote and it now goes to the Senate.

Measure 57, which increases prison sentences for repeat property and drug offenders, will continue to be in effect until Feb. 15. Then most of the sentences under it would be suspended through Jan. 1, 2012.

However, the measure's stiffer penalties would remain in effect for those convicted of committing fraud against older people, delivering illegal drugs to minors, or selling significant quantities of drugs.

Sponsors said the $43 million in savings from the two-year delay and the bill's other provisions will enable lawmakers to restore money that otherwise would be cut from state prisons, Oregon State Police, Oregon Youth Authority and other public-safety agency budgets.

Among its other provisions, the bill would make about 4,500 inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes eligible for "earned time" that would reduce 30 percent, instead of 20 percent, of their sentences.

---

The measure is House Bill 3508