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Oregon Laws & Rules
 
OHLA State Statutes and Administrative Rules
Gavel of law

Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) related to procedural, administrative, licensing and regulatory compliance requirements for all OHLA-regulated professions are linked below.
 
OHLA Statutes ORS 676.600-676.625 and 676.992 (Scroll down to find the correct ORS section.)
 
OHLA Rules OAR Chapter 331, Divisions 001-030 (effective 5-15-2012)
 
The above rules link directly to the Secretary of State and may not reflect recently adopted rules.

Revised OHLA Rules Effective 5-15-2012
 
Certificate and Order for Filing:  OHLA Permanent Administrative Rules
 

Oregon Health Licensing Agency- Permanent Administrative Rules effective May 15, 2012 

 

Profession-Specific Statutes and Rules

Athletic Trainers 
 
Body Art Practitioners (body piercing, electrology, tattooing)  

Cosmetology (barbering, esthetics, hair design, nail technology)
 
Denture Technology
 
Dietitians
 
Direct Entry Midwifery
 
Environmental Health Specialists / Waste Water Specialists
 
Hearing Aids
 
Nursing Home Administrators 
 
Respiratory Therapy and Polysomnography
 
Sex Offender Therapy

 
How to Get Involved:  Get on OHLA's Contct Distribution List
Regulations are not set in stone.  That’s why we encourage the public and practitioners to get
involved in legislation and rulemaking.
 
If you would like to receive updates regarding administrative rule revisions, public meetings, legislative updates and other timely information disseminated by OHLA please complete this request form.

 
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are laws that have been enacted by a vote of the Oregon State Legislature. Statutes state the general intent of the law and who has authority to carry out that law. Any modifications made to a statute also require the approval of the Legislature.

 
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR)
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) provide a more detailed "blueprint" that clarifies and implements state law. Administrative rules spell out the specifics of the law. Rules are required to be supported by a specific statute or law.
 
Rule changes do not require legislative approval. For more information on administrative rules, go to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Oregon State Archives.

 
Significance to Public, Practitioners
Why should the public and practitioners be aware and knowledgeable of state laws and administrative rules? For the public, laws and rules apprise you of your rights as a consumer.
 
For practitioners, they provide a great "how-to" guide to help you comply with regulations, regulations created to protect the public's health and safety and to ensure the qualifications and standards of regulated professions.

 
State Laws Come First, then Rules
Capitol
In Oregon, elected state legislators create, revise or end ("sunset") state laws every two years in a Legislative Assembly.
 
When legislators meet, or "assemble," at the Oregon Capitol Building in Salem on the second Monday of every odd-numbered year, they review, discuss and vote on proposed legislation.
 
If legislation is adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, it becomes state law.
 
Once the final gavel of the Legislative Assembly sounds, new and revised laws must go through "rulemaking" to work out the details of how the law will be carried out and enforced.

 
Rulemaking: Participation Is Paramount!
Public participation in the rulemaking process is important. Your input makes a difference.
 
When new or revised administrative rules are proposed, a Notice of Rulemaking / Hearing is distributed to an "interested parties" list and posted to our Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA at least 28 days prior to the scheduled hearing.
 
Notices alert stakeholders of proposed new rules and rulemaking that amends existing rules or repeals outdated or unnecessary rules.
 
A Statement of Need and Fiscal Impact accompanies each rulemaking notice to communicate the need for the rule, the proposed action being considered, documents relied upon in determining the proposed action and the fiscal impact to individuals, small businesses or others that may result from permanent rule adoption.
 
A fiscal impact includes any fee increase or decrease, or any additional requirements that may impose a direct or indirect cost to applicants or license holders.

 
OHLA Authorized to Adopt Rules
Council meeting
OHLA is authorized to adopt administrative rules. We facilitate administrative rulemaking for all OHLA-regulated professions.
 
Each board or council appoints a Rules / Legislation Committee to advise the agency in rule development. An Advisory Rules Committee may be appointed to represent the interests of a more diverse cross section of individuals, small businesses or organizations that may be affected by the rule.
 
Proposed rules are reviewed by the agency’s legal counsel and an independent hearings officer.

 
How Administrative Rulemaking Works
More interesting information about administrative rulemaking:
  • Rulemaking committee meetings are traditionally fact-finding sessions.

  • Rulemaking provides an opportunity for members of the affected profession, as well as other members of the public, to submit written comment, and sometimes oral comment or testimony, in support or opposition of proposed rules.

  • To facilitate an open, transparent review of the proposed rule, this public input is a public record available to all and, if oral, is provided at public meetings.

  • Rules are permanently adopted only after consideration of all opinions, and only if the appropriate board or council, or OHLA for rules under its sole authority, approve the proposed rules.

 
Where to Find State Laws & Rules
Find Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules on the Oregon Health Licensing Agency’s home site on Oregon.gov at www.oregon.gov/OHLA.
 
Click on Laws & Rules on the left navigation bar, then look for central agency and profession-specific ORS and OAR.  You may also order individual sets of ORS and OAR for a fee by calling 503-378-8667 or e-mailing ohla.info@state.or.us.
 
The OHLA central agency acknowledges and thanks all rulemaking participants for their invaluable contributions to the rulemaking process. We invite all interested parties to participate in rulemaking.