Division 8 Rules

OAR Chapter 259 Division 8 Rules

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (Board), adopt administrative rules that set the minimum standards for employment, training, and certification of criminal justice public safety professionals. These rules help DPPST carry out statutory requirements and act in accordance with the Agency's mission, to promote excellence in public safety.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 181A Public Safety Standards and Training

Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 259-008 Criminal Justice Employment, Training and Certification

Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 259-012 Oregon Public Safety Academy

Proposed, Temporary and Permanent Rule Changes

The following list provides the current and recent rule changes affecting criminal justice public safety professionals. For all other rule changes and instructions on how to submit comments for a proposed rule change please visit DPSST's Statutes and Rules Page.

This rule change adds an equity training category to the maintenance requirements that apply to all law enforcement officers. The definition of law enforcement officer that applies to this rule includes police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, and regulatory specialists (OAR 259-008-0005(19)). This rule change implements the police officer equity maintenance training provisions included in House Bill 2162 (2021).

Amending: OAR 259-008-0065

Effective: January 1, 2023

Rulemaking Document with Text Revisions

This rule change sets January 1, 2024, as the date for law enforcement agencies employing police officers to adopt best practice policies for interacting with persons who have experienced trauma. Through Section 2 of HB 2575, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is directed to develop best practices for law enforcement agencies when interacting with persons who have experienced trauma. Please visit the Center for Policing Excellence page on the DPSST website for the DPSST & DOJ best practices resources. https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/CPE/Pages/default.aspx

Adopting: OAR 259-008-0510

Effective: January 1, 2023

Rulemaking Document with Text Revisions

OAR 259-008-0085 maintains the minimum standards for Board-approved mandated courses. This is a technical change to identify the new Board-approved date. This rule changes the Board approval date in (1)(a) from January 27, 2022, to October 27, 2022. The new Board-approved curriculum will be used in Basic Police Academy classes that begin after the February 1, 2023 effective date of the rule.

Amending: OAR 259-008-0085

Effective: February 1, 2023

Rulemaking Document with Text Revisions

OAR 259-090-0010 is adopted to transfer the rules adopted by the Governor’s Commission on the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor (Commission). The Commission’s rules were deleted from OAR 259-008-0100 and re-adopted in OAR 259-090-0010.

Amending: OAR 259-008-0100 & Adopting 259-090-0010

Effective: March 20, 2023

Rulemaking Document with Text Revisions

These rule changes are effective July 1, 2023. OAR 259-008-0015 applies to background investigations initiated on or after July 1, 2023. OAR 259-008-0010 (11) applies to law enforcement officers and reserve officers hired on or after July 1, 2023. OAR 259-008-0011 applies to telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers hired on or after January 1, 2024. Law enforcement units and public and private safety agencies may implement these standards prior to the effective date.

Please visit the DPSST Criminal Justice Background Resources webpage for additional resources.

Background Checklist Form

Applicant Personal History Questionnaire Form

Note: The rules and the question list have been revised since the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the public comment period. Please do not use any previous copies of the proposed rule changes or the question list to update your agency policies, procedures, or forms.

Amending: OAR 259-008-0010, 259-008-0011, 259-008-0015, and 259-008-0080

Effective: July 1, 2023

Rulemaking Document with Text Revisions

Plain Text Copy of Rules Effective July 1, 2023