192.311 Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478. As used in ORS 192.311 to 192.478:
(1) “Business day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday and on which at least one paid employee of the public body that received the public records request is scheduled to and does report to work. In the case of a community college district, community college service district, public university, school district or education service district, “business day” does not include any day on which the central administration offices of the district or university are closed.
(2) “Custodian” means:
(a) The person described in ORS 7.110 for purposes of court records; or
(b) A public body mandated, directly or indirectly, to create, maintain, care for or control a public record. “Custodian” does not include a public body that has custody of a public record as an agent of another public body that is the custodian unless the public record is not otherwise available.
(3) “Person” includes any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm, association or member or committee of the Legislative Assembly.
(4) “Public body” includes every state officer, agency, department, division, bureau, board and commission; every county and city governing body, school district, special district, municipal corporation, and any board, department, commission, council, or agency thereof; and any other public agency of this state.
(5)(a) “Public record” includes any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public’s business, including but not limited to court records, mortgages, and deed records, prepared, owned, used or retained by a public body regardless of physical form or characteristics.
(b) “Public record” does not include any writing that does not relate to the conduct of the public’s business and that is contained on a privately-owned computer.
(6) “State agency” means any state officer, department, board, commission or court created by the Constitution or statutes of this state but does not include the Legislative Assembly or its members, committees, officers or employees insofar as they are exempt under section 9, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution.
(7) “Writing” means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photographing and every means of recording, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, files, facsimiles or electronic recordings. [Formerly 192.410]
(Public Records Request Processing)
192.314 Right to inspect public records; notice to public body attorney. (1) Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by ORS 192.338, 192.345 and 192.355.
(2)(a) If a person who is a party to a civil judicial proceeding to which a public body is a party, or who has filed a notice under ORS 30.275 (5)(a), asks to inspect or to receive a copy of a public record that the person knows relates to the proceeding or notice, the person must submit the request in writing to the custodian and, at the same time, to the attorney for the public body.
(b) For purposes of this subsection:
(A) The attorney for a state agency is the Attorney General in Salem.
(B) “Person” includes a representative or agent of the person. [Formerly 192.420]
192.318 Functions of custodian of public records; rules. (1) The custodian of any public records, including public records maintained in machine readable or electronic form, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute, shall furnish proper and reasonable opportunities for inspection and examination of the records in the office of the custodian and reasonable facilities for making memoranda or abstracts therefrom, during the usual business hours, to all persons having occasion to make examination of them. If the public record is maintained in machine readable or electronic form, the custodian shall furnish proper and reasonable opportunity to assure access.
(2) The custodian of the records may adopt reasonable rules necessary for the protection of the records and to prevent interference with the regular discharge of duties of the custodian. [Formerly 192.430]
192.324 Copies or inspection of public records; public body response; fees; procedure for records requests. (1) A public body that is the custodian of any public record that a person has a right to inspect shall give the person, upon receipt of a written request:
(a) A copy of the public record if the public record is of a nature permitting copying; or
(b) A reasonable opportunity to inspect or copy the public record.
(2) If an individual who is identified in a public body’s procedure described in subsection (7)(a) of this section receives a written request to inspect or receive a copy of a public record, the public body shall within five business days after receiving the request acknowledge receipt of the request or complete the public body’s response to the request. An acknowledgment under this subsection must:
(a) Confirm that the public body is the custodian of the requested record;
(b) Inform the requester that the public body is not the custodian of the requested record; or
(c) Notify the requester that the public body is uncertain whether the public body is the custodian of the requested record.
(3) If the public record is maintained in a machine readable or electronic form, the public body shall provide a copy of the public record in the form requested, if available. If the public record is not available in the form requested, the public body shall make the public record available in the form in which the public body maintains the public record.
(4)(a) The public body may establish fees reasonably calculated to reimburse the public body for the public body’s actual cost of making public records available, including costs for summarizing, compiling or tailoring the public records, either in organization or media, to meet the request.
(b) The public body may include in a fee established under paragraph (a) of this subsection the cost of time spent by an attorney for the public body in reviewing the public records, redacting material from the public records or segregating the public records into exempt and nonexempt records. The public body may not include in a fee established under paragraph (a) of this subsection the cost of time spent by an attorney for the public body in determining the application of the provisions of ORS 192.311 to 192.478.
(c) The public body may not establish a fee greater than $25 under this section unless the public body first provides the requester with a written notification of the estimated amount of the fee and the requester confirms that the requester wants the public body to proceed with making the public record available.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection, when the public records are those filed with the Secretary of State under ORS chapter 79 or ORS 80.100 to 80.130, the fees for furnishing copies, summaries or compilations of the public records are the fees established by the Secretary of State by rule under ORS chapter 79 or ORS 80.100 to 80.130.
(5) The custodian of a public record may furnish copies without charge or at a substantially reduced fee if the custodian determines that the waiver or reduction of fees is in the public interest because making the record available primarily benefits the general public.
(6) A requester who believes that there has been an unreasonable denial of a fee waiver or fee reduction may petition the Attorney General or the district attorney in the same manner as a requester who petitions when inspection of a public record is denied under ORS 192.311 to 192.478. The Attorney General, the district attorney and the court have the same authority in instances when a fee waiver or reduction is denied as when inspection of a public record is denied.
(7) A public body shall make available to the public a written procedure for making public records requests that includes:
(a) The name of one or more individuals within the public body to whom public records requests may be sent, with addresses; and
(b) The amounts of and the manner of calculating fees that the public body charges for responding to requests for public records.
(8) This section does not apply to signatures of individuals submitted under ORS chapter 247 for purposes of registering to vote as provided in ORS 247.973. [Formerly 192.440]
192.345 Public records conditionally exempt from disclosure. The following public records are exempt from disclosure under ORS 192.311 to 192.478 unless the public interest requires disclosure in the particular instance:
(1) Records of a public body pertaining to litigation to which the public body is a party if the complaint has been filed, or if the complaint has not been filed, if the public body shows that such litigation is reasonably likely to occur. This exemption does not apply to litigation which has been concluded, and nothing in this subsection shall limit any right or opportunity granted by discovery or deposition statutes to a party to litigation or potential litigation.
(2) Trade secrets. “Trade secrets,” as used in this section, may include, but are not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information which is not patented, which is known only to certain individuals within an organization and which is used in a business it conducts, having actual or potential commercial value, and which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.
(3) Investigatory information compiled for criminal law purposes. The record of an arrest or the report of a crime shall be disclosed unless and only for so long as there is a clear need to delay disclosure in the course of a specific investigation, including the need to protect the complaining party or the victim. Nothing in this subsection shall limit any right constitutionally guaranteed, or granted by statute, to disclosure or discovery in criminal cases. For purposes of this subsection, the record of an arrest or the report of a crime includes, but is not limited to:
(a) The arrested person’s name, age, residence, employment, marital status and similar biographical information;
(b) The offense with which the arrested person is charged;
(c) The conditions of release pursuant to ORS 135.230 to 135.290;
(d) The identity of and biographical information concerning both complaining party and victim;
(e) The identity of the investigating and arresting agency and the length of the investigation;
(f) The circumstances of arrest, including time, place, resistance, pursuit and weapons used; and
(g) Such information as may be necessary to enlist public assistance in apprehending fugitives from justice.
(4) Test questions, scoring keys, and other data used to administer a licensing examination, employment, academic or other examination or testing procedure before the examination is given and if the examination is to be used again. Records establishing procedures for and instructing persons administering, grading or evaluating an examination or testing procedure are included in this exemption, to the extent that disclosure would create a risk that the result might be affected.
(5) Information consisting of production records, sale or purchase records or catch records, or similar business records of a private concern or enterprise, required by law to be submitted to or inspected by a governmental body to allow it to determine fees or assessments payable or to establish production quotas, and the amounts of such fees or assessments payable or paid, to the extent that such information is in a form that would permit identification of the individual concern or enterprise. This exemption does not include records submitted by long term care facilities as defined in ORS 442.015 to the state for purposes of reimbursement of expenses or determining fees for patient care. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the use that can be made of such information for regulatory purposes or its admissibility in any enforcement proceeding.
(6) Information relating to the appraisal of real estate prior to its acquisition.
(7) The names and signatures of employees who sign authorization cards or petitions for the purpose of requesting representation or decertification elections.
(8) Investigatory information relating to any complaint filed under ORS 659A.820 or 659A.825, until such time as the complaint is resolved under ORS 659A.835, or a final order is issued under ORS 659A.850.
(9) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or charge filed under ORS 243.676 and 663.180.
(10) Records, reports and other information received or compiled by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services under ORS 697.732.
(11) Information concerning the location of archaeological sites or objects as those terms are defined in ORS 358.905, except if the governing body of an Indian tribe requests the information and the need for the information is related to that Indian tribe’s cultural or religious activities. This exemption does not include information relating to a site that is all or part of an existing, commonly known and publicized tourist facility or attraction.
(12) A personnel discipline action, or materials or documents supporting that action.
(13) Information developed pursuant to ORS 496.004, 496.172 and 498.026 or ORS 496.192 and 564.100, regarding the habitat, location or population of any threatened species or endangered species.
(14) Writings prepared by or under the direction of faculty of public educational institutions, in connection with research, until publicly released, copyrighted or patented.
(15) Computer programs developed or purchased by or for any public body for its own use. As used in this subsection, “computer program” means a series of instructions or statements which permit the functioning of a computer system in a manner designed to provide storage, retrieval and manipulation of data from such computer system, and any associated documentation and source material that explain how to operate the computer program. “Computer program” does not include:
(a) The original data, including but not limited to numbers, text, voice, graphics and images;
(b) Analyses, compilations and other manipulated forms of the original data produced by use of the program; or
(c) The mathematical and statistical formulas which would be used if the manipulated forms of the original data were to be produced manually.
(16) Data and information provided by participants to mediation under ORS 36.256.
(17) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or charge filed under ORS chapter 654, until a final administrative determination is made or, if a citation is issued, until an employer receives notice of any citation.
(18) Specific operational plans in connection with an anticipated threat to individual or public safety for deployment and use of personnel and equipment, prepared or used by a public body, if public disclosure of the plans would endanger an individual’s life or physical safety or jeopardize a law enforcement activity.
(19)(a) Audits or audit reports required of a telecommunications carrier. As used in this paragraph, “audit or audit report” means any external or internal audit or audit report pertaining to a telecommunications carrier, as defined in ORS 133.721, or pertaining to a corporation having an affiliated interest, as defined in ORS 759.390, with a telecommunications carrier that is intended to make the operations of the entity more efficient, accurate or compliant with applicable rules, procedures or standards, that may include self-criticism and that has been filed by the telecommunications carrier or affiliate under compulsion of state law. “Audit or audit report” does not mean an audit of a cost study that would be discoverable in a contested case proceeding and that is not subject to a protective order; and
(b) Financial statements. As used in this paragraph, “financial statement” means a financial statement of a nonregulated corporation having an affiliated interest, as defined in ORS 759.390, with a telecommunications carrier, as defined in ORS 133.721.
(20) The residence address of an elector if authorized under ORS 247.965 and subject to ORS 247.967.
(21) The following records, communications and information submitted to a housing authority as defined in ORS 456.005, or to an urban renewal agency as defined in ORS 457.010, by applicants for and recipients of loans, grants and tax credits:
(a) Personal and corporate financial statements and information, including tax returns;
(b) Credit reports;
(c) Project appraisals, excluding appraisals obtained in the course of transactions involving an interest in real estate that is acquired, leased, rented, exchanged, transferred or otherwise disposed of as part of the project, but only after the transactions have closed and are concluded;
(d) Market studies and analyses;
(e) Articles of incorporation, partnership agreements and operating agreements;
(f) Commitment letters;
(g) Project pro forma statements;
(h) Project cost certifications and cost data;
(i) Audits;
(j) Project tenant correspondence requested to be confidential;
(k) Tenant files relating to certification; and
(L) Housing assistance payment requests.
(22) Records or information that, if disclosed, would allow a person to:
(a) Gain unauthorized access to buildings or other property;
(b) Identify those areas of structural or operational vulnerability that would permit unlawful disruption to, or interference with, services; or
(c) Disrupt, interfere with or gain unauthorized access to public funds or to information processing, communication or telecommunication systems, including the information contained in the systems, that are used or operated by a public body.
(23) Records or information that would reveal or otherwise identify security measures, or weaknesses or potential weaknesses in security measures, taken or recommended to be taken to protect:
(a) An individual;
(b) Buildings or other property;
(c) Information processing, communication or telecommunication systems, including the information contained in the systems; or
(d) Those operations of the Oregon State Lottery the security of which are subject to study and evaluation under ORS 461.180 (6).
(24) Personal information held by or under the direction of officials of the Oregon Health and Science University or a public university listed in ORS 352.002 about a person who has or who is interested in donating money or property to the Oregon Health and Science University or a public university, if the information is related to the family of the person, personal assets of the person or is incidental information not related to the donation.
(25) The home address, professional address and telephone number of a person who has or who is interested in donating money or property to a public university listed in ORS 352.002.
(26) Records of the name and address of a person who files a report with or pays an assessment to a commodity commission established under ORS 576.051 to 576.455, the Oregon Beef Council created under ORS 577.210 or the Oregon Wheat Commission created under ORS 578.030.
(27) Information provided to, obtained by or used by a public body to authorize, originate, receive or authenticate a transfer of funds, including but not limited to a credit card number, payment card expiration date, password, financial institution account number and financial institution routing number.
(28) Social Security numbers as provided in ORS 107.840.
(29) The electronic mail address of a student who attends a public university listed in ORS 352.002 or Oregon Health and Science University.
(30) The name, home address, professional address or location of a person that is engaged in, or that provides goods or services for, medical research at Oregon Health and Science University that is conducted using animals other than rodents. This subsection does not apply to Oregon Health and Science University press releases, websites or other publications circulated to the general public.
(31) If requested by a public safety officer, as defined in ORS 181A.355:
(a) The home address and home telephone number of the public safety officer contained in the voter registration records for the officer.
(b) The home address and home telephone number of the public safety officer contained in records of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
(c) The name of the public safety officer contained in county real property assessment or taxation records. This exemption:
(A) Applies only to the name of the public safety officer and any other owner of the property in connection with a specific property identified by the officer in a request for exemption from disclosure;
(B) Applies only to records that may be made immediately available to the public upon request in person, by telephone or using the Internet;
(C) Applies until the public safety officer requests termination of the exemption;
(D) Does not apply to disclosure of records among public bodies as defined in ORS 174.109 for governmental purposes; and
(E) May not result in liability for the county if the name of the public safety officer is disclosed after a request for exemption from disclosure is made under this subsection.
(32) Unless the public records request is made by a financial institution, as defined in ORS 706.008, consumer finance company licensed under ORS chapter 725, mortgage banker or mortgage broker licensed under ORS 86A.095 to 86A.198, or title company for business purposes, records described in paragraph (a) of this subsection, if the exemption from disclosure of the records is sought by an individual described in paragraph (b) of this subsection using the procedure described in paragraph (c) of this subsection:
(a) The home address, home or cellular telephone number or personal electronic mail address contained in the records of any public body that has received the request that is set forth in:
(A) A warranty deed, deed of trust, mortgage, lien, deed of reconveyance, release, satisfaction, substitution of trustee, easement, dog license, marriage license or military discharge record that is in the possession of the county clerk; or
(B) Any public record of a public body other than the county clerk.
(b) The individual claiming the exemption from disclosure must be a district attorney, a deputy district attorney, the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general, the United States Attorney for the District of Oregon or an assistant United States attorney for the District of Oregon, a city attorney who engages in the prosecution of criminal matters or a deputy city attorney who engages in the prosecution of criminal matters.
(c) The individual claiming the exemption from disclosure must do so by filing the claim in writing with the public body for which the exemption from disclosure is being claimed on a form prescribed by the public body. Unless the claim is filed with the county clerk, the claim form shall list the public records in the possession of the public body to which the exemption applies. The exemption applies until the individual claiming the exemption requests termination of the exemption or ceases to qualify for the exemption.
(33) The following voluntary conservation agreements and reports:
(a) Land management plans required for voluntary stewardship agreements entered into under ORS 541.973; and
(b) Written agreements relating to the conservation of greater sage grouse entered into voluntarily by owners or occupiers of land with a soil and water conservation district under ORS 568.550.
(34) Sensitive business records or financial or commercial information of the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation that is not customarily provided to business competitors. This exemption does not:
(a) Apply to the formulas for determining dividends to be paid to employers insured by the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation;
(b) Apply to contracts for advertising, public relations or lobbying services or to documents related to the formation of such contracts;
(c) Apply to group insurance contracts or to documents relating to the formation of such contracts, except that employer account records shall remain exempt from disclosure as provided in ORS 192.355 (35); or
(d) Provide the basis for opposing the discovery of documents in litigation pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure.
(35) Records of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training relating to investigations conducted under ORS 181A.640 or 181A.870 (6), until the department issues the report described in ORS 181A.640 or 181A.870.
(36) A medical examiner’s report, autopsy report or laboratory test report ordered by a medical examiner under ORS 146.117.
(37) Any document or other information related to an audit of a public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, that is in the custody of an auditor or audit organization operating under nationally recognized government auditing standards, until the auditor or audit organization issues a final audit report in accordance with those standards or the audit is abandoned. This exemption does not prohibit disclosure of a draft audit report that is provided to the audited entity for the entity’s response to the audit findings.
(38)(a) Personally identifiable information collected as part of an electronic fare collection system of a mass transit system.
(b) The exemption from disclosure in paragraph (a) of this subsection does not apply to public records that have attributes of anonymity that are sufficient, or that are aggregated into groupings that are broad enough, to ensure that persons cannot be identified by disclosure of the public records.
(c) As used in this subsection:
(A) “Electronic fare collection system” means the software and hardware used for, associated with or relating to the collection of transit fares for a mass transit system, including but not limited to computers, radio communication systems, personal mobile devices, wearable technology, fare instruments, information technology, data storage or collection equipment, or other equipment or improvements.
(B) “Mass transit system” has the meaning given that term in ORS 267.010.
(C) “Personally identifiable information” means all information relating to a person that acquires or uses a transit pass or other fare payment medium in connection with an electronic fare collection system, including but not limited to:
(i) Customer account information, date of birth, telephone number, physical address, electronic mail address, credit or debit card information, bank account information, Social Security or taxpayer identification number or other identification number, transit pass or fare payment medium balances or history, or similar personal information; or
(ii) Travel dates, travel times, frequency of use, travel locations, service types or vehicle use, or similar travel information.
(39)(a) If requested by a civil code enforcement officer:
(A) The home address and home telephone number of the civil code enforcement officer contained in the voter registration records for the officer.
(B) The name of the civil code enforcement officer contained in county real property assessment or taxation records. This exemption:
(i) Applies only to the name of the civil code enforcement officer and any other owner of the property in connection with a specific property identified by the officer in a request for exemption from disclosure;
(ii) Applies only to records that may be made immediately available to the public upon request in person, by telephone or using the Internet;
(iii) Applies until the civil code enforcement officer requests termination of the exemption;
(iv) Does not apply to disclosure of records among public bodies as defined in ORS 174.109 for governmental purposes; and
(v) May not result in liability for the county if the name of the civil code enforcement officer is disclosed after a request for exemption from disclosure is made under this subsection.
(b) As used in this subsection, “civil code enforcement officer” means an employee of a public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, who is charged with enforcing laws or ordinances relating to land use, zoning, use of rights-of-way, solid waste, hazardous waste, sewage treatment and disposal or the state building code.
(40) Audio or video recordings, whether digital or analog, resulting from a law enforcement officer’s operation of a video camera worn upon the officer’s person that records the officer’s interactions with members of the public while the officer is on duty. When a recording described in this subsection is subject to disclosure, the following apply:
(a) Recordings that have been sealed in a court’s record of a court proceeding or otherwise ordered by a court not to be disclosed may not be disclosed.
(b) A request for disclosure under this subsection must identify the approximate date and time of an incident for which the recordings are requested and be reasonably tailored to include only that material for which a public interest requires disclosure.
(c) A video recording disclosed under this subsection must, prior to disclosure, be edited in a manner as to render the faces of all persons within the recording unidentifiable. [Formerly 192.501]
Note: See note under 192.338.
192.360 Condensation of public record subject to disclosure; petition to review denial of right to inspect public record; adequacy of condensation. (1) When a public record is subject to disclosure under ORS 192.355 (9)(b), in lieu of making the public record available for inspection by providing a copy of the record, the public body may prepare and release a condensation from the record of the significant facts that are not otherwise exempt from disclosure under ORS 192.311 to 192.478. The release of the condensation does not waive any privilege under ORS 40.225 to 40.295.
(2) The person seeking to inspect or receive a copy of any public record for which a condensation of facts has been provided under this section may petition for review of the denial to inspect or receive a copy of the records under ORS 192.311 to 192.478. In such a review, the Attorney General, district attorney or court shall, in addition to reviewing the records to which access was denied, compare those records to the condensation to determine whether the condensation adequately describes the significant facts contained in the records. [Formerly 192.423]
Note: 192.360 was added to and made a part of 192.311 to 192.478 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
(Records Containing Personal Information)
192.363 Contents of certain requests for disclosure. (1) A request for the disclosure of records described in ORS 192.355 (3) or 192.365 must include the following information:
(a) The names of the individuals for whom personal information is sought;
(b) A statement describing the personal information being sought; and
(c) A statement that satisfies subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The party seeking disclosure shall show by clear and convincing evidence that the public interest requires disclosure in a particular instance.
(3) Upon receiving a request described in subsection (1) of this section, a public body shall forward a copy of the request and any materials submitted with the request to the individuals whose personal information is being sought or to any representatives of each class of persons whose personal information is the subject of the request.
(4) For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, the public body has sole discretion to determine the classes of persons whose personal information is the subject of the request and to identify the representatives for each class.
(5) The public body may not disclose information pursuant to the request for at least seven days after forwarding copies of the request under subsection (3) of this section.
(6) The public body shall consider all information submitted under this section and shall disclose requested information only if the public body determines that the party seeking disclosure has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the public interest requires disclosure in a particular instance. [Formerly 192.437]
Note: 192.363 was added to and made a part of 192.311 to 192.478 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
192.365 Disclosure of information pertaining to home care worker, operator of child care facility, exempt child care provider or operator of adult foster home. (1) Upon compliance with ORS 192.363, a public body that is the custodian of or is otherwise in possession of the following information pertaining to a home care worker as defined in ORS 410.600, an operator of a child care facility as defined in ORS 329A.250, an exempt family child care provider as defined in ORS 329A.430 or an operator of an adult foster home as defined in ORS 443.705 shall disclose that information in response to a request to inspect public records under ORS 192.311 to 192.478:
(a) Residential address and telephone numbers;
(b) Personal electronic mail addresses and personal cellular telephone numbers;
(c) Social Security numbers and employer-issued identification card numbers; and
(d) Emergency contact information.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the Judicial Department or the Department of Transportation or to any records in the custody of the Judicial Department or the Department of Transportation. [Formerly 192.435]
Note: 192.365 was added to and made a part of 192.311 to 192.478 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
192.398 Medical records; sealed records; records of individual in custody or under supervision; student records. The following public records are exempt from disclosure:
(1) Records less than 75 years old which contain information about the physical or mental health or psychiatric care or treatment of a living individual, if the public disclosure thereof would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy. The party seeking disclosure shall have the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that the public interest requires disclosure in the particular instance and that public disclosure would not constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy.
(2) Records less than 75 years old which were sealed in compliance with statute or by court order. Such records may be disclosed upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as otherwise provided by law.
(3) Records of a person who is or has been in the custody or under the lawful supervision of a state agency, a court or a unit of local government, are exempt from disclosure for a period of 25 years after termination of such custody or supervision to the extent that disclosure thereof would interfere with the rehabilitation of the person if the public interest in confidentiality clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Nothing in this subsection, however, shall be construed as prohibiting disclosure of the fact that a person is in custody.
(4) Student records required by state or federal law to be exempt from disclosure. [Formerly 192.496]
Note: 192.398 was added to and made a part of 192.311 to 192.478 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
192.411 Petition to review denial of right to inspect state public record; appeal from decision of Attorney General denying inspection. (1) Subject to ORS 192.401 (1) and 192.427, any person denied the right to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record of a state agency may petition the Attorney General to review the public record to determine if it may be withheld from public inspection. Except as provided in ORS 192.401 (2), the burden is on the agency to sustain its action. Except as provided in ORS 192.401 (2), the Attorney General shall issue an order denying or granting the petition or denying it in part and granting it in part, within seven days from the day the Attorney General receives the petition.
(2) If the Attorney General grants the petition and orders the state agency to disclose the public record, or if the Attorney General grants the petition in part and orders the state agency to disclose a portion of the public record, the state agency shall comply with the order in full within seven days after issuance of the order, unless within the seven-day period it issues a notice of its intention to institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in the Circuit Court for Marion County or, as provided in ORS 192.401 (3), in the circuit court of the county where the public record is held. Copies of the notice shall be sent to the Attorney General and by certified mail to the petitioner at the address shown on the petition. The state agency shall institute the proceedings within seven days after it issues its notice of intention to do so. If the Attorney General denies the petition in whole or in part, or if the state agency continues to withhold the public record or a part of it notwithstanding an order to disclose by the Attorney General, the person seeking disclosure may institute such proceedings.
(3) The Attorney General shall serve as counsel for the state agency in a suit filed under subsection (2) of this section if the suit arises out of a determination by the Attorney General that the public record should not be disclosed, or that a part of the public record should not be disclosed if the state agency has fully complied with the order of the Attorney General requiring disclosure of another part or parts of the public record, and in no other case. In any case in which the Attorney General is prohibited from serving as counsel for the state agency, the agency may retain special counsel. [Formerly subsections (1) to (3) of 192.450]
192.415 Procedure to review denial of right to inspect other public records; effect of disclosure. (1) ORS 192.401 and 192.411 apply to the case of a person denied the right to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record of a public body other than a state agency, except that:
(a) The district attorney of the county in which the public body is located, or if it is located in more than one county the district attorney of the county in which the administrative offices of the public body are located, shall carry out the functions of the Attorney General;
(b) Any suit filed must be filed in the circuit court for the county described in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and
(c) The district attorney may not serve as counsel for the public body, in the cases permitted under ORS 192.411 (3), unless the district attorney ordinarily serves as counsel for the public body.
(2) Disclosure of a record to the district attorney in compliance with subsection (1) of this section does not waive any privilege or claim of privilege regarding the record or its contents.
(3) Disclosure of a record or part of a record as ordered by the district attorney is a compelled disclosure for purposes of ORS 40.285. [Formerly 192.460]
192.418 Effect of failure of Attorney General, district attorney or elected official to take timely action on inspection petition. (1) The failure of the Attorney General or district attorney to issue an order under ORS 192.401, 192.411 or 192.415 denying, granting, or denying in part and granting in part a petition to require disclosure within seven days from the day of receipt of the petition shall be treated as an order denying the petition for the purpose of determining whether a person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief under ORS 192.401, 192.411 or 192.415.
(2) The failure of an elected official to deny, grant, or deny in part and grant in part a request to inspect or receive a copy of a public record within seven days from the day of receipt of the request shall be treated as a denial of the request for the purpose of determining whether a person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief under ORS 192.401, 192.411 or 192.415. [Formerly 192.465]
192.420 [1973 c.794 §3; 1999 c.574 §1; 2003 c.403 §1; renumbered 192.314 in 2017]
192.422 Petition form; procedure when petition received. (1) A petition to the Attorney General or district attorney requesting the Attorney General or district attorney to order a public record to be made available for inspection or to be produced shall be in substantially the following form, or in a form containing the same information:
______________________________________________________________________________
______
(Date)
I (we), ____________(name(s)), the undersigned, request the Attorney General (or District Attorney of ______ County) to order ______ (name of governmental body) and its employees to (make available for inspection) (produce a copy or copies of) the following records:
1.____________________
(Name or description of record)
2.____________________
(Name or description of record)
I (we) asked to inspect and/or copy these records on ______ (date) at ______ (address). The request was denied by the following person(s):
1.____________________
(Name of public officer or employee;
title or position, if known)
2.____________________
(Name of public officer or employee;
title or position, if known)
______________________
(Signature(s))
______________________________________________________________________________
This form should be delivered or mailed to the Attorney General’s office in Salem, or the district attorney’s office in the county courthouse.
(2) Promptly upon receipt of such a petition, the Attorney General or district attorney shall notify the public body involved. The public body shall thereupon transmit the public record disclosure of which is sought, or a copy, to the Attorney General, together with a statement of its reasons for believing that the public record should not be disclosed. In an appropriate case, with the consent of the Attorney General, the public body may instead disclose the nature or substance of the public record to the Attorney General. [Formerly 192.470]
192.423 [2007 c.513 §2; renumbered 192.360 in 2017]
192.427 Procedure to review denial by elected official of right to inspect public records. In any case in which a person is denied the right to inspect or to receive a copy of a public record in the custody of an elected official, or in the custody of any other person but as to which an elected official claims the right to withhold disclosure, no petition to require disclosure may be filed with the Attorney General or district attorney, or if a petition is filed it shall not be considered by the Attorney General or district attorney after a claim of right to withhold disclosure by an elected official. In such case a person denied the right to inspect or to receive a copy of a public record may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in the appropriate circuit court, as specified in ORS 192.401, 192.411 or 192.415, and the Attorney General or district attorney may upon request serve or decline to serve, in the discretion of the Attorney General or district attorney, as counsel in such suit for an elected official for which the Attorney General or district attorney ordinarily serves as counsel. Nothing in this section shall preclude an elected official from requesting advice from the Attorney General or a district attorney as to whether a public record should be disclosed. [Formerly 192.480]
192.430 [1973 c.794 §4; 1989 c.546 §1; renumbered 192.318 in 2017]
192.431 Court authority in reviewing action denying right to inspect public records; docketing; costs and attorney fees. (1) In any suit filed under ORS 192.401, 192.411, 192.415, 192.422 or 192.427, the court has jurisdiction to enjoin the public body from withholding records and to order the production of any records improperly withheld from the person seeking disclosure. The court shall determine the matter de novo and the burden is on the public body to sustain its action. The court, on its own motion, may view the documents in controversy in camera before reaching a decision. Any noncompliance with the order of the court may be punished as contempt of court.
(2) Except as to causes the court considers of greater importance, proceedings arising under ORS 192.401, 192.411, 192.415, 192.422 or 192.427 take precedence on the docket over all other causes and shall be assigned for hearing and trial at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.
(3) If a person seeking the right to inspect or to receive a copy of a public record prevails in the suit, the person shall be awarded costs and disbursements and reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal. If the person prevails in part, the court may in its discretion award the person costs and disbursements and reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal, or an appropriate portion thereof. If the state agency failed to comply with the Attorney General’s order in full and did not issue a notice of intention to institute proceedings pursuant to ORS 192.411 (2) within seven days after issuance of the order, or did not institute the proceedings within seven days after issuance of the notice, the petitioner shall be awarded costs of suit at the trial level and reasonable attorney fees regardless of which party instituted the suit and regardless of which party prevailed therein. [Formerly 192.490]
442.420 Application for financial assistance; financial analysis and investigation authority; rules. (1) The Oregon Health Authority may apply for, receive and accept grants, gifts, payments and other funds and advances, appropriations, properties and services from the United States, the State of Oregon or any governmental body, agency or agencies or from any other public or private corporation or person, and enter into agreements with respect thereto, including the undertaking of studies, plans, demonstrations or projects.
(2) The authority shall conduct or cause to have conducted such analyses and studies relating to costs of health care facilities as considered desirable, including but not limited to methods of reducing such costs, utilization review of services of health care facilities, peer review, quality control, financial status of any facility subject to ORS 442.400 to 442.463 and sources of public and private financing of financial requirements of such facilities.
(3) The authority may also:
(a) Hold public hearings, conduct investigations and require the filing of information relating to any matter affecting the costs of and charges for services in all health care facilities;
(b) Subpoena witnesses, papers, records and documents the authority considers material or relevant in connection with functions of the authority subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 183;
(c) Exercise, subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by ORS 442.400 to 442.463, all other powers which are reasonably necessary or essential to carry out the express objectives and purposes of ORS 442.400 to 442.463; and
(d) Adopt rules in accordance with ORS chapter 183 for carrying out the functions of the authority. [Formerly 441.435; 1981 c.693 §17; 1983 c.482 §15; 1985 c.747 §39; 1995 c.727 §26; 1997 c.683 §22; 1999 c.581 §4; 2015 c.318 §31]