Chapter 366 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

SB 13

Relating to seismic event preparation; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) Each state or local agency shall drill agency employees working in office buildings on emergency procedures so that the employees may respond to an earthquake emergency without confusion or panic. The agencies shall conduct the drills in accordance with Office of Emergency Management rules. The drills must include familiarization with routes and methods of exiting the building and methods of “duck, cover and hold” during an earthquake. An agency shall conduct the drills annually. The Office of Emergency Management may, by rule or on application, grant exemptions from the drill requirement for good cause.

(2) As used in this section, “state or local agency” means a state or local office, department, division, bureau, board or commission that is assigned, renting, leasing, owning or controlling office space for carrying out its duties. “State or local agency” includes the Legislative Assembly when in regular session.

SECTION 2. A person employing 250 or more full-time employees within this state shall drill employees working in office buildings on emergency procedures so that the employees may respond to an earthquake emergency without confusion or panic. The person shall conduct the drills in accordance with Office of Emergency Management rules. The drills must include familiarization with routes and methods of exiting the building and methods of “duck, cover and hold” during an earthquake. The employer shall conduct the drills annually during the month of April. The Office of Emergency Management may, by rule or on application, grant exemptions from the drill requirement for good cause.

SECTION 3. The Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, shall adopt rules governing the conduct of earthquake emergency drills required by sections 1 and 2 of this 2001 Act. In addition to the office submitting the rules for publication pursuant to ORS 183.360, the office and the department shall each post the rules on an electronic bulletin board, home page or similar site.

SECTION 4. This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor June 14, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 15, 2001

Effective date June 14, 2001

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