71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2435
 
                         House Bill 2774
 
Sponsored by Representatives SHETTERLY, BOWMAN, Senator COURTNEY
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Provides that Hearing Officer Panel be independent of
supervision or control by Employment Department. Provides that
chief hearing officer of panel may be removed from office only
for good cause.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Hearing Officer Panel; amending sections 3 and 4,
  chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. Section 3, chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999, is amended
to read:
   { +  Sec. 3. + } (1) The Hearing Officer Panel is established
within the Employment Department. The panel shall be managed by
the chief hearing officer employed under section 4 { + , chapter
849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of this 1999 Act - } . { +  The
Employment Department shall provide necessary administrative and
operational support and services to the panel. The panel shall be
independent of any supervision or control by the Employment
Department.
  (2) + } The  { + Hearing Officer + } Panel shall make hearing
officers available to agencies under sections 2 to 21 { + ,
chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of this 1999 Act - } .
Hearing officers assigned from the panel under sections 2 to
21 { + , chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999, + }   { - of this 1999
Act - }  may:
  (a) Conduct contested case proceedings on behalf of agencies in
the manner provided by sections 2 to 21 { + , chapter 849, Oregon
Laws 1999 + }   { - of this 1999 Act - } ;
  (b) Perform such other services, as may be requested by an
agency, that are appropriate for the resolution of disputes
arising out of the conduct of agency business; and
  (c) Perform such other duties as may be authorized under
sections 2 to 21 { + , chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of
this 1999 Act - } .
    { - (2) - }  { +  (3) + } All persons serving on the panel
must meet the standards and training requirements of section
19 { + , chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of this 1999
Act - } .
  SECTION 2. Section 4, chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999, is amended
to read:
 
   { +  Sec. 4. + } (1) The Director of the Employment Department
shall employ a person to serve as chief hearing officer for the
Hearing Officer Panel established under section 3 { + , chapter
849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of this 1999 Act - } .  { + The
chief hearing officer may be removed from office only for good
cause. + } The person employed to serve as chief hearing officer
must be an active member of the Oregon State Bar. The chief
hearing officer has all the powers necessary and convenient to
organize and manage the panel. Subject to the State Personnel
Relations Law, the chief hearing officer shall employ all persons
necessary to the administration of the panel, prescribe the
duties of those employees and fix their compensation.
  (2) The chief hearing officer shall employ hearing officers to
serve on the panel. The chief hearing officer shall ensure that
hearing officers on the panel receive all training necessary to
meet the standards required under the program created under
section 19 { + , chapter 849, Oregon Laws 1999 + }   { - of this
1999 Act - } .
  (3) The chief hearing officer shall take all actions necessary
to protect and ensure the independence of each hearing officer
assigned from the panel.
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