Title 22, Public officers and Employees

For purposes of the Insurance Code, police officers and firefighters are considered to be associated in a common group formed for purposes other than the obtaining of insurance. [1971 c.692 §11; 1973 c.409 §3; 1991 c.67 §64]

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 243.005 to 243.045, if a public employer provides benefits equal to or better than the insurance required under ORS 243.025, as determined by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, the public employer is exempt from the requireme…

(1) The executive director of the Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall also serve as the executive director of the Oregon Educators Benefit Board. (2) The executive director shall combine administrative functions and operations of the Public Employees’ Benefit Board and the Oreg…

(1) There is created in the Oregon Health Authority the Public Employees’ Benefit Board consisting of at least eight voting members and two members of the Legislative Assembly as nonvoting advisory members. Two of the voting members are ex officio members and six are appointed by…

(1) The Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall select one of its appointed voting members as chairperson and another appointed voting member as vice chairperson, for terms and with duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of those offices as the board deter…

As used in ORS 243.105 to 243.285, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Benefit plan” includes, but is not limited to: (a) Contracts for insurance or other benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability and other health care recognized by state law, and rela…

A person employed by a public university listed in ORS 352.002 or the Oregon Health and Science University may be considered an eligible employee for participation in one of the group benefit plans described in ORS 243.135 if the governing board of the public university, or the O…

(1) The Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall prescribe rules for the conduct of its business and for carrying out ORS 243.256. The board shall study all matters connected with the providing of adequate benefit plan coverage for eligible employees on the best basis possible with …

(1) The governing body of a local government may elect to participate in a benefit plan offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board. (2) The decision of the governing body of a local government to participate in a benefit plan offered by the board is in the discretion of the g…

(1) Notwithstanding any other benefit plan contracted for and offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board, the board shall contract for a health benefit plan or plans best designed to meet the needs and provide for the welfare of eligible employees, the state and the local gov…

(1) Persons whose homes are certified as a foster home by the Department of Human Services under ORS 418.630 and as defined in ORS 418.625 (3) may participate in a health benefit plan available to employees pursuant to ORS 243.105 to 243.285 at the expense of the foster parent. F…

The Oregon Health Authority shall apply for a waiver of federal law or any formal permission from the appropriate federal agency or agencies that is necessary to allow districts and eligible employees of districts to obtain health benefit plans through the health insurance exchan…

Benefit plans offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board that reimburse the cost of medical and other health services and supplies must comply with the requirements for health benefit plan coverage described in: (1) ORS 743A.058; (2) ORS 743A.140; (3) ORS 743A.141; (4) ORS 74…

(1) The Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall have authority to employ whatever means are reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051. The board’s authority includes, but is not limited to, the authority to self-insure and to seek clarific…

(1) If the Public Employees’ Benefit Board provides options under which an eligible employee may arrange coverage for family members under ORS 243.135, the board shall allow coverage of an adult disabled child of the eligible employee if: (a) The eligible employee provides a stat…

A retired state or local government officer or employee is not required to participate in one of the group benefit plans described in ORS 243.135 in order to obtain dental benefit plan coverage. The Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall establish by rule standards of eligibility …

A member of the Legislative Assembly who is receiving a pension or annuity under ORS 238.092 (1)(a) or 238A.250 (1) shall be eligible to participate as a retired state officer in one of the group benefit plans described in ORS 243.135 after the member ceases to be a member of the…

(1) There hereby is created in the General Fund an account to be known as the Public Employees’ Benefit Account, the balances of which are continuously appropriated to cover administrative expenses incurred in connection with the administration of ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.0…

(1) There is created the Public Employees’ Revolving Fund, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The balances of the Public Employees’ Revolving Fund are continuously appropriated to cover expenses incurred in connection with the administration of ORS 243.105 to 243.285 an…

When more than one individual shares a single position that is classified as a job-sharing position, the state or the local government shall contribute to obtain coverage for the individuals a total amount not greater than the amount that would be contributed to obtain coverage f…

Subject to legislative or Emergency Board approval of budgetary authorization for operation of the Public Employees’ Benefit Board and its administration of the health benefit plans and other duties under ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051, an amount not to exceed two percent of …

(1)(a) The Public Employees’ Benefit Board may allow self-pay groups to participate in benefit plans available to eligible employees, if the group meets a minimum participation level equal to 75 percent of the persons in the group. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsec…

The payroll disbursing officer shall submit reports to the Public Employees’ Benefit Board regarding health care coverage for eligible or participating employees as the board considers desirable. [1971 c.527 §11; 1997 c.222 §37]

Any eligible employee unable to participate in one or more of the plans described in ORS 243.135 (1) solely because the employee is assigned to perform duties outside the state may be eligible to receive the monthly state or local government contribution, less administrative expe…

(1) In addition to the powers and duties otherwise provided by law to provide employee benefits, the Public Employees’ Benefit Board may provide, administer and maintain flexible benefit plans under which eligible employees may choose among taxable and nontaxable benefits as prov…

(1) In providing flexible benefit plans under ORS 243.221, the Public Employees’ Benefit Board shall adopt rules as are considered necessary for the establishment and administration of the plans. (2) The board may assess a charge to participating employees to pay the cost of admi…

(1) The state may pay none of the cost of making health benefit plan coverage available to a retired state employee who is an eligible employee and to family members or may agree, by collective bargaining agreement or otherwise, to pay part or all of that cost. (2) Nothing in sub…

(1) A carrier that contracts with the Public Employees’ Benefit Board to provide to eligible employees and their dependents a benefit plan that reimburses the cost of inpatient or outpatient hospital services or supplies shall reimburse a claim for the cost of a hospital service …

(1) In addition to contracting for health and dental benefit plans, the Public Employees’ Benefit Board may contract with carriers to provide at the expense of participating eligible employees and with or without state or local government participation for coverage, including but…

(1) Upon receipt of the request in writing of an eligible employee so to do, the payroll disbursing officer authorized to disburse funds in payment of the salary or wages of the eligible employee may deduct from the salary or wages of the employee an amount of money indicated in …

(1) The Public Employees’ Benefit Board may make available one or more fully insured long term care insurance plans. The plans may be made available to eligible employees, retired employees and family members. Notwithstanding ORS 243.105, for purposes of this subsection, “family …

(1) If the Public Employees’ Benefit Board offers a long term care insurance plan under ORS 243.291, the board shall: (a) Develop effective and cost-effective ways to make the plan available; (b) In consultation with the Public Employees Retirement System, develop plan specificat…

The Public Employees’ Benefit Board may group retired state employees and state employees who are not retired for the purpose of entering into contracts for health insurance coverage. [1991 c.969 §1; 1997 c.222 §42] Note: 243.302 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly b…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Health care” means medical, surgical, hospital or any other remedial care recognized by state law and related services and supplies and includes comparable benefits for persons who rely on spiritual means of healing. (b) “Local government” means …

(1) It is declared to be the public policy of Oregon that all branches of state government shall be leaders among employing entities within the state in providing to its citizens and employees, through a program of affirmative action, fair and equal opportunities for employment a…

(1) There is hereby created in the Oregon Department of Administrative Services the position of Director of Affirmative Action. The primary duty of the occupant of this position shall be to direct and monitor affirmative action programs in all state agencies to implement the publ…

As used in ORS 243.317 to 243.323: (1) “Public employer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 260.432. (2) “Sexual assault” means unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is inflicted upon a person or compelled through the use of physical force, manipulation, threat or intimida…

(1) A public employer shall establish and adopt a written policy that seeks to prevent workplace harassment that occurs between employees or between an employer and an employee in the workplace or at a work-related event that is off the employment premises and coordinated by or t…

For purposes of a mediation related to claims or allegations of workplace harassment, a mediator in the mediation shall provide a person who is a party to the mediation and who is not represented by an attorney with a copy of the policy described in ORS 243.319. [2022 c.107 §6] N…

A public employer shall develop written policies and procedures for the prompt investigation of a report of workplace harassment. The policies and procedures must: (1) Provide instruction for maintaining records of workplace harassment. (2) Establish a process for a victim of wor…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or (4) of this section, it is an unlawful employment practice under ORS chapter 659A for a public employer to enter into an agreement with a former, current or prospective employee, as a condition of employment, continued employment, promo…

(1) As used in this section and ORS 243.327, “state agency” means an agency of the executive branch that is subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 240. (2) Each state agency shall use an information system maintained by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to track …

(1) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall develop a formal training program to provide introductory and ongoing training for state agency personnel who conduct internal investigations of allegations of workplace discrimination and harassment concerning employees …

As used in ORS 243.401 to 243.507: (1) “Board” means the Public Employees Retirement Board described in ORS 238.630. (2) “Council” means the Oregon Investment Council created by ORS 293.706. (3) “Deferred compensation contract” means a written agreement entered into by the state …

(1) The Deferred Compensation Fund is created, separate and distinct from the General Fund, for the purpose of holding and investing assets of the state deferred compensation plan and the assets of the deferred compensation plans of participating local governments. Interest and a…

The Deferred Compensation Fund shall be held by the State Treasurer, who shall be custodian of the fund. Another person may be appointed as custodian of the fund if the State Treasurer and the Public Employees Retirement Board agree to the appointment. On request from the Directo…