TITLE 22

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Chapter 236. Eligibility; Resignations, Removals and Vacancies; Discipline; Transfers

237. Public Employee Retirement Generally

238. Public Employees Retirement System

238A. Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan

240. State Personnel Relations

241. Civil Service for County Employees

242. Civil Service for City or School District Employees and Firefighters

243. Public Employee Rights and Benefits

244. Government Ethics

_______________

Chapter 236 — Eligibility; Resignations, Removals and Vacancies; Discipline; Transfers

2023 EDITION

REMOVALS, VACANCIES; DISCIPLINE; TRANSFERS

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

VACANCIES AND ELIGIBILITY GENERALLY

236.010 Causes for vacancies in office

236.020 Vacancy for breach of official bond

236.030 Persons ineligible for office because of membership in certain organizations

236.040 Leave of absence for Peace Corps volunteer; reinstatement

236.100 Political affiliation of person appointed to fill vacancy in partisan elective office

236.115 Diversity included in criteria for filling certain vacancies

VACANCIES IN AND REMOVAL FROM STATE OFFICES

236.140 Term, removal, vacancy in appointive offices

236.145 Employment prohibitions for state board or commission members

236.147 Exception to ORS 236.145

VACANCIES IN AND REMOVAL FROM COUNTY OFFICES

236.210 Filling vacancies in county offices; qualification

236.215 Filling vacancies in partisan elective office of county judge or commissioner

236.217 Nominations

236.220 Deputy to fill vacancy in certain offices until person appointed qualifies

236.225 Filling vacancies in offices of county governing body

236.240 Removal of county treasurer from office

RESIGNATIONS

236.310 Right of county commissioner to resign

236.320 Recipient of resignation

236.325 Resignation of office effective at future date; selection of successor; exception

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

236.350 Definitions for ORS 236.350 to 236.370

236.360 Disciplinary actions; written procedures; safeguards; just cause; notice

236.370 ORS 236.350 to 236.370 not applicable to certain public safety officers

TRANSFER OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

236.605 Definitions for ORS 236.605 to 236.640

236.610 Rights of employee when duties assumed by different public employer; employer duties

236.620 Status of transferred employee

236.630 Authority of new employer over transferred employee

236.640 Reemployment right of employee at end of cooperation agreement

PENALTIES

236.990 Penalties

VACANCIES AND ELIGIBILITY GENERALLY

236.010 Causes for vacancies in office. (1) An office shall become vacant before the expiration of the term if:

(a) The incumbent dies, resigns or is removed.

(b) The incumbent ceases to be an inhabitant of the district, county or city for which the incumbent was elected or appointed, or within which the duties of the office of the incumbent are required to be discharged.

(c) The incumbent is convicted of an infamous crime, or any offense involving the violation of the oath of the incumbent.

(d) The incumbent refuses or neglects to take the oath of office, or to give or renew the official bond of the incumbent, or to deposit such oath or bond within the time prescribed by law.

(e) The election or appointment of the incumbent is declared void by a competent tribunal.

(f) The incumbent is found to be a person with a mental illness by the decision of a competent tribunal.

(g) The incumbent ceases to possess any other qualification required for election or appointment to such office.

(h) Appointment of the incumbent is subject to Senate confirmation under section 4, Article III of the Oregon Constitution, and the appointment is not confirmed.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1)(b) of this section do not apply when residence within the district, county or city for which the incumbent was elected or appointed is not required for such election or appointment. [Amended by 1969 c.669 §3; 1979 c.351 §3; 2007 c.70 §56]

236.020 Vacancy for breach of official bond. The Governor shall declare vacant the office of every officer required by law to execute an official bond whenever a judgment is obtained against such officer for a breach of the conditions of the bond.

236.030 Persons ineligible for office because of membership in certain organizations. (1) No person who is a member of, or affiliated with, any organization which teaches the doctrine of, or advocates, the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence shall be a candidate for public office or eligible for appointment to a public office.

(2) The name of a person defined in subsection (1) of this section shall not be placed upon any ballot in connection with any election.

236.040 Leave of absence for Peace Corps volunteer; reinstatement. (1) As used in this section:

(a) “Public officer or employee” means any person who renders service to and is paid therefor by a public employer.

(b) “Public employer” means the state or a county, city, school district or other public corporation, commission, agency, board or entity organized for a public purpose.

(2) Public employers shall grant leaves of absence without pay for at least two years to any full-time salaried public officer or employee who serves, and while the public officer or employee serves, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. Upon expiration of the leave the public officer or employee shall have the right to be reinstated to the position held before the leave was granted and at the salary rates prevailing for such positions on the date of resumption of duty, without loss of seniority or other employment rights, if any. Failure of the officer or employee to report within 90 days after termination of service shall be cause for dismissal. [1963 c.199 §§1,2]

236.100 Political affiliation of person appointed to fill vacancy in partisan elective office. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, whenever a vacancy occurs in any partisan elective office in this state and is to be filled by appointment, no person shall be eligible for such appointment unless the person is affiliated, as determined by the appropriate entry on the person’s official election registration card with the same political party:

(a) As that by which the elected predecessor in the office was designated on the election ballot, if the name of the predecessor was printed on the election ballot.

(b) As that by which the elected predecessor in the office was designated on the elector registration card of the predecessor on the date of the election at which the predecessor was elected, if the name of the predecessor was not printed on the ballot.

(2) Under either of the following circumstances, a person who is otherwise eligible for appointment to fill a vacancy described in subsection (1) of this section may be appointed to fill the vacancy regardless of the person’s affiliation or lack of affiliation with a political party:

(a) If the name of the elected predecessor in the office was printed on the ballot and the predecessor was not designated on the election ballot as affiliated with a political party.

(b) If the name of the elected predecessor in the office was not printed on the ballot and the predecessor was not designated as affiliated with a political party on the elector registration card of the predecessor on the date of the election at which the predecessor was elected. [Formerly 236.135; 1985 c.586 §2; 1985 c.808 §74]

236.110 [Repealed by 1957 c.608 §231]

236.115 Diversity included in criteria for filling certain vacancies. (1) In filling a vacancy on any new or existing appointive state board, commission, committee or council established by statute, if the vacancy is to be filled by a person who is not employed full-time and who is compensated as provided under ORS 292.495, the appointing authority shall include in the criteria for appointment, but need not limit the criteria to, the degree to which the candidate will contribute to one or more of the following:

(a) Diversity of viewpoint;

(b) Demographic variety reflecting the racial and gender population of the state or the region of appointment; and

(c) Remediation of existing disparities between the number of qualified applicants of one race or gender and the number of members of such groups serving on the board, commission, committee or council.

(2) The appointing authority for boards, commissions, committees and councils described under subsection (1) of this section shall report annually to the office of the Governor specifying the efforts taken to comply with this section and the result of those efforts. [1997 c.539 §1]

Note: 236.115 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 236 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

236.120 [Amended by 1957 c.608 §229; 1965 s.s. c.1 §2; repealed by 1985 c.586 §4]

236.130 [Repealed by 1985 c.586 §4]

236.135 [1953 c.473 §1; renumbered 236.100]

236.137 [1955 c.210 §1; repealed by 1971 c.302 §1]

VACANCIES IN AND REMOVAL FROM STATE OFFICES

236.140 Term, removal, vacancy in appointive offices. Any person holding an appointive office in any of the offices, departments or institutions of this state shall hold the same for an indefinite term not exceeding four years, or for the term specified for the office by law. A person holding an appointive office shall at all times serve at the pleasure of and be subject to removal by the appointive power that made the appointment unless a different standard for removal from the office is specified by law. The appointive power may in all cases appoint a successor. [Amended by 2013 c.425 §1]

236.145 Employment prohibitions for state board or commission members. A person who has been appointed by the Governor to serve on a state board or commission may not be employed by the board or commission in a salaried position:

(1) While the person is serving on the board or commission; or

(2) Within one year after the person’s normal term on the board or commission expires, without regard to whether the person continues to serve on the board or commission after expiration of the person’s term. [1953 c.594 §1; 2003 c.749 §9]

236.147 Exception to ORS 236.145. ORS 236.145 does not apply to any appointee to the position of executive director of a board who serves in that capacity as an ex officio member of the board making the appointment. [1983 c.402 §6]

236.150 [Repealed by 1985 c.565 §35]

236.160 [Repealed by 1985 c.565 §36]

VACANCIES IN AND REMOVAL FROM COUNTY OFFICES

236.210 Filling vacancies in county offices; qualification. (1) When there is a vacancy in any elective county office other than the office of county judge or county commissioner, the county court or board of county commissioners shall appoint a person to perform the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled by election.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, when a vacancy occurs in the nonpartisan office of county judge who does not exercise judicial functions or county commissioner, the remaining members of the county court or board of county commissioners shall appoint a person to perform the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled by election.

(3) When a vacancy occurs in the office of county judge who exercises judicial functions, the Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment as provided in section 16, Article V of the Oregon Constitution.

(4) Before a person appointed under subsection (1) or (2) of this section takes office, the person shall qualify in the same manner as required by law of the officer in whose place the person is appointed. [Amended by 1965 c.221 §24; 1983 c.327 §6; 1985 c.17 §1; 1987 c.549 §1; 2001 c.430 §3]

236.215 Filling vacancies in partisan elective office of county judge or commissioner. (1) When a vacancy occurs in the partisan elective office of county judge who does not exercise judicial functions or county commissioner, the remaining members of the county court or board of county commissioners of the county, pursuant to ORS 236.217, shall appoint a person qualified to hold office who is an elector of the county to perform the duties of the office until the term of office expires or the vacancy is filled by election.

(2) When the provisions of ORS 236.217 apply, the appointment shall be made from a list of not fewer than three nor more than five nominees furnished by the county clerks. If fewer than three names of nominees are furnished or if no list is received by the appointing authority, the county court or board of county commissioners may consider additional qualified persons. The person so appointed must have been a member of the same major political party at least 180 days before the date the vacancy to be filled occurred.

(3) The vacancy must be filled by appointment within 30 days after its occurrence. [1987 c.549 §3; 1989 c.171 §29; 2001 c.430 §4]

236.217 Nominations. When any vacancy under ORS 236.215 exists in any partisan elective office of county judge who does not exercise judicial functions or county commissioner occupied by a member of a major political party and that vacancy is to be filled by an appointing authority as provided in ORS 236.215, the major political party pursuant to party rule shall nominate not fewer than three nor more than five qualified persons to fill the vacancy. The nominating procedure shall reflect the principle of one-person, one-vote to accord voting weight in proportion to the number of party members represented. At the request of a party making a nomination, the county clerk or chief elections officer of the county in which the vacancy exists shall assist the party in determining the number of electors registered as members of the party in the electoral district. As soon as the nominees have been appointed, but no later than 20 days after the vacancy occurs, the party shall notify the county clerk of the persons nominated. The county clerk shall notify the remaining members of the county court or board of county commissioners of the county in which the vacancy exists of the nominees. [1987 c.549 §4; 1993 c.797 §19; 2001 c.430 §5]

236.220 Deputy to fill vacancy in certain offices until person appointed qualifies. (1) During the interval between the time when a vacancy occurs in any county office, except the office of county commissioner, and the time when the person appointed by the county court or board of county commissioners to fill the vacant office qualifies therefor, the chief deputy of the affected office shall perform all the official acts and duties of such office.

(2) During the period the chief deputy serves as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the chief deputy shall be deemed to continue to occupy the position of chief deputy for the purpose of determining the status and rights of the chief deputy under the civil service law and Public Employees Retirement System, and such service shall in no respect affect the status or rights of the chief deputy under those systems. [Amended by 1963 c.161 §1]

236.225 Filling vacancies in offices of county governing body. (1) If vacancies exist at the same time in all of the offices of members of a county governing body, two qualified persons shall be appointed by the Governor, and one by the appointees of the Governor, to perform the duties of the offices until the vacancies are filled as provided by law. If vacancies exist at the same time in all but one of such offices, the Governor shall appoint one qualified person who, with the incumbent serving in office, shall appoint another, each to perform the duties of the offices until the vacancies are filled. If county judge is one of the offices vacant, one of the appointments made by the Governor under this section shall be to the office of county judge.

(2) When a county charter establishes a county governing body with more than three members, if a number of vacancies exist at the same time in the offices of members of that governing body so that all the remaining members do not constitute a quorum for the conduct of county business, the Governor shall appoint to the vacant offices the minimum number of qualified persons sufficient, with the incumbent members of the county governing body, to form a quorum. Persons appointed by the Governor under this subsection, together with the incumbent members serving in office, shall appoint qualified persons to the remaining vacant offices. All persons appointed under this subsection shall perform the duties of the office of member of the county governing body until the vacancies are filled as provided by law.

(3) ORS 236.100 applies to appointments under this section. [1967 s.s. c.6 §1; 1983 c.327 §7]

236.230 [Repealed by 1983 c.327 §16]

236.240 Removal of county treasurer from office. Whenever suit has been commenced on the official bond of any delinquent treasurer, the delinquent treasurer may be removed by the county court of the county.

236.250 [Repealed by 1983 c.310 §21 and 1983 c.327 §16]

RESIGNATIONS

236.310 Right of county commissioner to resign. Any person who receives a certificate of election as a commissioner of the county court is at liberty to resign the office, though the person may not have entered upon the execution of its duties or taken the requisite oath of office. [Amended by 1965 c.221 §25; 1981 c.517 §25]

236.320 Recipient of resignation. (1) Resignation shall be made as follows:

(a) By the Secretary of State, State Treasurer and all officers elected by the legislature, to the Governor.

(b) By all officers who hold their offices by election, to the officer authorized by law to order a special election to fill the resulting vacancy.

(2) Resignations described in this section must be made in writing. [Amended by 2007 c.155 §1]

236.325 Resignation of office effective at future date; selection of successor; exception. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

(1) The holder of a public office may resign the office effective at a future date that is prior to the expiration of the term of the office.

(2) Any person who receives a certificate of election as a holder of a public office, even though the person may not have entered upon the execution of its duties or taken the requisite oath of office, may resign the office effective at a future date that is:

(a) Prior to the beginning of the term of the office; or

(b) After the beginning of the term of the office.

(3) Except where an election is required by law, if the holder of a public office or a person who receives a certificate of election as a holder of a public office resigns the office effective at a future date, the appointing authority required by law to fill a vacancy in the public office may begin the process to fill the vacancy and may select a successor prior to the effective date of any resignation under this section.

(4) The appointing authority may appoint a successor to fill a vacancy in the public office at any time after the effective date of a resignation described in this section. This subsection does not apply where a person who receives a certificate of election as a holder of a public office resigns prior to the beginning of the term of office and an incumbent still holds the public office.

(5) A resignation is binding unless withdrawn in writing by the end of the third business day after the resignation is made.

(6) Where the effective date of a resignation is 21 or more calendar days before the deadline for filing a nominating petition, declaration of candidacy or certificate of nomination necessary to fill the office at the general election next following the effective date of the resignation, and the deadline for withdrawing the resignation has passed, the filing officer for the office shall accept filings of nominating petitions, declarations of candidacy and certificates of nomination and the vacancy shall be filled at the general election next following the effective date of the vacancy.

(7) This section does not apply to the office of Governor. [1991 c.719 §39; 1995 c.607 §68; 2005 c.797 §30]

Note: 236.325 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 236 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

236.350 Definitions for ORS 236.350 to 236.370. As used in ORS 236.350 to 236.370:

(1) “Disciplinary action” means action taken against a public safety officer by an employer to punish the officer, including dismissal, demotion, suspension without pay, reduction in salary, written reprimand and transfer.

(2) “Just cause” means a cause reasonably related to the public safety officer’s ability to perform required work. The term includes a willful violation of reasonable work rules, regulations or written policies.

(3) “Public safety officer” means:

(a) A member of a law enforcement unit who is employed full-time as a peace officer commissioned by a city, university that has established a police department under ORS 352.121 or 353.125, port, school district, mass transit district, county, Indian reservation, the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of Justice, the Oregon State Lottery Commission or the Governor and who is responsible for enforcing the criminal laws of this state or laws or ordinances relating to airport security.

(b) A corrections officer, a parole and probation officer or a youth correction officer as those terms are defined in ORS 181A.355. [1979 c.618 §2; 1991 c.742 §14; 1993 c.594 §6; 1993 c.623 §3; 2007 c.71 §74; 2009 c.716 §1; 2011 c.506 §31; 2013 c.180 §35]

236.360 Disciplinary actions; written procedures; safeguards; just cause; notice. (1) Employers of public safety officers shall adopt written procedures to implement the provisions of ORS 236.350 to 236.370.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the following safeguards apply when a public safety officer is under investigation concerning a matter that the officer reasonably believes may lead to economic sanctions or dismissal from employment and is subject to an interview by the officer’s employer:

(a) Unless the seriousness of an investigation requires otherwise, the interview must be conducted when the public safety officer is on duty or during the officer’s normal waking hours. If the interview is conducted when the public safety officer is off duty, the officer must be compensated appropriately.

(b) The public safety officer may have a representative of the officer’s choosing present at the interview.

(d) The interviewers shall inform the public safety officer of their authority to compel a statement and of the identity of the investigators and all persons present during the interview.

(e) The public safety officer is not required to answer questions until the officer has been informed of the nature of the investigation and of facts reasonably sufficient to inform the officer of the circumstances surrounding the allegations under investigation. This paragraph does not apply to preliminary questions directed at gaining a general overview of events in order to assess whether an inquiry is necessary and to effectively investigate and gather evidence.

(f) The interview may not last an unreasonable amount of time, taking into consideration the gravity and complexity of the matter under investigation.

(g) During the interview, the public safety officer must be allowed to attend to physical needs.

(h)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the public safety officer being interviewed may not be threatened with punitive action or subjected to offensive language.

(B) In a compelled interview solely for noncriminal purposes, a public safety officer who refuses to respond to questions or to be interviewed must be informed that refusal may lead to disciplinary action.

(i)(A) The public safety officer may record the interview and must be given a copy of the tape or digital file of the interview and, upon request, a transcript of any recording that has been transcribed by the employer.

(B) The public safety officer must be given a copy of any written statement or report describing the officer’s statements.

(C) Materials required to be given to the public safety officer under this paragraph must be given before subsequent interviews in the course of the same investigation.

(j) As soon as it is determined that the public safety officer may be charged with a criminal offense, the officer must be informed of the officer’s right to consult with criminal defense counsel with respect to the criminal charge.

(k) In a disciplinary or administrative investigation, the public safety officer’s chosen representative may not be required to disclose, or be subject to disciplinary action for refusing to disclose, statements made by the officer to the representative for purposes of the representation.

(3) The safeguards provided in subsection (2) of this section do not apply to:

(a) The questioning of a public safety officer in the normal course of informal verbal admonishment by, or other routine or unplanned contact with, a supervisor or other public safety officer; or

(b) An investigation concerned solely with alleged criminal activities.

(4) Disciplinary action may not be taken against a public safety officer without just cause.

(5) An employer that intends to take disciplinary action against a public safety officer shall:

(a) Notify the officer in writing of the charges against the officer and the proposed disciplinary action; and

(b) Provide the officer with an opportunity to respond to the charges at an informal hearing which may be recorded, with the person or persons having authority to impose the proposed disciplinary action.

(6)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, an employer shall complete its investigation into an allegation of misconduct by a public safety officer and provide notification under subsection (5)(a) of this section no later than six months from the date of the first interview described in subsection (2) of this section. The employer may extend the investigation to a maximum of 12 months from the date of the first interview, provided that, before the extended period begins, the employer provides written notice explaining the reason for the extension to the officer and the officer’s chosen representative and union representative, if any.

(b) The time limit provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection does not apply:

(A) If the investigation involves an officer who is incapacitated or unavailable.

(B) If the investigation involves an allegation of workers’ compensation or disability fraud by the officer.

(D) If the investigation requires a reasonable extension of time for coordination with one or more other jurisdictions.

(E) If the investigation involves more than one officer and requires a reasonable extension of time.

(A) If the alleged misconduct is also the subject of a criminal investigation or criminal prosecution, time does not run for the period during which the criminal investigation or criminal prosecution is pending.

(B) If the investigation involves a matter in civil litigation in which the officer is a named defendant or the officer’s actions are alleged to be a basis for liability, time does not run for the period during which the civil action is pending.

(C) If the investigation is the result of a complaint by a person charged with a crime, time does not run for the period during which the criminal matter is pending.

(7) An investigation may be reopened if:

(a) Significant new evidence is discovered that is likely to affect the outcome of the investigation; and

(b)(A) The evidence resulted from the public safety officer’s predisciplinary response; or

(B) The evidence could not have been discovered by the employer without resorting to extraordinary measures. [1979 c.618 §3; 2009 c.716 §2]

236.370 ORS 236.350 to 236.370 not applicable to certain public safety officers. ORS 236.350 to 236.370 do not apply to disciplinary action taken against public safety officers who are:

(1) In an initial probationary period of employment that does not exceed 12 months or in a probationary period under a collective bargaining agreement which is in excess of 12 months;

(2) Under a county civil service system adopted pursuant to ORS 241.002 to 241.009;

(3) Under a county or municipal civil service system which provides public safety officers with disciplinary action protections at least equivalent to those provided under ORS 236.350 and 236.360;

(4) The chief executive officers of law enforcement units, as defined in ORS 181A.355;

(5) Supervisory employees, as defined under ORS 243.650, where a collective bargaining agreement is in effect with their public employer; or

(6) Represented in a collective bargaining unit if the collective bargaining agreement or the established policies of the law enforcement unit that employs the public safety officers provide for procedures and safeguards of the sort provided for in ORS 236.350 to 236.370. [1979 c.618 §4; 1991 c.742 §15; 1993 c.185 §22; 1993 c.623 §4; 1995 c.286 §19; 2009 c.716 §3; 2011 c.202 §1]

236.380 [1989 c.3 §§2,3,4; repealed by 2007 c.100 §32]

236.405 [1961 c.287 §1; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.415 [1961 c.287 §2; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.420 [1961 c.287 §3; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.425 [1961 c.287 §4; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.430 [1961 c.287 §23; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.435 [1961 c.287 §24; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.440 [1961 c.287 §5; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.445 [1961 c.287 §6; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.450 [1961 c.287 §25; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.455 [1961 c.287 §26; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.460 [1961 c.287 §7; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.465 [1961 c.287 §8; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.470 [1961 c.287 §9; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.475 [1961 c.287 §10; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.485 [1961 c.287 §11; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.490 [1961 c.287 §12; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.495 [1961 c.287 §13; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.500 [1961 c.287 §14; 1973 c.773 §3; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.505 [1961 c.287 §15; 1973 c.773 §4; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.510 [1961 c.287 §16; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.515 [1961 c.287 §17; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.520 [1961 c.287 §19; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.525 [1961 c.287 §18; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.530 [1961 c.287 §20; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.535 [1961 c.287 §21; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

236.540 [1961 c.287 §22; repealed by 1979 c.59 §1]

TRANSFER OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

236.605 Definitions for ORS 236.605 to 236.640. As used in ORS 236.605 to 236.640:

(1) “Public employee” means an employee whose compensation is paid from public funds.

(2) “Public employer” includes any of the following entities that has accepted the transfer of a public program from a public employer in this state for maintenance and operation:

(a) The state;

(b) Cities;

(d) School districts;

(e) Special districts;

(f) Education service districts; and

(g) Oregon nonprofit corporations.

(3) “Transfer” does not include the transfer of an employee from a nonprofit corporation to a nonprofit corporation. [1991 c.918 §2; 1995 c.286 §20; 2013 c.533 §1; 2015 c.314 §1]

236.610 Rights of employee when duties assumed by different public employer; employer duties. (1) No public employee shall be deprived of employment solely because the duties of employment have been assumed or acquired by another public employer, whether or not an agreement, annexation or consolidation with the present employer is involved. Notwithstanding any statute, charter, ordinance or resolution, but subject to ORS 236.605 to 236.640, the public employee shall be transferred to the employment of the public employer that assumed or acquired the duties of the public employee, without further civil service examination.

(2) The transferred public employee shall not have the employee’s salary reduced as a result of a transfer under this section during the first 12 months of employment with the receiving employer. After the first 12 months of employment with the receiving employer, the transferred public employee shall be placed at the closest salary for the position as designated under the receiving employer’s salary schedule. However, if the receiving employer is a nonprofit corporation, the transferring employer and the receiving employer shall retain the right to negotiate the source of funding for the transferred employee’s salary.

(3) It is the responsibility of the transferring employer to liquidate accrued compensatory time at the time of transfer, consistent with any applicable statute or collective bargaining agreement.

(4)(a) At the time of transfer, the transferred public employee may elect to:

(A) Retain any accrued sick leave;

(B) Retain up to 80 hours of vacation leave; and

(C) Retain additional vacation leave if agreed to by the transferring employer, the receiving employer and the transferred public employee.

(b) At the time of transfer, the transferring employer shall pay to the receiving employer a sum equal to the number of hours of accrued leave retained times the employee’s hourly rate of pay.

(c) After the transfer, the receiving employer shall grant any leaves according to its rules or any bargaining agreement governing use of leaves.

(5) In the event that any transferred employee is subject to a waiting period for coverage of preexisting conditions under the health insurance plan of the receiving employer, the receiving employer shall arrange for a waiver of such waiting period with its health insurer. The transferring employer shall reimburse the receiving employer for the additional premium costs, if any, resulting from such waiver, for a period of not to exceed 12 months.

(6) In transferring a public employee under subsection (1) of this section, the employer shall furnish the employment records of that employee to the receiving employer at the time of transfer. The time of transfer shall be by written agreement between the public employers involved.

(7) If the public employer that is transferring a public employee participates in the Public Employees Retirement System, the transferring employer and the receiving employer must enter into a written agreement that addresses the manner in which any unfunded Public Employees Retirement System liability or surplus of the transferring public employer will be paid or credited, as required by ORS 238.235. [1963 c.204 §§1, 2; 1971 c.500 §1; 1991 c.918 §3; 1995 c.286 §21; 2003 c.802 §165; 2005 c.808 §24; 2015 c.314 §2]

236.620 Status of transferred employee. (1) A public employer who receives a transferred employee under ORS 236.610 (1), including an employee whose transfer is provided for by an agreement under ORS 190.010, shall place that employee on its employee roster, subject to the following:

(a) If the employee was serving a probationary period with the employer at the time of transfer, the past service of the employee on probation shall apply on the regular probation requirements of the receiving employer.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law applicable to a retirement system for employees of the prior employer or of the receiving employer, but subject to subsection (2) of this section, the employee at the option of the employee may elect to continue for 12 months under any retirement system in which the employee was participating prior to transfer or, if the employee meets the qualifications therefor, the employee may elect to participate in the retirement system available to employees of the receiving employer. The employee’s election shall be in writing and made within 30 days after the date of transfer. If the employee elects to continue under the retirement system in which the employee was participating prior to transfer, the employee shall retain all rights and be entitled to all benefits under that system, the employee shall continue to make contributions to that system and the receiving employer shall make contributions on behalf of the employee to that system as required of employers participating in that system, as if the transfer had not occurred.

(c) The employee shall retain the seniority the employee accrued under prior employment, but no regular employee of the receiving employer shall be demoted or laid off by reason of that seniority at the time the transfer occurs. Thereafter, the employee’s seniority from the transferring employer shall be regarded as seniority acquired under the receiving employer.

(d) The employee otherwise shall enjoy the same privileges, including benefits, hours and conditions of employment, and be subject to the same regulations as other employees of the receiving employer.

(2) The Public Employees Retirement Board may terminate membership in the Public Employees Retirement System for any transferred employee if the board determines that allowing membership for the employee would cause the system or the Public Employees Retirement Fund to lose qualification as a qualified governmental retirement plan and trust under the Internal Revenue Code and under regulations adopted pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. [1963 c.204 §3; 1967 c.550 §10; 1991 c.918 §4; 1995 c.286 §22; 1999 c.317 §4]

236.630 Authority of new employer over transferred employee. A public employer who receives a transferred public employee under ORS 236.610 (1) shall place that employee in a position comparable to the position the employee enjoyed under prior employment, subject to the following:

(1) The receiving employer, in determining a comparable position, shall consider the employee’s educational and physical qualifications, experience, and the salary, duties and responsibilities of prior employment.

(2) If the receiving employer finds that no comparable position exists under subsection (1) of this section, the employee shall be offered a lesser position, if such position is available, according to the qualifications of the employee, by the receiving employer. The finding and action of such employer under this subsection, and subsection (3) of this section shall be subject to a hearing upon the employee’s request and subject to review under ORS 34.010 to 34.100.

(3) If the receiving employer finds that no position exists, the employee shall be listed as a regular laid-off employee and shall have priority to appointment over other persons eligible for any position for which the employee is qualified, subject to any applicable collective bargaining agreement. [1963 c.204 §4; 1991 c.918 §5; 1995 c.286 §23]

236.640 Reemployment right of employee at end of cooperation agreement. At the end of a cooperation agreement the employee transferred shall be entitled to the position of the employee with the transferring employer prior to transfer, if the employee has remained an employee of the transferee employer in good standing to the termination of the agreement. [1963 c.204 §5]

236.650 [1967 c.550 §9; repealed by 1995 c.286 §34]

PENALTIES

236.990 Penalties. Violation of ORS 236.145 is a Class A violation. [1953 c.594 §2; 1999 c.1051 §167]

_______________