OAR 257-010-0060
Mental Health Information Reporting to NICS


(1)

Definitions. As used in this administrative rule:

(a)

“Designated Agencies” means the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Psychiatric Review Board (PSRB), and the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD).

(b)

“Minimum Information” means only those data elements or identifying information that is minimally or nominally necessary to accurately identify a person listed under ORS 181A.290 (Certain information required from agencies) and who is prohibited under either 18 U.S.C. §922(d)(4) and (g)(4) from purchasing, possessing, transporting or receiving a firearm, ORS 166.250 (Unlawful possession of firearms) (1)(c)(D) or (E) from possessing a firearm, or ORS 166.470 (Limitations and conditions for sales of firearms) (1)(e) or (f) from receiving a firearm. “Minimum information” includes at least the person’s name, date of birth, gender and ORI number of the designated agency or originating court that originally created the underlying record or file of the person. “Minimum information” does not include any medical, psychiatric or psychological information, case histories or files of a person, or any record or file of a designated agency or originating court.

(c)

“NICS” means the National Instant Criminal Background Check System mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536).

(d)

“ORI” means the Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) and FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) originating agency identifier code.

(e)

“Originating court” means the Oregon county circuit court that transmits a mental health record to OSP as required under either ORS 426.160 (Disclosure of record of commitment proceeding) or 427.293 (Disclosure of record of proceeding).

(f)

“Prohibited Persons File” (PPF) means a data table created by OSP that contains minimum information, as reported to OSP by the designated agencies or originating courts responsible for maintaining Oregon mental health records, for individuals that are prohibited under either 18 U.S.C. §922(d)(4) and (g)(4) from purchasing, possessing, transporting or receiving a firearm, ORS 166.250 (Unlawful possession of firearms) (1)(c)(D) or (E) from possessing a firearm, or ORS 166.470 (Limitations and conditions for sales of firearms) (1)(e) or (f) from receiving a firearm. This file will be maintained by OSP in LEDS. The agencies contributing to the file will be responsible for ensuring the data is accurate. Information in this file is confidential and not to be accessed for any purpose other than:

(A)

Maintaining the minimum information in the PPF;

(B)

Reporting minimum information to NICS as required by federal and state law;or

(C)

Conducting instant firearm criminal history checks as defined under ORS 166.432 (Definitions for ORS 166.412 and 166.433 to 166.441).

(2)

Transmission of Existing Minimum Information to OSP and NICS.

(a)

As soon as a designated agency is capable of electronically transmitting existing minimum information to OSP, the designated agency shall provide OSP with all current and former client minimum information as required under ORS 181A.290 (Certain information required from agencies).

(b)

Each designated agency shall provide all of its current and former client information to OSP in one single electronic file. The single electronic file shall contain all minimum information data elements in an electronic format that is capable of being individually searched and copied.

(c)

Notwithstanding subsection (2)(b) of this rule, designated agencies may provide minimum information to OSP in a non-electronic format, on a client-by-client basis and only as approved by OSP.

(d)

Given the current limitations of the Oregon Judicial Department’s information systems, OJD shall continue working with OSP and designated agencies to accomplish reconciliation of its records to those records of the other designated agencies. OJD shall continue its efforts to upgrade its information systems in order for OJD to provide minimum information to OSP as required under ORS 181A.290 (Certain information required from agencies). Upon OJD having the capability of providing minimum information to OSP from its information systems, OJD shall provide all of its current and former minimum information to OSP in one single electronic file, as provided in section (2)(b) of this rule.

(e)

Upon receipt of any designated agency’s minimum information, OSP may search, use, copy, and maintain that minimum information. OSP shall enter the minimum information into the PPF and electronically transmit it from the PPF to NICS.

(3)

Transmission of Subsequent Minimum Information to OSP and NICS.

(a)

Upon providing OSP with minimum information as provided under subsection 2 of this rule, designated agencies shall thereafter provide subsequent client information to OSP in electronic format, in a format approved by OSP. Designated agencies and originating courts shall electronically transmit subsequent minimum information to OSP as soon as such client minimum information becomes available for transmission and inclusion into the PPF Designated agencies shall not delay in transmitting minimum information to OSP and shall transmit minimum information to OSP immediately upon such information becoming available to the designated agency.

(b)

Designated agencies shall provide minimum information data elements to OSP in an electronic format that is capable of being individually searched and copied.

(c)

Upon OJD having the capability of providing minimum information to OSP from its information systems, OJD shall thereafter provide subsequent minimum information to OSP, including information from originating courts, as provided in section (3)(a) of this rule.

(d)

Upon receipt of any designated agency’s minimum information, OSP may search, use, copy, and maintain that minimum information. OSP shall enter the minimum information into the PPF and electronically transmit it from the PPF to NICS on a daily basis through a secure electronic message via the Law Enforcement Message Switch (LEMS).

(e)

Notwithstanding subsection (3)(b) of this rule, designated agencies may provide minimum information to OSP in a non-electronic format, on a client-by-client basis and only as approved by OSP. In the event that OSP accepts minimum information from a designated agency in a non-electronic format, OSP shall electronically enter the minimum information for that particular person into the PPF, and return the non-electronically formatted minimum information to the designated agency.

(4)

PPF and Minimum Information Maintenance. OSP shall request a report from NICS every 3 months that details Oregon’s mental health prohibited person record data located in NICS for comparison with the data in the PPF. OSP shall send data discrepancies to the submitting designated agency for resolution. Based on ORI number, designated agencies may further re-direct challenges to the court of original jurisdiction for resolution. Designated agencies shall include any changes or amendments to previously submitted minimum information in their subsequent electronic transmissions of minimum information to OSP.

(5)

Challenges to Minimum Information. All minimum information and data elements maintained by OSP in the PPF is the minimum information and data elements directly submitted to OSP by designated agencies. Any and all challenges to minimum information data elements submitted to OSP by a designated agency and that are contained or maintained by OSP in the PPF and transmitted to NICS will be re-directed to the submitting designated agency for resolution. Based on ORI number, designated agencies may further re-direct challenges to the court of original jurisdiction for resolution.

(6)

Relief Maintenance.

(a)

When the PSRB grants relief from the prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. §922(d)(4) and (g)(4) for the purchase, possession, transportation or receipt of a firearm, or grants additional or alternative relief from either the prohibition on possessing a firearm under ORS 166.250 (Unlawful possession of firearms) (1)(c)(D) or (E), or the prohibition on receiving a firearm under ORS 166.470 (Limitations and conditions for sales of firearms) (1)(e) or (f), the PSRB shall send the minimum information of the person for whom relief is granted electronically to OSP. Upon receipt of the minimum information from the PSRB, OSP shall update the PPF and transmit the minimum information and notification of relief to NICS on the same day OSP receives the minimum information from the PSRB.

(b)

When a person files a petition for judicial review with an appellate court following a final order of the PSRB that denies relief, and the appellate court subsequently grants the person relief from the prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. §922(d)(4) and (g)(4) for the purchase, possession, transportation or receipt of a firearm, or grants additional or alternative relief from either the prohibition on possessing a firearm under ORS 166.250 (Unlawful possession of firearms) (1)(c)(D) or (E), or the prohibition on receiving a firearm under ORS 166.470 (Limitations and conditions for sales of firearms) (1)(e) or (f), OJD shall send the minimum information of the person for whom relief is granted electronically to OSP as provided in subsection 3(b) of this rule. Upon receipt of the minimum information from OJD, OSP shall update the PPF and transmit the minimum information and notification of relief to NICS on the same day OSP receives the minimum information from OJD.

(c)

In addition to the requirements set forth in 6 (a), whenever the PSRB or an appellate court grants relief under the following circumstances, the person granted relief shall provide a certified copy of either the PSRB written final order or appellate judgment and the person’s fingerprint card to OSP for the purposes of updating the petitioner’s Computerized Criminal History:

(A)

The person granted relief was found responsible except for insanity for an act under ORS 419C.411 (Disposition order);

(B)

The person granted relief was found guilty except for insanity of a crime under ORS 161.295 (Effect of qualifying mental disorder) to 161.370 (Determination of fitness to proceed) and the person has an existing criminal history; or

(C)

The person granted relief was found by a court to lack fitness to proceed under ORS 161.370 (Determination of fitness to proceed) and the person has an existing criminal history.

Source: Rule 257-010-0060 — Mental Health Information Reporting to NICS, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=257-010-0060.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 257-010-0060’s source at or​.us