“Authorized agency” means state government as defined in ORS 174.111 (“State government” defined) and the Oregon State Bar. “Authorized agency” does not include:
(A)
The Oregon State Lottery Commission or the Oregon State Lottery; or
(B)
A criminal justice agency, as defined in ORS 181A.010 (Definitions for ORS 181A.010 to 181A.350), that is authorized by federal law to receive fingerprint-based criminal records checks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(b)
“Subject individual” means a person from whom an authorized agency may require fingerprints pursuant to statute for the purpose of enabling the authorized agency to request a state or nationwide criminal records check.
(2)
(a) An authorized agency may request that the Department of State Police conduct a criminal records check on a subject individual for non-criminal justice purposes.
(b)
A criminal records check under this subsection must, if requested by the authorized agency, include a name-based check of the national sex offender registry maintained by the National Crime Information Center.
(c)
If a nationwide criminal records check of a subject individual is necessary, the authorized agency may request that the Department of State Police conduct the check, including fingerprint identification, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(3)
The Department of State Police shall provide the results of a criminal records check conducted pursuant to subsection (2) of this section to the authorized agency requesting the check.
(4)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall return or destroy the fingerprint cards used to conduct the criminal records check and may not keep any record of the fingerprints, except that the Federal Bureau of Investigation may retain the fingerprint cards and records of the fingerprints for purposes described in ORS 181A.205 (Voluntary fingerprint retention program). If the federal bureau policy authorizing return or destruction of the fingerprint cards is changed, the Department of State Police shall cease to send the cards to the federal bureau but shall continue to process the information through other available resources.
(5)
If the Federal Bureau of Investigation returns the fingerprint cards to the Department of State Police, the Department of State Police shall destroy the fingerprint cards and may not retain facsimiles or other material from which a fingerprint can be reproduced, except that the Department of State Police may retain the fingerprint cards or create facsimiles for the purpose of providing information under ORS 181A.205 (Voluntary fingerprint retention program).
(6)
If only a state criminal records check is conducted, after the criminal records check is completed, the Department of State Police shall destroy the fingerprint cards and the results of the criminal records check provided to the authorized agency and may not retain facsimiles or other material from which a fingerprint can be reproduced, except that the Department of State Police may retain the fingerprint cards and results or create facsimiles for the purpose of providing information under ORS 181A.205 (Voluntary fingerprint retention program).
(7)
An authorized agency may conduct criminal records checks on subject individuals through the Law Enforcement Data System maintained by the Department of State Police in accordance with rules adopted, and procedures established, by the Department of State Police.
(8)
An authorized agency and the Department of State Police shall permit a subject individual for whom a fingerprint-based criminal records check was conducted to inspect the individual’s own state and national criminal offender records and, if requested by the subject individual, provide the individual with a copy of the individual’s own state and national criminal offender records.
(9)
Each authorized agency, in consultation with the Department of State Police, may adopt rules to implement this section and other statutes relating to criminal offender information obtained through fingerprint-based criminal records checks. The rules may include but need not be limited to:
Specifying which programs or services are subject to this section.
(d)
If the authorized agency uses criminal records checks for agency employment purposes:
(A)
Determining when and under what conditions a subject individual may be hired on a preliminary basis pending a criminal records check; and
(B)
Defining the conditions under which a subject individual may participate in training, orientation and work activities pending completion of a criminal records check.
(e)
Establishing fees in an amount not to exceed the actual cost of acquiring and furnishing criminal offender information.
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, an authorized agency making a fitness determination of an individual under this subsection may request results of a previously made fitness determination from an authorized agency that has already made a fitness determination for the individual. An authorized agency that receives a request under this paragraph shall provide the requested information.
(B)
An authorized agency may make a request under this paragraph only for individuals:
(i)
Who are applying to hold a position, provide services, be employed or be granted a license, certification, registration or permit;
The facts that support the conviction or pending indictment or that indicate the making of a false statement;
(C)
The relevancy, if any, of the crime or the false statement to the specific requirements of the subject individual’s present or proposed position, services, employment, license, certification or registration; and
(D)
Intervening circumstances relevant to the responsibilities and circumstances of the position, services, employment, license, certification, registration or permit, such as:
(i)
The passage of time since the commission of the crime;
(ii)
The age of the subject individual at the time of the crime;(iii) The likelihood of a repetition of offenses or of the commission of another crime;
(iv)
The subsequent commission of another relevant crime;
(v)
Whether the conviction was set aside and the legal effect of setting aside the conviction; and
(vi)
The recommendation of an employer.
(d)
A subject individual is not entitled to a fitness determination under this subsection if the subject individual:
Is prohibited by federal law from holding a position, providing services, being employed or being granted a license, certification, registration or permit for which the fitness determination is requested by an authorized agency.
(11)
(a) In conducting a fitness determination regarding a subject individual other than an individual described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Health Authority may not consider:
The department or the authority may consider a charge, arrest, conviction, deferred sentence, conditional discharge, participation in a diversion program or pending indictment that may not be considered under paragraph (a) of this subsection in making a fitness determination for a subject individual who is:
Criminal offender information is confidential. Authorized agencies and the Department of State Police shall adopt rules to restrict dissemination of information received under this section to persons with a demonstrated and legitimate need to know the information.
(13)
If a subject individual refuses to consent to the criminal records check or refuses to be fingerprinted, the authorized agency shall deny the employment of the individual, or revoke or deny any applicable position, authority to provide services, license, certification, registration or permit.
(14)
If an authorized agency requires a criminal records check of employees, prospective employees, contractors, vendors or volunteers or applicants for a license, certification, registration or permit, the application forms of the authorized agency must contain a notice that the person is subject to fingerprinting and a criminal records check. [Formerly 181.534; 2017 c.228 §8; 2019 c.187 §2; 2019 c.423 §1]Note: 181A.195 (Criminal records check) was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 181A or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.