OAR 471-070-8520: One-Percent Penalty

(1) If an employer has failed to file or complete all required reports or pay all required contributions for the calendar year as described in 471-070-3030, the department shall assess the penalty authorized by ORS 657B.910 on the Paid Leave Oregon subject wages. The department shall send notice of the assessment of such penalty to the employer's last known address or electronically when permitted, if the employer has opted for electronic notification, as shown in the department’s records on or before October 20 of the year. The penalty shall become due on November 10 immediately following the assessment. (2) On or after the date of the assessment, but prior to November 10 immediately following the assessment, the employer may request waiver of the penalty based on good cause as defined in OAR 471-070-8530. (3) If an employer makes a request for waiver of the penalty within the time prescribed in section (2) of this rule, the department shall make a decision, either granting or denying the waiver, and mail notice of the decision to the employer's last known address or electronically when permitted, if the employer has opted for electronic notification, as shown in the department’s records. If, prior to November 10 immediately following the assessment, the department determines that the employer had good cause for the failure to file all reports or pay all contributions due by September 1, the department shall grant the request for waiver and remove the penalty from the employer's account. If the employer fails to establish good cause prior to November 10 immediately following the assessment, the department shall deny the request for waiver. If the request for waiver is denied, the department shall notify the employer that a request for a contested case hearing may be filed within 20 calendar days after the date that the penalty waiver decision is sent to the employer. (4) Hearings held and administrative law judge decisions issued pursuant to section (3) of this rule shall be in accordance with the provisions in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) located in chapter 471, division 70. (5) Judicial review of administrative law judge decisions issued pursuant to this rule shall be as provided for review of orders in contested cases under ORS chapter 183 and under any applicable appeals provisions in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) located in chapter 471, division 70. The director is designated as a party for the purposes of hearings under this rule. (6) Upon motion of the director or upon application of an interested employer, the director may reconsider a penalty imposed under ORS 657B.910 irrespective of whether it has become final: (a) Such reconsideration shall be restricted to penalties resulting from clerical errors or errors of computation and may include a new decision upon any grounds or issues not previously ruled upon or new facts not previously known to the director; (b) A new decision issued after reconsideration shall be subject to hearing and judicial review in accordance with this rule. (7) A request for waiver of the penalty for good cause must be in writing. The date of any request for waiver under this rule shall be: (a) The postmarked date on the request, if mailed; (b) The date specified in OAR 471-070-0850, if electronically filed; or (c) In the absence of a postmark, submittal date or machine imprinted date, the most probable date of mailing as determined by the director. (8) The employees listed in OAR 471-070-0550 may act on behalf of the director for the purposes of sections (1), (2) and (3) of this rule.