ORS 443.453: Interference with employee or volunteer disclosure of information concerning practice that threatens health or safety of residents prohibited.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) A residential facility may not interfere with the good faith disclosure of information by an employee or volunteer concerning the abuse or mistreatment of a resident in the residential facility, violations of licensing or certification requirements, criminal activity at the facility, violations of state or federal laws or any practice that threatens the health and safety of a resident of the facility to: (a) The Long Term Care Ombudsman, the Residential Facilities Ombudsman, the Department of Human Services, a law enforcement agency or other entity with legal or regulatory authority over the residential facility; or (b) A family member, guardian, friend or other person who is acting on behalf of the resident. (2) Unless performed with the intent to comply with state or federal law, including but not limited to protecting residents’ rights or carrying out a facility’s policies and procedures that are consistent with state and federal law, it is interference with the disclosure of information as described in subsection (1) of this section if a residential facility: (a) Asks or requires the employee or volunteer to sign a nondisclosure or similar agreement prohibiting the employee or volunteer from disclosing the information; (b) Trains an employee or volunteer not to disclose the information; or (c) Takes actions or communicates to the employee or volunteer that the employee or volunteer may not disclose the information. (3) The licensing agency may revoke or suspend the license of a residential facility that is found to have violated subsection (1) of this section. (4) The department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. (5) This section does not authorize the disclosure of: (a) Protected health information, as defined in ORS 192.556, other than as is permitted by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy regulations, 45 C.F.R. parts 160 and 164, ORS 192.553 to 192.581 or by other state or federal laws limiting the disclosure of health information; or (b) Information protected under ORS 419A.255 and 419A.257. [2019 c.381 §4]
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 309-011-0105: Purpose — implements
- OAR 309-035-0100: Purpose and Scope — implements
- OAR 309-035-0105: Temporary rule language in effect until 11/25/2026. Definitions — implements
- OAR 309-035-0115: Temporary rule language in effect until 11/25/2026. Licensing — implements
- OAR 309-035-0150: Sanitation — implements
- OAR 309-035-0155: Individual Furnishings — implements
- OAR 309-035-0156: Temporary rule language in effect until 11/25/2026. Screening — implements
- OAR 309-035-0158: Temporary rule language in effect until 11/25/2026. Waitlist Management — implements
- OAR 309-035-0163: Admission — implements
- OAR 411-054-0000: Purpose — implements
- OAR 411-054-0010: Licensing Standard — implements
- OAR 411-054-0012: Requirements for New Construction or Initial Licensure — implements
- OAR 411-054-0013: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Application for Initial Licensure and License Renewal — implements
- OAR 411-054-0016: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. New Applicant Qualifications — implements
- OAR 411-054-0017: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Consultants — implements
- OAR 411-054-0019: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Change of Ownership or Management — implements
- OAR 411-054-0028: Reporting and Investigating Abuse and Other Actions Affecting Resident Welfare — implements
- OAR 411-054-0030: Resident Services — implements
- OAR 411-054-0035: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Designated Contact Person — implements
- OAR 411-054-0036: Service Plan — General — implements
- OAR 411-054-0037: Acuity-Based Staffing Tool — implements
- OAR 411-054-0040: Change of Condition and Monitoring — implements
- OAR 411-054-0045: Resident Health Services — implements
- OAR 411-054-0055: Medications and Treatments — implements
- OAR 411-054-0060: Restraints and Supportive Devices — implements
- OAR 411-054-0065: Administrator Qualifications and Requirements — implements
- OAR 411-054-0080: Involuntary Move-out Criteria — implements
- OAR 411-054-0085: Refunds and Financial Management — implements
- OAR 411-054-0090: Fire and Life Safety — implements
- OAR 411-054-0093: Emergency and Disaster Planning — implements
- OAR 411-054-0100: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Exceptions — implements
- OAR 411-054-0105: Temporary rule language in effect until 02/05/2027. Inspections and Investigations — implements
- OAR 411-054-0106: Regulatory Framework — implements
- OAR 411-054-0130: Non-Renewal, Denial, Suspension or Revocation of License — implements
- OAR 411-054-0133: Temporary Manager — implements
- OAR 411-054-0135: Criminal Penalties — implements
- OAR 411-054-0140: Additional Authority — implements
- OAR 411-054-0200: Residential Care Facility Building Requirements — implements
- OAR 411-054-0300: Assisted Living Facility Building Requirements — implements
- OAR 411-325-0090: Change of Ownership, Legal Entity, Legal Status, Management Corporation — implements
- OAR 411-325-0185: Emergency Information — implements
- OAR 411-325-0200: Transportation — implements
- OAR 411-325-0220: Individual Furnishings — implements
- OAR 411-325-0240: Assessment of Fire Evacuation Assistance — implements
- OAR 411-325-0250: Fire Drill Requirements and Fire Safety — implements
- OAR 411-325-0270: Fire Safety Requirements for Homes on a Single Property or on Contiguous Property Serving Six or More Individuals — implements
- OAR 411-325-0290: Fire Safety Requirements for Apartments Serving Five or Fewer Individuals — implements
- OAR 411-325-0370: Individuals' Personal Property — implements
- OAR 411-325-0410: Community Living Supports — implements
- OAR 411-325-0430: Individual Support Plan — implements
- OAR 411-325-0440: Children’s Direct Contracted Services — implements
- OAR 411-325-0480: Criminal Penalties — implements
- OAR 415-012-0065: Suspension of License — implements
- OAR 415-012-0075: Licensure Conditions — implements
- OAR 419-210-0120: Screening Activities — implements
- OAR 419-210-0160: Exception to Completing an Investigation — implements
- OAR 419-210-0180: Abuse Investigation Report — implements
- OAR 419-210-0200: Confidentiality — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 192.556 — resolved
- ORS 192.553 — resolved
- 192.581 — resolved
Cited by
No inbound citations found.
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors443.html