(1) At the request of a humane investigation agency, the Superintendent of State Police shall commission a designated employee of the humane investigation agency as a humane special agent, if:

(a) The employee is certified, or is eligible for certification, as a police officer under the provisions of ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689;

(b) The superintendent determines that the employee is fit and qualified to perform the duties of a humane special agent;

(c) The humane investigation agency agrees in writing to save harmless and indemnify the State of Oregon and its officers, employees and agents from and against any tort claim or demand, whether groundless or otherwise, arising out of an alleged act or omission of the employee or the humane investigation agency, that relates to or results from the authority granted by the commission; and

(d) The humane investigation agency furnishes to the superintendent a copy of an insurance policy, purchased and maintained by the humane investigation agency, that the superintendent determines is sufficient to satisfy any tort claim or demand described in paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(2) Before granting a commission under this section, the superintendent may require the employee to take and subscribe to an oath of office to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the State of Oregon, and to honestly and faithfully perform the duties of a humane special agent.

(3) The superintendent shall suspend or revoke a commission granted under this section if the superintendent determines that:

(a) The certification of the employee as a police officer has lapsed or been revoked pursuant to ORS § 181A.630, 181A.640 and 181A.650 (1), and has not been reissued under ORS § 181A.650 (2);

(b) The employee has been separated from employment with the humane investigation agency; or

(c) The employee has abused the commission.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, an employee of a humane investigation agency commissioned under this section holds the commission at the pleasure of the superintendent. The superintendent may suspend or revoke a commission granted under this section at any time for good cause, as determined by the superintendent. If the superintendent revokes a commission granted under this section, the employee of the humane investigation agency is entitled only to an informal opportunity to be heard by the superintendent, for the purposes of explaining any factual circumstances related to the revocation and attempting to persuade the superintendent to reverse the decision to revoke the commission.

(5) Humane special agents commissioned under this section serve at the expense of the humane investigation agency employing the agent.

(6) The superintendent may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. The rules may include a description of the circumstances in which a humane special agent is prohibited from carrying a firearm while engaged in the enforcement of animal welfare laws.

(7) As used in this section:

(a) ‘Animal welfare laws’ means:

(A) ORS § 167.310 to 167.390 and 167.426 to 167.439; and

(B) ORS § 164.043, 164.045, 164.055, 164.057, 164.075, 164.345, 164.354 and 164.365, if the subject of the crime is an animal.

(b) ‘Humane investigation agency’ means a private, nonprofit animal care agency that has maintained an animal welfare investigation department for at least five years and has had officers employed as special agents under ORS § 131.805. [Formerly 181.433]

181A.340 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.