(1) As used in this section:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 609.656

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100

(a) ‘Abuse or neglect’ means:

(A) Animal abuse in the second degree as described in ORS § 167.315;

(B) Animal abuse in the first degree as described in ORS § 167.320;

(C) Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree as described in ORS § 167.322;

(D) Animal neglect in the second degree as described in ORS § 167.325; or

(E) Animal neglect in the first degree as described in ORS § 167.330.

(b) ‘Regulated social worker’ means a person authorized under ORS § 675.510 to 675.600 to perform regulated social work.

(2) Notwithstanding ORS § 40.250, in addition to the authorization under ORS § 609.654 to report aggravated animal abuse in the first degree, a regulated social worker who is an employee of the Department of Human Services and has reasonable cause to believe that an animal with which the social worker has come in contact as an employee of the department has suffered abuse or neglect, or that any person with whom the social worker has come in contact as an employee of the department has committed abuse or neglect of an animal, may immediately report the suspected abuse or neglect in the manner prescribed in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) A report under subsection (2) of this section may be made to a law enforcement agency, either orally or in writing, and may include, if known:

(a) The name and description of each animal involved;

(b) The address and telephone number of the owner or other person responsible for the care of the animal;

(c) The nature and extent of the suspected abuse or neglect;

(d) Any evidence of previous abuse or neglect or of previous aggravated animal abuse in the first degree as described in ORS § 167.322;

(e) Any explanation given for the suspected abuse or neglect; and

(f) Any other information that the regulated social worker believes may be helpful in establishing the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect or the identity of a person causing abuse or neglect.

(4) A regulated social worker who acts in good faith and has reasonable grounds for making a report under this section of suspected abuse or neglect is not liable in any civil or criminal proceeding brought as a result of making the report. [2015 c.184 § 1]

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

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