Oregon Statutes 419B.045 – Investigation conducted on school premises; notification; role of school personnel
(1) The Department of Human Services or a law enforcement agency has the authority to conduct an investigation, on school premises, of a report of child abuse.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 419B.045
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
(2) When an investigation of a report of child abuse is conducted on school premises, the school administrator shall first be notified that the investigation is to take place, unless the school administrator is a subject of the investigation.
(3) The department or the law enforcement agency conducting the investigation shall present adequate identification to school staff members.
(4) After the department or law enforcement agency presents adequate identification, school staff members shall cooperate with the investigation by, at a minimum:
(a) Allowing the department or law enforcement agency access to the child who is the suspected victim in the report of child abuse; and
(b) Providing a private space in which to conduct an interview of the child.
(5) The department or the law enforcement agency conducting the investigation is not required to reveal information about the investigation to the school as a condition of conducting the investigation.
(6) The school administrator or a school staff member designated by the administrator may, at the investigator’s discretion, be present to facilitate the investigation.
(7) The investigator shall be advised by a school administrator or a school staff member of the child’s disabling conditions, if any, prior to any interview with the child.
(8)(a) A school administrator or school staff member may not notify any person, including the child’s parents or guardian, other than the department or law enforcement agency and any school employee necessary to enable the investigation, of an investigation described in this section and may not disclose any information obtained during an investigation.
(b) Information obtained during an investigation is not part of the child’s school records.
(9) A school administrator or school staff member may testify at any subsequent court proceeding relating to the investigation and may be interviewed by the respective litigants prior to any court proceeding.
(10) A school district, school administrator or school staff member may not be held liable for civil damages as a result of compliance with this section.
(11) This section applies solely to an investigation that involves an interview of the suspected victim in the report of child abuse or witnesses and does not apply to an investigation or interview of a person who is suspected of having committed the abuse that is the subject of the report. [1993 c.546 § 22; 2003 c.14 § 225; 2017 c.515 § 1; 2018 c.77 § 1]