2011 Oregon Revised Statutes
ORS Volume 11, Chapters 431 - 470
ORS Chapter 433
433.121 Emergency administrative order for isolation or quarantine; contents; ex parte court order.

(1) The Public Health Director or a local public health administrator may issue an emergency administrative order causing a person or group of persons to be placed in isolation or quarantine if the Public Health Director or the local public health administrator has probable cause to believe that a person or group of persons requires immediate detention in order to avoid a clear and immediate danger to others and that considerations of safety do not allow initiation of the petition process set out in ORS 433.123. An administrative order issued under this section must:

(a) Identify the person or group of persons subject to isolation or quarantine;

(b) Identify the premises where isolation or quarantine will take place, if known;

(c)(A) Describe the reasonable efforts made to obtain voluntary compliance with a request for an emergency public health action including requests for testing or medical examination, treatment, counseling, vaccination, decontamination of persons or animals, isolation, quarantine, and inspection and closure of facilities; or

(B) Explain why reasonable efforts to obtain voluntary compliance are not possible and why the pursuit of these efforts creates a risk of serious harm to others;

(d) Describe the suspected communicable disease or toxic substance, if known, that is the basis for the issuance of the emergency administrative order and the anticipated duration of isolation or quarantine based on the suspected communicable disease or toxic substance;

(e) Provide information supporting the reasonable belief of the Public Health Director or the local public health administrator that the person or group of persons is, or is suspected to be, infected with, exposed to, or contaminated with a communicable disease or toxic substance that could spread to or contaminate others if remedial action is not taken;

(f) Provide information supporting the reasonable belief of the Public Health Director or the local public health administrator that the person or group of persons would pose a serious and imminent risk to the health and safety of others if not detained for purposes of isolation or quarantine;

(g) Describe the medical basis for which isolation or quarantine is justified and explain why isolation or quarantine is the least restrictive means available to prevent a risk to the health and safety of others;

(h) Establish the time and date at which the isolation or quarantine commences; and

(i) Contain a statement of compliance with the conditions of and principles for isolation and quarantine specified in ORS 433.128.

(2)(a) In lieu of issuing an emergency administrative order under subsection (1) of this section, the Public Health Director or a local public health administrator may petition the circuit court for a written ex parte order.

(b) The petition to the court and the court s order must include the information described in subsection (1) of this section.

(c) The Public Health Director or local public health administrator:

(A) Shall make reasonable efforts to serve the person or group of persons subject to isolation or quarantine with the petition before the petition is filed; and

(B) Is not required to provide prior notice of an ex parte proceeding at which the petition is being considered by the court.

(3) Within 12 hours of the issuance of an order under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the person or group of persons detained or sought for detention must be personally served with the written notice required by ORS 433.126 and with a copy of any order issued under subsection (1) or (2) of this section. If copies of the notice and order cannot be personally served in a timely manner to a group of persons because the number of persons in the group makes personal service impracticable, the Public Health Director or the local public health administrator shall post the notice and order in a conspicuous place where the notice and order can be viewed by those detained or shall find other means to meaningfully communicate the information in the notice and order to those detained.

(4) A person or group of persons detained pursuant to an order issued under subsection (1) or (2) of this section may not be detained for longer than 72 hours unless a petition is filed under ORS 433.123.

(5) If the detention of a person or group of persons for longer than 72 hours is deemed necessary, immediately following the issuance of an order under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the Public Health Director or the local public health administrator must petition the circuit court in accordance with ORS 433.123.

(6) A person or group of persons detained under subsection (1) or (2) of this section has the right to be represented by legal counsel in accordance with ORS 433.466. [2007 c.445 8; 2011 c.721 2]