2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate
Chapter 125 - Protective Proceedings
Section 125.012 - Petition for protective order; disclosure of information; confidentiality; inspection; visitor report.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Party" means:

(A) A person who is the subject of a petition for a protective order.

(B) A person who has petitioned for appointment, or who has been appointed, as a fiduciary for a protected person under this chapter.

(C) A person, not otherwise a party under this paragraph, who has filed objections as allowed under this chapter.

(D) A visitor appointed by the court in a proceeding under this chapter.

(E) Any other person who has filed a petition or motion in a proceeding under this chapter.

(b) "Protected health information" has the meaning given that term in ORS 192.556.

(c) "Protective services" has the meaning given that term in ORS 410.040.

(2) The Department of Human Services or the Oregon Health Authority, for the purpose of providing protective services, may petition for a protective order under this chapter. When the department or authority, or a petitioning attorney with whom the department or authority has contracted, petitions for a protective order under this section, the department or authority shall disclose to the court or to the petitioning attorney only a minimum amount of information about the person who is the subject of the petition, including protected health, mental health, financial, substantiated abuse and legal information, as is reasonably necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the person who is the subject of the petition or protective order.

(3) When a petition for a protective order is filed under this chapter by a person other than the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority or an attorney with whom the department or authority has contracted, or when a protective order has already been entered, the department or authority may disclose to a court protected health, mental health, financial, substantiated abuse and legal information about the person who is the subject of the petition or protective order, or about a person who has petitioned for appointment, or who has been appointed, as a fiduciary for a protected person under this chapter. The department or authority may disclose such information without authorization from the person or fiduciary if the disclosure is made in good faith and with the belief that the disclosure is the minimum amount of information about the person or fiduciary as is reasonably necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the person who is the subject of the petition or protective order.

(4)(a) All confidential and protected health, mental health, financial, substantiated abuse and legal information disclosed by the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority or an attorney with whom the department or authority has contracted under this section must remain confidential.

(b) Information disclosed under this section must be identified and marked by the entity or person making the disclosure as confidential and protected information that is subject to the requirements of this subsection.

(c) Information disclosed under this section is subject to inspection only by the parties to the proceedings and their attorneys as provided in subsection (5) of this section. Information disclosed under this section is not subject to inspection by members of the public except pursuant to a court order entered after a showing of good cause. Good cause under this paragraph includes the need for inspection of the information by an attorney considering representation of the person who is the subject of the petition or protective order, or of a person who has petitioned for appointment, or who has been appointed, as a fiduciary for a protected person under this chapter.

(d) Notwithstanding ORS 125.155 (4), to the extent that the report of a visitor appointed by the court under ORS 125.150 contains information that is subject to the requirements of this subsection, the report in its entirety shall be considered subject to the requirements of this subsection and may be disclosed only as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(5) The court may enter an order allowing inspection of information subject to disclosure under this section upon the filing of a written request for inspection and the payment of any fees or costs charged to copy the information.

(6) Nothing in this section is intended to limit the application of ORS 125.050 to the use of information disclosed under this section in proceedings under this chapter.

(7) Information may be disclosed under this section only for the purpose of providing protective services.

[2009 c.512 §2; 2011 c.229 §1]