2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 10 - Highways, Military, Juvenile Code, Human Services
Chapter 411 - Public Assistance and Medical Assistance
Section 411.967 - Forms and notices to be in plain language.

Every form, notice, brochure or other written material of the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Health Authority intended for use by persons inquiring about, applicants for or recipients of public assistance or medical assistance shall be written in plain language. A form, notice, or brochure is written in plain language if it substantially complies with all of the following tests:

(1) Uses short sentences and paragraphs;

(2) Uses everyday words readable at an eighth-grade level of reading ability;

(3) Uses simple and active verb forms;

(4) Uses type of readable size;

(5) Uses uppercase and lowercase letters;

(6) Heads sections and other subdivisions with captions which fairly reflect the content of the section or subdivision and which are in boldfaced type or otherwise stand out significantly from the text;

(7) Uses layout and spacing which separate the paragraphs and sections of the document from each other and from the borders of the paper;

(8) Is written and organized in a clear and coherent manner;

(9) Is designed to facilitate ease of reading and comprehension; and

(10) Is readable at the sixth-grade level of reading ability except for vocabulary referred to in subsection (2) of this section.

[1987 c.3 §3(1); 2013 c.688 §63]