ORS 173.912: Contracting for independent investigator; investigator duties.

(1) Under the direction of the Joint Committee on Conduct, the Legislative Equity Officer shall contract with one or more individuals who are unaffiliated with the legislative branch and who meet the standards and criteria established by the committee for performing services for the legislative branch as an independent investigator. An independent investigator shall:

      (a) Receive complaints and reports alleging harassment or other conduct that is asserted to violate standards of harassment, discrimination or retaliation prescribed by legislative branch personnel rules;

      (b) Conduct investigations, determine facts, write investigative reports and report outcomes of investigations to appointing authorities or other persons or entities identified in legislative branch personnel rules or chamber rules as recipients of independent investigator reports; and

      (c) Make recommendations regarding interim safety measures to appointing authorities or other persons or entities identified in legislative branch personnel rules or chamber rules as recipients of independent investigator recommendations on interim safety measures.

      (2) An independent investigator may not have access to confidential files and records of the Legislative Equity Officer.