This procedure explains how to make a request for records of the Professional Liability Fund (PLF). It also explains the calculation of fees and delivery options for the records. Please note that records related to professional liability claims against the PLF are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 9.080(E). You may seek review of the PLF’s response to a records request in accordance with ORS 192.407 to 192.431.

How to Request Records

You can submit a request through the online form linked below or by letter directed to:

Heather Bowman
Public Records Custodian
OSB Professional Liability Fund
PO Box 231600
Tigard, OR 97281-1600
 


Submit a Request Online »


Fees & Delivery Options

The PLF charges a fee to reimburse for its costs of producing and delivering public records. Typically, this fee includes charges for staff time, copying costs, and postage.

Calculation of Fees

As a courtesy, the PLF does not charge for the first 15 minutes of staff time spent in responding to a public records request. The PLF reserves the right to charge for all of its staff time if it receives frequent or repeated requests from the same source.
  1. The PLF charges for staff time for all public records requests that require more than 15 minutes of staff time to prepare a response, regardless of whether records are provided in paper or electronic form.
  2. Charges for staff time are based on the PLF’s actual cost for the employees’ time. Charges for staff time include time spent locating, compiling, sorting, segregating, redacting, and reviewing records to prepare them for inspection; obtaining legal advice about the request; and supervising the inspection of records. The rates for staff most likely to respond to records requests are approximately as follows, and may change from time to time:
    • Public Records Coordinator: $22/hour
    • IT Technical Support: $30/hour 
    • CEO or General Counsel: $50/hour

Copying Paper Records

  1. As a courtesy, the PLF provides up to 10 pages of copies at no charge. The PLF reserves the right to charge for all of its copy expenses if it receives frequent or repeated requests from the same source.
  2. The PLF charges 25¢ per page (after the first ten 10 pages of records) to reimburse for its copying costs. This charge includes the staff time required to make copies but does not include staff time spent locating, compiling, sorting, segregating, redacting, or reviewing records. (See Staff Time above.)
  3. A page means the number of paper records copied onto a piece of 8-1/2" x 11" paper. Except when staff considers it more efficient, documents will not be reduced in size or otherwise altered to fit additional records on a page. A double-sided copy is two pages.
  4. The PLF charges for any additional actual costs for copies made on paper larger than 8-1/2" x 11", with costs calculated on a case-by-case basis.  


Copying Electronic Records

  1. The PLF charges $15 for each DVD/CD or $25 for a USB flash drive used to produce electronic records. This cost includes the staff time required to copy electronic records to the disk or drive but does not include staff time spent locating, compiling, sorting, segregating, redacting, or reviewing electronic records. (See Staff Time above.) Due to the threat of computer viruses and other malware, requesters may not provide their own disks or flash drives, and devices provided by the PLF cannot be used for future requests.
  2. The PLF can email responsive records that are less than 5MB and readily available in electronic format. The PLF does not charge for staff time spend sending responsive emails, but it does charge for staff time spent locating, compiling, sorting, segregating, redacting, or reviewing emailed electronic records. (See Staff Time above.) Due to system constraints, the PLF will not email records larger than 5MB. The PLF also does not divide responsive electronic records into smaller sections to accommodate email constraints. 
Unless a public records requester arranges to pick up records at the PLF, the PLF will also charge for postage costs to mail the records. 


Written Estimate

The PLF will send an estimate of its fee for producing the records before the records are provided. If the PLF estimates that responding to a records request will cost more than $25, the PLF cannot respond to the request until the requester confirms that the requester wants the PLF to proceed.


Payment

The PLF accepts checks or money orders made payable to the Professional Liability Fund. The PLF reserves the right to require payment before providing any records.  
 

Fee Waiver

The PLF will consider a fee waiver if it determines that making the records available primarily benefits the general public. Fee waiver requests should explain why the request primarily benefits the general public. 


Questions

If you have questions about the PLF's public records procedures, send them to prr@osbplf.org or to Professional Liability Fund, Public Record Requests, PO Box 231600, Tigard, OR 97281.