Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
404.095“Search and rescue” not to include urban search and rescue 404.100Search and Rescue Coordinator; appointment; duties 404.105Program for air search and rescue 404.110Search and rescue activities; responsibilities of sheriff; delegation of sheriff’s duties 404.115Restriction of access to search and rescue area 404.120County sheriff to adopt search and rescue plan; contents; annual review 404.125Critique of search and rescue incident; filing amended search and rescue plan with Oregon Department of Emergency Management 404.130Search and rescue incident number 404.135Investigative subpoena 404.200Definitions for ORS 404.200 to 404.215 404.205Application 404.210Coverage under Oregon Tort Claims Act 404.215Workers’ compensation coverage 404.250Leave of absence from employment for search and rescue volunteer 404.255Definitions 404.257Required disclosures by private search parties 404.260Required notification to county sheriff 404.265Imposition of civil penalties by county 404.270Reimbursement of public body for search and rescue by benefited persons; amount; exceptions 404.300Definitions for ORS 404.300 to 404.315 404.305Assumption of risk of wilderness travel or mountain climbing; use and effect of electronic signaling devices 404.310Required equipment when guiding children above timberline 404.315Exemption from liability for electronic signaling device; exceptions 404.325Posting of emergency contact telephone number 404.350Rescue of companion animal 404.400Agreement for outdoor recreation search and rescue card program 404.410Requirements of program; search and rescue grants; reporting

Chapter 404 — Search and Rescue

ORS 404.200 Definitions for ORS 404.200 to 404.215

As used in ORS 404.200 to 404.215:

(1)

“Qualified search and rescue volunteer” means:

(a)

A person who is registered with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to conduct search and rescue activities;

(b)

A person who is registered with a sheriff to conduct search and rescue activities;

(c)

A member of a designated search and rescue organization that is registered with a sheriff or the department; or

(d)

A person who is acknowledged in writing as a qualified search and rescue volunteer by the department, or by a sheriff or the designee of a sheriff, at the scene of a search or rescue.

(2)

“Search and rescue activities” means:

(a)

Searching for, rescuing or recovering any person who is missing, injured or deceased; and

(b)

Training to perform the activities described in paragraph (a) of this subsection that is either conducted or approved by a public body.

(Qualification)

Official sources · 2Tap to view provenance and version history

Online copy of the published ORS edition

Provenance

Version history

Earlier statutory text is available in an ingested published ORS edition.