The Office of Administrative Hearings Oversight Committee was originally established in 2001 as the Hearing Officer Panel Oversight Committee to oversee the activities of the newly created Hearing Officer Panel. At that time, the Hearing Officer Panel was a pilot project. In 2003, the Oregon Legislature changed the name of the Hearing Officer Panel to the Office of Administrative Hearings and established it as a permanent part of state government. Consequently, the name of the Oversight Committee was changed to the Office of Administrative Hearings Oversight Committee.
As set out in ORS 183.690, the committee has an ongoing duty to:
- Study the operations of the Office of Administrative Hearings;
- Make any recommendations to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly that the committee deems necessary to increase the effectiveness, fairness, and efficiencies of the operations of the Office of Administrative Hearings;
- Make any recommendations for additional legislation governing the operations of the Office of Administrative Hearings; and
- Conduct such other studies as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this subsection.