# ORS § 431.045: 431.045 Public Health Officer

> Oregon · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.045

## Section

- **Citation:** ORS § 431.045
- **Heading:** 431.045 Public Health Officer
- **Jurisdiction:** Oregon
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** OR Code / Title 36 / Chapter 431 / Section 431.045

## Text

(1) The Director of the Oregon Health Authority shall appoint a Public Health Officer who shall be responsible for the medical and paramedical aspects of the health programs within the Oregon Health Authority. The Public Health Officer must be a physician licensed under ORS chapter 677 who:

(a) Is certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine or the board of a primary care clinical specialty such as internal medicine, family medicine or pediatrics; and

(b) Has at least two years of experience working for a local, state or federal public health authority.

(2) The Public Health Officer:

(a) Is responsible for the duties imposed by 42 U.S.C. 300ff-133(g) and 300ff-136;

(b) May appoint a local health officer for a county that has transferred the responsibility of the local public health authority in the county to the Oregon Health Authority under ORS 431.382 (Transfer of local public health authority’s responsibility) ; and

(c) May adopt rules to carry out the officer’s responsibilities under this subsection. [1971 c.650 §2; 1973 c.358 §5; 1977 c.267 §18; 1987 c.618 §1; 2001 c.900 §143; 2007 c.71 §119; 2009 c.595 §533; 2013 c.61 §1; 2015 c.318 §7; 2019 c.321 §2]

Source: Section 431.045 — Public Health Officer; appointment; qualifications; duties; rules , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors431.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

## Nearby sections

- [ORS § 431.001 431.001 Findings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.001.md)
- [ORS § 431.003 431.003 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.003.md)
- [ORS § 431.035 431.035 Power of Director of Oregon Health Authority to delegate functions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.035.md)
- [ORS § 431.045 431.045 Public Health Officer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.045.md)
- [ORS § 431.110 431.110 General powers and duties of Oregon Health Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.110.md)
- [ORS § 431.115 431.115 Administrative duties of Oregon Health Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.115.md)
- [ORS § 431.120 431.120 Other duties of Oregon Health Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.120.md)
- [ORS § 431.122 431.122 Members](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.122.md)
- [ORS § 431.123 431.123 Duties of Oregon Public Health Advisory Board](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.123.md)
- [ORS § 431.125 431.125 Duties related to public health laws](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.125.md)
- [ORS § 431.131 431.131 Foundational capabilities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.131.md)
- [ORS § 431.132 431.132 Assessment and epidemiology](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.132.md)
- [ORS § 431.133 431.133 Emergency preparedness and response](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.133.md)
- [ORS § 431.134 431.134 Communications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.134.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T36_C431_S431.045. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.