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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:black"><img width="185" height="60" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01D1AC3E.7D69A380"></span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">May 12, 2016</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">BOLI removes barrier to civil rights filings by lifting public notary requirement</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">PORTLAND, OR—The Civil Rights Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries will no longer require public notarization of complaints, the agency announced today.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The change results from recent conversations with the Oregon Law Center, Legal Aid Services of Oregon and others about the difficulty and expense faced by farm workers, rural Oregonians, and lower-income populations
in obtaining access to notary publics. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Although the division had a longtime practice of requiring notarization for most complaints, applicable rules and statutes do not require notarization of a complainant’s signature.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Revised civil rights charge forms will now include the following declaration above the signature line:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">“I hereby declare under penalty of perjury, that the above statement is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I understand it is made for use as evidence in
an official proceeding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">I understand that the above statement is a public record and that the information herein may be disclosed to any person, at any time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“The Civil Rights Division enforces laws meant to protect equal opportunity in employment, housing and public places,” said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. “We hope that this modest change will make it easier
for anyone potentially facing unlawful discrimination or other unfair treatment.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The change will be effective Monday, May 16.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For more information about BOLI’s efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit
</span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Charlie Burr<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, Oregon 97232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel: 971-673-0788<o:p></o:p></p>
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