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EspañolWhat is safe leave, and what can it be used for?
Safe leave is paid time off. It’s part of the Paid Leave Oregon program.1
You can use safe leave to:
- get legal help or help from law enforcement to protect your or your child’s health and safety;
- get ready for, or participate in, a protective order case or another legal case related to domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, a bias crime, or stalking;
- seek medical help or recover from injuries caused by the domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, bias crime, or stalking;
- get counseling related to your experience;
- get services from a victim services provider; or
- to move, or take the steps necessary to move.2
1 See Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 657B.020(1); 657B.010(17)
2 Or. Rev. Stat. § 659A.272
How much time can I take off work for safe leave?
You can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave in one benefit year.1 A “benefit year” isn’t the same thing as a calendar year. Your benefit year will start on the Sunday before your first day of leave.2 You can go to the Paid Leave Oregon website for a detailed explanation of how all of this works.
1 Or. Rev. Stat. § 657B.020(1)
2 O.A.R. 471-070-1000(4)
What is the definition of sexual assault?
For the purposes of taking safe leave in Oregon, sexual assault includes all of the following crimes:
- rape in the first, second, and third degree;
- sodomy in the first, second, and third degree;
- unlawful sexual penetration in the first and second degree;
- purchasing sex with a minor;
- sexual abuse in the first, second, and third degree;
- sexual abuse by fraudulent representation;
- online sexual corruption of a child in the first and second degree;
- contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor;
- sexual misconduct;
- custodial sexual misconduct in the first and second degree;
- public indecency;
- private indecency;
- unlawful dissemination of an intimate image; and
- endangering the welfare of a minor.1
1 Or. Rev. Stat. § 659A.270(7)
What is a bias crime?
Under Oregon law, a bias crime happens if:
- a person:
- damages your property;
- injures you physically; or
- places you in fear of physical injury; and
- they attempted or committed the crime because of your:
- race;
- color;
- disability;
- religion;
- national origin;
- sexual orientation; or
- gender identity.1
You can read the complete definition of a bias crime in the first degree and second degree on our Oregon Selected Statutes page.
1 Or. Rev. Stat. § 147.380(a)
