Section 107.775 - Methods of providing mediation services; qualifications; costs(1) A circuit court may obtain mediation services, with the prior approval of the governing body of each county involved, by:(a) Using personnel performing conciliation services for the court under ORS 107.510 to 107.610;(b) Contracting or entering into agreements with public or private agencies to provide mediation services to the court; or(c) Employing or contracting for mediators directly.(2) Personnel performing mediation services for the circuit court shall have the minimum educational and experience qualifications established by rules adopted under ORS 1.002.(3) Subject to the provisions of the Local Budget Law, the compensation and expenses of personnel performing mediation services for the circuit court and other expenses of mediation services provided by the court shall be paid by the county or as may be agreed upon by the counties involved. Personnel performing mediation services are not state employees, and their compensation and expenses shall not be paid by the state.(4) The parties to a child custody, parenting time or visitation dispute that is referred by the circuit court to mediation may use, at their option and expense, mediation services other than those provided by the court.(5) Two or more counties may join together to provide services under ORS 107.510 to 107.610 and 107.755 to 107.795.1983 c.671 §4; 1989 c.718 §25; 1997 c.475 §3; 1997 c.707 §20; 2003 c. 791, § 25