Section 181A.550 - Certification of regulatory specialists(1) Except for a person who has requested and obtained an extension from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training under subsection (2) of this section, subject to subsection (3) of this section the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission may not employ a person as a regulatory specialist for more than 18 months unless the person is a citizen of the United States who has been certified under ORS 181A.410 as being qualified as a regulatory specialist and the certification has not: (b) Been revoked under ORS 181A.630, 181A.640 and 181A.650 (1) and not reissued under ORS 181A.630 (2).(2) The department, upon the facts contained in an affidavit accompanying the request for extension, may find good cause for failure to obtain certification within the time period described in subsection (1) of this section. If the department finds that there is good cause for the failure, the department may extend for up to one year the period that a person may serve as a regulatory specialist without certification. The grant or denial of an extension is within the sole discretion of the department.(3) The citizenship requirement in subsection (1) of this section does not apply to a person employed as a regulatory specialist on March 16, 2012, who continues to serve as a regulatory specialist without a lapse under subsection (4) of this section.(4) The certification of a regulatory specialist shall lapse after three or more consecutive months of not being employed as a regulatory specialist unless the regulatory specialist is on leave from the commission. Upon reemployment as a regulatory specialist, the person whose certification has lapsed may apply to be certified under ORS 181A.355 to 181A.689.(5) The commission shall pay the costs of training required for a regulatory specialist to be certified by the department.Amended by 2021 Ch. 351, § 11, eff. 8/2/2021.