(1) The Department of Human Services or a designee of the department shall conduct the investigations and make the findings required by ORS 430.735 to 430.765.
(2) The department shall prescribe by rule policies and procedures for the investigations of allegations of abuse of a person with a developmental disability as described in ORS 430.735 (2)(a) to ensure that the investigations are conducted in a uniform, objective and thorough manner in every county of the state including, but not limited to, policies and procedures that:
(a) Limit the duties of investigators solely to conducting and reporting investigations of abuse;
(b) Establish investigator caseloads based upon the most appropriate investigator-to-complaint ratios;
(c) Establish minimum qualifications for investigators that include the successful completion of training in identified competencies; and
(d) Establish procedures for the screening and investigation of abuse complaints and establish uniform standards for reporting the results of the investigation.
(3) A person employed by or under contract with the department, the designee of the department or a community developmental disabilities program to provide case management services may not serve as the lead investigator of an allegation of abuse of a person with a developmental disability.
(4) The department shall monitor investigations conducted by a designee of the department.