Chapter 482 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

HB 3376

Relating to women in the workforce; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Task Force on Promotional and Career Opportunities for Women in Oregon consisting of nine members. The members shall be appointed on or before October 1, 2001, as follows:

(a) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members, one of whom shall serve as chair of the task force;

(b) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members;

(c) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall appoint one member;

(d) The Governor shall appoint two members; and

(e) The Attorney General shall appoint one member.

(2) The goals of the task force are to:

(a) Issue a report that documents:

(A) The manner in which ORS chapters 652 and 659 and related regulations on pay equity are enforced in this state;

(B) The earnings of Oregon women broken down by income levels, occupation, education, length of employment if available, age, race and ethnicity and number of persons in a household in comparison to equivalent categories for Oregon men;

(C) The number and type of businesses owned by women in Oregon and business resources available to women;

(D) The amount and type of public education conducted concerning issues about pay for women in the workforce;

(E) The impact of domestic violence on women in the workforce; and

(F) The availability of child care options and resources at Oregon workplaces.

(b) Make recommendations for necessary corrective action relating to issues of women in the workforce.

(3) The task force shall make every effort to obtain input from advocacy groups for women, businesses, labor organizations and any other groups that may provide useful information.

(4) The task force is subject to the provisions of ORS 171.605 to 171.635 and has the authority contained in ORS 171.505 and 171.510. The task force shall report to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly not later than March 1, 2003. The task force shall conclude all of its activities under this section not later than March 1, 2003, and may take no further action under this section after March 1, 2003.

(5) The Employment Department shall provide staff necessary to the performance of the functions of the task force.

(6) Members of the task force are entitled to compensation and expenses under ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses incurred in performing functions of the task force shall be paid out of funds available for that purpose.

(7) All agencies, departments and officers of this state are directed to assist the task force in the performance of its functions, and to furnish such information and advice as the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their functions.

(8) Official action by the task force created under this section shall require the approval of a majority of the members.

(9) The task force is an advisory panel only. The State of Oregon and the members of the task force have no right or obligation to implement the evaluations, determinations, findings or recommendations of the task force without further legislation specifically authorizing such implementation.

SECTION 2. The Employment Department may accept contributions of funds from the United States, its agencies or from any other source, public or private, and agree to conditions thereon not inconsistent with the purposes of the task force.

SECTION 3. All moneys received by the Employment Department under section 2 of this 2001 Act shall be paid into the State Treasury and deposited in the General Fund to the credit of the department. The moneys are appropriated continuously to the department for the purposes of section 1 of this 2001 Act.

SECTION 4. Sections 1 to 3 of this 2001 Act are repealed January 1, 2004.

SECTION 5. This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor June 20, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 20, 2001

Effective date June 20, 2001

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