71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2882
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 3525
                   Ordered by the House May 10
             Including House Amendments dated May 10
 
Sponsored by Representative BUTLER
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Creates legislative task force to study law changes to cause
wages and jobs in eastern Oregon to increase to match wages and
rates of job growth and employment in western Oregon. Requires
task force to recommend changes in law   { - to improve economy
in eastern Oregon or to recommend allowing eastern Oregon to form
separate state - }  { +  needed to accomplish increase + }.
Requires Employment Department to report to presiding legislative
officers on comparison of economies of eastern Oregon and western
Oregon.
  Becomes operative when, for two consecutive quarters,
Employment Department reports economic indicators favor western
Oregon over eastern Oregon.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the economy in eastern Oregon.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + As used in sections 2 to 4 of this 2001 Act:
  (1) 'Eastern Oregon' has the meaning given that term in ORS
321.405.
  (2) 'Western Oregon' has the meaning given that term in ORS
321.257. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) There is created the Task Force on Eastern
Oregon consisting of nine members. The President of the Senate
shall appoint four members, two of whom must reside in eastern
Oregon. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
five members, two of whom must reside in eastern Oregon.
  (2)(a) The task force shall study changes in law that will
increase wages and the rates of job growth and employment in
eastern Oregon to match the wages and the rates of job growth and
employment in western Oregon.
  (b) The task force shall recommend to the Legislative Assembly
the changes in law needed to accomplish the increase.
  (c) Legislation recommended by official action of the task
force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of the
task force. The task force must prepare the legislation in time
for presession filing under ORS 171.130.
  (3) Except as provided in sections 2 to 4 of this 2001 Act, 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 may file its written report at any time within 30 days
after its final meeting, or at a later time designated by the
appointing authorities.
  (4) The task force, in consultation with the appointing
authorities, shall develop a work plan consisting of a list of
subjects for study by the task force and the duration of the
study. The task force shall file the work plan with the
Legislative Administrator. The task force may modify the work
plan after consultation with the appointing authorities.
  (5) The Legislative Administrator may employ the persons the
administrator considers necessary to assist the task force to
perform the functions required by sections 2 to 4 of this 2001
Act.
  (6) Members of the Legislative Assembly who serve on the task
force are entitled to an allowance as authorized by ORS 171.072.
Claims for expenses incurred in performing functions of the task
force shall be paid out of funds appropriated for that purpose.
  (7) All agencies, departments and officers of the state shall
assist the task force in the performance of its functions, and to
furnish the information and advice the members of the task force
consider necessary to perform their functions.
  (8) Subject to the approval of the Emergency Board, the task
force may accept contributions of funds and assistance from the
United States Government, its agencies, or from any other source,
public or private, and to agree to conditions on the use of the
funds or assistance not inconsistent with the purposes of the
task force. The task force must use the funds to aid in the
financing of the functions of the task force, and must deposit
the funds in the General Fund of the State Treasury to the credit
of separate accounts for the task force. The task force must
disburse the funds for the purposes for which contributed in the
same manner as funds appropriated for the task force.
  (9)(a) Official action by the task force requires the approval
of a majority of the task force.
  (b) The task force shall elect a chairperson from its
members. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Each quarter, the Employment Department shall
report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives the the average annual wage, the rate of
job growth and the rate of employment in eastern Oregon and in
western Oregon for the most recently available quarter. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + Section 2 of this 2001 Act becomes operative
when, for two consecutive quarters, the Employment Department
reports to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives that the average annual wage, the rate
of job growth and the rate of employment in eastern Oregon are
lower than in western Oregon. + }
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