House Joint Resolution 42

Whereas section 10a, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, authorizes the Legislative Assembly in the event of an emergency to convene in special session; and

Whereas the loss of Oregonians' jobs and reduction in revenues available to adequately fund vital public services, such as education, health care and public safety, constitute an emergency; and

Whereas this state's reliance on revenues from income taxes exacerbates reductions in state revenues during periods of economic decline; and

Whereas section 2, Article IX of the Oregon Constitution, requires the Legislative Assembly to provide for the raising of revenue sufficient to defray the expenses of the state; and

Whereas this state's current tax structure impedes job creation and business investment and could be restructured to improve Oregon's economic future and still produce adequate and stable revenues to support essential state services; and

Whereas section 10a, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, requires the presiding officers to convene the Legislative Assembly in special session within five days after receipt of a written request for the session by a majority of the members of each chamber; and

Whereas section 11, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, authorizes the Legislative Assembly to determine rules of proceeding; and

Whereas the Legislative Assembly may prescribe procedures for the Legislative Assembly's operation that differ from procedures prescribed by law; and

Whereas the requirement in section 10a, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, of a written request for the convening of a special session serves as a means of verifying a member's intent; and

Whereas a member's public vote in favor of this joint resolution, when recorded in the journal of the chamber, constitutes the member's written request for the convening of a special session; and

Whereas the work of the Legislative Assembly in special session will be advanced by the consideration of tax reform proposals by a joint interim committee; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

(1) There is created the Joint Interim Committee on Tax Reform, consisting of 12 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and eight members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.

(2) The purpose of the committee is to study and make recommendations on improvements to the state's tax system.

(3) By May 31, 2004, the committee shall develop legislation for recommendation to the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly. The committee may introduce proposed measures in a special session of the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly and presession file proposed measures for consideration by the Seventy-third Legislative Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 171.130 for interim committees. A proposed measure recommended by official action of the committee must indicate that the proposed measure is introduced at the request of the committee.

(4) The committee may take action only by the affirmative vote of a majority of members of each chamber on the committee.

(5) To the extent that there is a conflict between the provisions of this joint resolution and ORS 171.605 to 171.635, the provisions of this joint resolution supersede ORS 171.605 to 171.635.

(6) The Legislative Revenue Office shall provide staff support to the committee.

(7) This joint resolution prescribes an alternative procedure to ORS 171.015 for the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly's convening in special session.

(8) When the presiding officers have signed this joint resolution, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives shall provide the Legislative Administrator with two true copies of the joint resolution.

(9) The Legislative Administrator shall deliver the true copies of the joint resolution to the chief legislative officers on May 31, 2004. Delivery to the chief legislative officers constitutes delivery to the presiding officers.

(10) Within five days after receiving the true copies of the joint resolution through the chief legislative officers, the presiding officers shall convene the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly in special session.

Filed in the office of Secretary of State September 12, 2003

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