72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 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 3267
 
                         House Bill 3071
 
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 as
introduced.
 
  Creates legislative task force to study changes in law
necessary to cause wages and rates of job growth and employment
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.
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 that 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 2003 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 Legislative Task Force
on Eastern Oregon consisting of nine members. The President of
the Senate shall appoint four members from among the members of
the Senate, at least two of whom must reside in eastern Oregon.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five
members from among members of the House of Representatives, at
least 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) If the task force concludes that there is a reasonable
probability that changes in laws will cause wages and rates of
job growth and employment in eastern Oregon to increase to match
the wages and rates of job growth and employment in western
Oregon within six years, the task force shall recommend to the
Legislative Assembly the changes in laws needed to accomplish the
increases.
  (c) If the task force concludes that there is no reasonable
probability that changes in laws will cause wages and rates of
job growth and employment in eastern Oregon to increase to match
the wages and rates of job growth and employment in western
Oregon within six years, the task force shall recommend to the
Legislative Assembly the creation of a separate State of Eastern
Oregon and the laws needed to create a separate state consisting
of eastern Oregon.
  (3) The task force may presession file legislation in the
manner provided in ORS 171.130 for interim committees. All
legislation recommended by official action of the task force must
indicate that the legislation is introduced at the request of the
task force.
  (4) The task force is subject to ORS 171.605 to 171.635 and has
the authority contained in ORS 171.505 and 171.510.
  (5) The task force shall use the services of permanent
legislative staff to the greatest extent practicable.
  (6) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
  (7) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the task force.
  (8) All agencies of the state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, shall assist the task force in the performance of its
duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to
confidentiality, to furnish the information and advice that the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
duties. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Each quarter, the Employment Department shall
report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives the median wage and the rates of job
growth and employment in eastern Oregon and in western Oregon for
the previous quarter. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + Section 2 of this 2003 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 median wage and the rates of
job growth and employment in eastern Oregon are lower than those
in western Oregon. + }
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