Chapter 680 Oregon Laws 2005
AN ACT
SB 1084
Relating to Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature; and declaring an emergency.
Whereas more than 30 years have passed since the last comprehensive review of the legislative branch; and
Whereas the legislative branch is the basic policy-making branch for state government and the most responsive of the three branches to issues of importance to the citizens of the state; and
Whereas the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon is responsible for enacting sufficient and proper laws of the state for governing the conduct and activities of the citizens of Oregon; and
Whereas the Legislative Assembly is responsible for enacting laws for the management of the governmental affairs of the state; and
Whereas the increasing complexity of our society has meant that a multitude of issues come before the Legislative Assembly for consideration and determination, with an increasingly heavy workload for the Legislative Assembly, legislative committees and legislators; and
Whereas the Legislative Assembly recognizes the need for study and evaluation of the body’s administration, procedures, facilities, staffing and overall capacity, and the need for study and evaluation of ways of improving the body’s administration, procedures, facilities, staffing and overall capacity; and
Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that a major review and study of the legislative branch of government of this state, and of all of the Legislative Assembly’s functions and activities, should be undertaken for the purpose of ensuring that the Legislative Assembly can meet the increasing demands of legislative work and perform its functions as an equal and coordinate branch of state government; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of
Oregon:
SECTION
1. (1) There is created the
Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature consisting of 30 members appointed
as follows:
(a)
The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from among members of the
Senate;
(b)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from
among members of the House of Representatives; and
(c)
The President and Speaker shall jointly appoint 26 public members who have
broad experience with, interest in and perspective on the legislative branch.
(2)
The commission shall conduct a review of and make recommendations on all
aspects of the legislative branch, including the timing, frequency and length
of legislative sessions, legislative procedures and the adequacy of legislative
facilities and staffing.
(3)
The commission may send members to study facilities and services provided in
other state capitols.
(4)
A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business. A majority of the members of a subcommittee of the
commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business of the
subcommittee.
(5)
Official action by the commission requires the approval of a majority of the
members of the commission. Official action by a subcommittee requires the
approval of a majority of the members appointed to the subcommittee.
(6)
The President and Speaker shall designate two members of the commission to
serve as cochairpersons of the commission.
(7)
The cochairpersons of the commission shall determine the number and nature of
subcommittees and appoint commission members to subcommittees to carry out the
work of the commission.
(8)
If there is a vacancy on the commission for any cause, the appointing authority
shall make an appointment to become immediately effective. The cochairpersons
of the commission will fill vacancies on subcommittees.
(9)
The commission shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the
cochairpersons. Subcommittees of the commission shall meet at times and places
specified by the chairpersons of the subcommittees.
(10)
The commission may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the commission.
(11)
No later than January 5, 2007, the commission shall prepare a report of its
study for submission to the Emergency Board and to members of the
Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly.
(12)
The commission may draft and presession file legislation to be considered by
the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly.
(13)
The Legislative Administration Committee and the Legislative Assembly shall
provide staff to support the commission and subcommittees of the commission.
(14)
Members of the commission who are not members of the Legislative Assembly are
entitled to compensation and may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel
and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official duties
in the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses
incurred in performing functions of the commission shall be paid out of funds
appropriated to the Legislative Assembly for that purpose.
(15) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the commission in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the members of the commission consider necessary to perform their duties.
SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2005 Act is repealed January 8, 2007.
SECTION 3. This 2005 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2005 Act takes effect on its passage.
Approved by the Governor July 29, 2005
Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 29, 2005
Effective date July 29, 2005
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