74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 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 1811
House Bill 2060
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
Presession filed (at the request of Public Commission on the
Oregon Legislature)
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 Commission on Legislative Campaign Finance Reform.
Declares emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Commission on Legislative Campaign Finance Reform;
and declaring an emergency.
Whereas public confidence in the processes of the Oregon
Legislative Assembly is low; and
Whereas the rising cost of legislative campaigns increases the
reliance of legislative candidates and legislative caucuses on
special interest funding; and
Whereas reliance on special interest funding inhibits
independent legislative decision-making, intensifies partisanship
and discourages problem solving; and
Whereas when partisanship dominates legislative
decision-making, cooperation, creativity and compromise are
neglected; and
Whereas a Legislative Assembly perceived to be dominated by
partisanship further erodes public confidence in the decisions
and effectiveness of the assembly; and
Whereas legislative effectiveness builds public confidence in
legislative processes and outcomes; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) There is created the Commission on
Legislative Campaign Finance Reform consisting of 11 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 seven
public members who have broad experience with, interest in and
perspective on campaign finance issues related to members of the
Legislative Assembly and candidates for legislative office.
(2) The commission shall conduct a review of and make
recommendations on all aspects of the role of campaign finance
issues in legislative decision-making. The goals of the
commission's recommendations shall include:
(a) Separating legislative policy and budget decisions from the
influence of campaign contributions and expenditures;
(b) Restraining the escalation of legislative campaign costs
and spending;
(c) Shifting the balance of legislative campaign activity away
from fund-raising and toward discussion of policy issues and
activities designed to engage voters in the legislative process;
(d) Decreasing the dependence of legislative candidates and
legislative caucuses on contributions from and expenditures by
special interest groups; and
(e) Preserving the Oregon legislative tradition of resolving
issues in a bipartisan manner.
(3) 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.
(4) 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
of the subcommittee.
(5) The President and Speaker shall jointly designate one
member of the commission to serve as chairperson of the
commission.
(6) The chairperson of the commission may determine the number
and nature of subcommittees and appoint commission members to
subcommittees to carry out the work of the commission. The
chairperson of the commission shall select one member of each
subcommittee to serve as chairperson of the subcommittee.
(7) If there is a vacancy on the commission for any cause, the
appointing authority shall make an appointment to become
immediately effective. The chairperson of the commission shall
make appointments to fill vacancies on subcommittees.
(8) The commission shall meet at times and places specified by
the call of the chairperson. Subcommittees of the commission
shall meet at times and places specified by the chairpersons of
the subcommittees.
(9) The commission may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the commission.
(10) No later than January 9, 2009, the commission shall
prepare a report of its review for submission to the members of
the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly.
(11) The commission may draft and presession file legislation
to be considered by the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly.
(12) The Legislative Administration Committee and the
Legislative Assembly shall provide staff to support the
commission and subcommittees of the commission.
(13) 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.
(14) 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 2007 Act is repealed January
12, 2009. + }
SECTION 3. { + This 2007 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2007 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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