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 1056
 
                         Minority Report
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                    House Joint Resolution 14
                  Ordered by the Senate June 6
  Including House Amendments dated April 3 and Senate Minority
                 Report Amendments dated June 6
 
Sponsored by nonconcurring members of the Senate Committee on
  Finance and Revenue: Senators STARR, G. GEORGE
 
 
                             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.
 
    { - Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to modify
double majority voting requirements in property tax elections so
that double majority requirement does not apply to local property
tax measures submitted to electors in elections in May or
November of any year. - }
   { +  Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to establish
Oregon Government Ethics Fund. Provides that earnings on fund are
to be used only to pay expenses related to investigation and
enforcement of laws governing ethics in government.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund, for biennium beginning
July 1, 2009, for purpose of establishing Oregon Government
Ethics Fund. + }
  Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or
rejection at next regular general election.
 
                        JOINT RESOLUTION
  Whereas there is a state agency charged with making sure that
those who hold public office, and therefore public trust, adhere
to a code of ethics; and
  Whereas the state agency regulates the actions of all public
officials; and
  Whereas the state agency ensures that public bodies uphold the
public meetings law so that government actions are taken in
public; and
  Whereas the state agency ensures that public officials avoid or
declare conflicts of interest, giving Oregonians the confidence
that their public officials are acting in the best interests of
all; and
  Whereas placing decisions about the budget for the state agency
in the hands of those regulated by the agency risks the
credibility of the agency and those it regulates; and
  Whereas it is critical that a dedicated source of funding exist
to ensure that the state agency has a consistent and sustainable
means of carrying out its charge; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  PARAGRAPH 1. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended
by creating new sections 34 and 34a to be added to and made a
part of Article IV, such sections to read:
   { +  SECTION 34. + }  { + The Oregon Government Ethics Fund is
established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the
General Fund. The Oregon Government Ethics Fund is an investment
fund that retains its own interest. Earnings on the fund may be
used only to pay the expenses of the state agency charged by law
with the investigation and enforcement of the laws of this state
governing ethics in government. + }
   { +  SECTION 34a. + }  { + (1) The Seventy-fifth Legislative
Assembly shall appropriate to the Oregon Government Ethics Fund,
for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, out of the General Fund,
the amount of $14.5 million for the purposes of section 34 of
this Article.
  (2) This section is repealed on January 1, 2010. + }
 
  PARAGRAPH 2.  { + The amendment proposed by this resolution
shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection
at the next general election held throughout this state. + }
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