Chapter 802 Oregon Laws 2009

AN ACT

SB 443

Relating to commission for providing school improvement services; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The Oregon Educator Professional Development Commission is established within the Department of Education for the purpose of providing statewide collaborative leadership for prekindergarten through post-secondary education in the areas of school improvement.

          (2) The commission consists of 16 members appointed as follows:

          (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate.

          (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the House of Representatives.

          (c) The Governor shall appoint 14 members as follows:

          (A) Two members who represent education service districts.

          (B) One member who represents the Department of Education.

          (C) One member who represents a community college.

          (D) One member who represents a public institution of higher education.

          (E) One member who represents a not-for-profit private institution of higher education.

          (F) One member who represents the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.

          (G) One member who represents the Governor’s office.

          (H) Six members who represent public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, including:

          (i) One superintendent of a school district.

          (ii) Two principals of schools.

          (iii) Two teachers licensed or certified by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.

          (iv) One classified employee of a school.

          (3) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the commission are nonvoting members of the commission and may act in an advisory capacity only.

          (4)(a) The term of office of each member of the commission is three years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

          (b) Before the expiration of the term of a member, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor.

          (c) A member is eligible for reappointment.

          (d) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.

          (5) Members of the commission who are members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled to mileage expenses and a per diem as provided by ORS 171.072. Other members of the commission are not entitled to compensation but a member may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred by the member in the performance of the member’s official duties in the manner and amount provided in ORS 292.495.

          (6) The commission shall select from among its members a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary, for such terms and with such duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of the offices.

          (7) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

          (8) Official action by the commission requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the commission.

          (9) The commission shall meet at least once each calendar quarter at a place, day and hour determined by the commission. The commission may also meet at other times and places specified by the call of the chairperson.

          (10) The Department of Education may accept, on behalf of the commission, contributions of moneys and assistance from the United States Government or its agencies or from any other source, public or private, and agree to conditions placed on the moneys not inconsistent with the duties of the commission.

          (11) All moneys received by the department under subsection (10) of this section shall be paid into the Department of Education Account established in ORS 326.115 to the credit of the commission. The moneys are continuously appropriated to the commission for the purposes of carrying out the duties of the commission.

          (12) The Department of Education shall solicit and award a public contract for services provided by the commission, including the maintenance of the public website and the provision of assistance to local school districts. A contract may be procured only as provided by ORS 279B.060 and may not be procured as a sole-source procurement under ORS 279B.075, an emergency procurement under ORS 279B.080 or a special procurement under ORS 279B.085.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding the term of office specified by section 1 of this 2009 Act, of the members first appointed to the Oregon Educator Professional Development Commission:

          (1) Five shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2011.

          (2) Five shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2012.

          (3) Six shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2013.

SECTION 3. (1)(a) The Oregon Educator Professional Development Commission established under section 1 of this 2009 Act shall:

          (A) Develop and maintain a public website for posting and sharing professional development opportunities.

          (B) Assist local school districts in developing professional development plans to meet school improvement objectives.

          (b) The commission is not restricted to performing the activities described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

          (2) The website developed and maintained under this section shall:

          (a) Display a calendar of professional development programs being offered across the state and be categorized by topics.

          (b) Post feedback from users of professional development programs, with an emphasis on identifying successes, challenges and lessons learned.

          (c) Provide contact information for professional development programs.

          (d) Publish professional development standards adopted by the State Board of Education and relevant national professional associations to ensure that professional development program offerings are aligned with quality standards that support best practices for access to and delivery of professional development.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated to the Department of Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, out of the General Fund, the amount of $130,000 to be used to carry out the purposes of the Oregon Educator Professional Development Commission as described in sections 1 and 3 of this 2009 Act.

SECTION 5. This 2009 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2009 Act takes effect July 1, 2009.

Approved by the Governor July 23, 2009

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 23, 2009

Effective date July 23, 2009

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