Chapter 881 Oregon Laws 2009

AN ACT

HB 2920

Relating to efficiencies in the provision of governmental services; and declaring an emergency.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Task Force on Effective and Cost-Efficient Service Provision, consisting of 21 members appointed as follows:

          (a)(A) The Governor shall appoint:

          (i) Two members from among staff of the office of the Governor.

          (ii) Seven members from state agencies and departments other than the Governor’s office.

          (iii) Three members who are county commissioners in this state. The Governor shall consider recommendations for these positions from the Association of Oregon Counties.

          (iv) One member who is a mayor or city councilor in this state. The Governor shall consider a recommendation for this position from the League of Oregon Cities.

          (v) One member who is a member of a special district board of directors.

          (B) Of the members appointed by the Governor under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, at least one shall have served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Federal Forest Payments and County Services and at least one shall have served as a voting, nonvoting or adjunct member, an advisory council member or a staff member of the Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring.

          (b) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from among members of the Senate, including at least one member of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

          (c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from among members of the House of Representatives, including at least one member from the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

          (d) The Secretary of State, the State Treasurer and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall serve as ex officio members.

          (2) The task force shall:

          (a) Review opportunities to provide services in the most effective and cost-efficient manner;

          (b) Consider the ability of intergovernmental agreements, existing or new service districts and technology to achieve cost savings;

          (c) Encourage effective fiscal planning for counties managing the phaseout of federal forest safety net payments; and

          (d) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly an appropriate level of state fiscal support to counties.

          (3) The task force shall analyze, at a minimum, the following categories of services under subsection (2) of this section:

          (a) Assessment and taxation;

          (b) Elections;

          (c) Human services; and

          (d) Criminal justice.

          (4) The task force may analyze additional services under subsection (2) of this section.

          (5) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

          (6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the members of the task force.

          (7) The Governor shall appoint one of the members as chairperson.

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

          (9) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the task force.

          (10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force.

          (11) The task force shall submit an interim report to the Legislative Assembly no later than November 30, 2009, reporting progress of work and initial recommendations, and shall submit a final report to the Legislative Assembly no later than October 1, 2010.

          (12) The task force shall use the services of permanent staff of the offices of the Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Judicial Department and Legislative Fiscal Officer. The task force shall also accept staff assistance from the Association of Oregon Counties if the association offers assistance.

          (13) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the task force 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 task force consider necessary to perform their duties.

          (14)(a) The task force shall establish a technical committee to aid and advise the task force in the performance of its functions. The task force shall determine the representation, membership, terms and organization of the committee and shall appoint its members. If the Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Counties or the Executive Director of the Special Districts Association of Oregon consents to serve on the technical committee, the task force shall appoint one or both directors to the committee.

          (b) The task force shall establish subcommittees to work on the subject areas identified in subsection (3) of this section in the priority order that the task force identifies at its initial meeting.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2009 Act is repealed on the date of the convening of the next regular biennial legislative session.

SECTION 3. 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 on its passage.

Approved by the Governor August 4, 2009

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 4, 2009

Effective date August 4, 2009

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