Chapter 844 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 3015

Relating to elections; amending ORS 250.125 and 251.205.

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

SECTION 1. ORS 250.125 is amended to read:

250.125. (1) When a state measure involves expenditure of public money by the state, reduction of expenditure of public money by the state, reduction of state revenues or raising of funds by the state by imposing any tax or incurring any indebtedness, the Secretary of State, the State Treasurer, the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Director of the Department of Revenue shall estimate the amount of direct expenditure, direct reduction of expenditure, direct reduction in state revenues, direct tax revenue or indebtedness and interest which will be required to meet the provisions of the measure if it is enacted. The estimate shall state the recurring annual amount involved or, if the measure does not involve a recurring annual amount, the total amount.

(2) The officials named in subsection (1) of this section shall also estimate the aggregate amount of direct expenditure, direct reduction of expenditure, direct reduction in revenues, direct tax revenue or indebtedness and interest which will be required by any city, county or district to meet the provisions of the measure.

(3) The estimates shall be printed in the voters' pamphlet and on the ballot unless the measure involves only state agency expenses not exceeding $100,000 per year.

(4) If the officials named in subsection (1) of this section determine that the measure, if it is enacted, will have no financial effect except as described in subsection (3) of this section, the words "no financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues" shall be printed in the voters' pamphlet and on the ballot.

(5) The Legislative Administration Committee shall provide any administrative staff assistance required by the officials named in subsection (1) of this section to facilitate the work of the officials under this section or ORS 250.127.

SECTION 2. ORS 251.205 is amended to read:

251.205. (1) As used in this section, "proponents" means:

(a) With respect to any state measure initiated or referred by petition, the chief petitioners; or

(b) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Senator, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall appoint a Representative.

[(1)] (2) For each state measure to be submitted to the people at a special election held on the date of a biennial primary election or any general election, a committee of five citizens shall be selected to prepare the explanatory statement under ORS 251.215.

[(2)] (3) Not later than the 120th day before the election, the proponents of the measure shall appoint two members to the committee and notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selections. If the proponents do not appoint two members, the Secretary of State shall appoint two members of the committee from among supporters, if any, of the measure not later than the 118th day before the election.

[(3)] (4) Not later than the 118th day before the election, the Secretary of State shall appoint two members of the committee from among the opponents, if any, of the measure.

[(4)] (5) The four appointed members of the committee shall select the fifth member and notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selection. If the four members have not selected the fifth member by the 111th day before the election, the fifth member shall be appointed by the Secretary of State not later than the 109th day before the election.

[(5)] (6) A vacancy shall be filled not later than two business days after the vacancy occurs by the person who made the original appointment. Unless the Secretary of State fills a vacancy, the person filling the vacancy shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selection.

[(6) As used in this section, "proponents" means:]

[(a) With respect to any state measure initiated or referred by petition, the chief petitioners; or]

[(b) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Senator, and the Speaker of the House, who shall appoint a Representative.]

(7) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, a Senator or Representative appointed under subsection [(1)] (2) of this section may disclose whether the Senator or Representative supports or opposes the state measure. The Secretary of State shall print the disclosure in the voters' pamphlet following the explanatory statement.

(8) The Legislative Administration Committee shall provide any administrative staff assistance required by the explanatory statement committee to facilitate the work of the explanatory statement committee under this section or ORS 251.215.

Approved by the Governor July 22, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 22, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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