Title 17, State Legislative Department and Laws

(1) Witnesses appearing under process issued pursuant to ORS 171.510: (a) Before the Senate or House of Representatives, or a standing, special or statutory committee of either or both, or a subcommittee thereof, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, shall be re…

(1) Whenever a person summoned as provided in ORS 171.510 fails to appear to testify or fails to produce any books, papers, records or documents as required, or whenever any person so summoned refuses to answer any question pertinent to the subject under inquiry before either hou…

(1) Whenever a person summoned as provided in ORS 171.510 fails to appear to testify or fails to produce any books, papers, records or documents as required, or whenever any person so summoned refuses to answer any question pertinent to the subject under inquiry before either hou…

Any testimony given by a witness before any legislative committee shall not be used against the witness in any criminal action or proceeding, nor shall any criminal action or proceeding be brought against such witness on account of any testimony so given by the witness, except fo…

(1) The privilege of a witness who appears voluntarily or under subpoena before a committee of the Legislative Assembly in a matter within the jurisdiction of the committee is the same as that of a witness in judicial proceedings. A statement made by the witness before a legislat…

(1) Upon election, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a Joint Committee on Ways and Means. At least two of the members appointed from each house shall have had previous experience on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. If …

(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that there is a need for a comprehensive, specific budget format available to all members of the Legislative Assembly so that: (a) Effective policy decisions can be made; (b) Line items in agency budgets can be identified by program function; (c…

The Legislative Fiscal Officer may provide information related to the preparation and adoption of the legislatively adopted budget, or to measures considered by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means during any session of the Legislative Assembly, to the Oregon Department of Admin…

The Senate by rule adopted during a session or at a convening of the Senate to carry out its duties under section 4, Article III of the Oregon Constitution, shall specify its procedures for the confirming of appointments by the Governor that are by law subject to confirmation by …

(1) In case of any executive appointment made subject to confirmation of the Senate, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Senate shall be necessary for confirmation. If an appointment is not confirmed by the Senate, the Governor shall make another appointment,…

The Legislative Assembly shall provide continuing oversight, by committee, task force or other appropriate means, to insure that compensation and classification in the state service meet the requirements of ORS 240.190 and other applicable provisions of state law. Members perform…

(1) There is created a Joint Legislative Audit Committee consisting of the cochairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker and members of the Senate appointed by the President. (2) The committee has a continuing …

(1) The Joint Legislative Audit Committee shall: (a) Select audit reports for review and make recommendations for change or remediation by the audited entity to the Emergency Board, the Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means or other appr…

(1) In carrying out specific evaluations and reviews, the Legislative Fiscal Office may request the services of the Division of Audits, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and other statutory agencies of the Legislative Assembly. (2) The Division of Audits shall, for…

(1) The powers described in ORS 171.605 to 171.635 are supplementary and in addition to those otherwise possessed by interim committees and their members. ORS 171.605 to 171.635 are not intended to limit the powers that would be possessed by interim committees and their members h…

The Legislative Assembly may by joint resolutions create interim committees to: (1) Make studies of and inquiries into any subject of assistance to the Legislative Assembly, or either house thereof, in exercising its legislative authority. (2) Report information of assistance to …

(1) An interim committee may function during the period beginning at the adjournment sine die of the odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly during which it was created, and ending at the convening of the next odd-numbered year regular session of the Legisla…

Unless otherwise specifically provided by law or by the joint resolution creating it, and in addition to any other powers it possesses, an interim committee may: (1) Perform such acts as the committee finds necessary to carry out its powers and the purposes expressed in the joint…

(1) In case of a vacancy among the membership of an interim committee, the authority who appointed a member to the position vacant may appoint a member to fill the vacancy. (2) For the purposes of this section, a member of an interim committee appointed in the capacity of the mem…

Provision may be made, in the joint resolution creating an interim committee, for the appointment to the committee of individuals other than members of the Legislative Assembly. A lobbyist, as defined in ORS 171.725, may not serve as the chairperson of an interim committee, excep…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Appointing authority” means the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, subject to the rules of the respective bodies over which each presides. (b) “Interim committee” includes any committee of three or more member…

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each may appoint an interim staff to assist the President or Speaker during the period between sessions of the Legislative Assembly. Each presiding officer shall fix the compensation and prescribe the dut…

Subject to any other grant of or limitation on authority to authorize the incurring of and approve disbursements for indebtedness or expenses of the Legislative Assembly to be paid from amounts appropriated by law out of the General Fund for that purpose, which may be adopted by …

As used in ORS 171.725 to 171.785, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Compensation” has the meaning given that term in ORS 292.951. (2) “Consideration” includes a gift, payment, distribution, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, and includes a contract…

The Legislative Assembly finds that, to preserve and maintain the integrity of the legislative process, persons who engage in efforts to influence legislative action, either by direct communication with legislative officials or by solicitation of executive officials or other pers…

ORS 171.740 and 171.745 do not apply to the following persons: (1) News media, or their employees or agents, that in the ordinary course of business directly or indirectly urge legislative action but that engage in no other activities in connection with the legislative action. (2…

(1) Within three business days after exceeding the limit of time or expenditure specified in ORS 171.735 (4), or within three business days after agreeing to provide personal services for money or any other consideration for the purpose of lobbying, a lobbyist shall register with…

(1) A lobbyist registered with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission or required to register with the commission shall annually attend at least two hours of training described in ORS 173.915. (2) A lobbyist registered with the commission or required to register with the commiss…

(1) A lobbyist registered with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission or required to register with the commission shall, according to the schedule described in ORS 171.752, file with the commission a statement showing for the applicable reporting period: (a) The total amount of …

(1) Any person on whose behalf a lobbyist was registered, or was required to register, with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission at any time during the calendar year shall file with the commission, according to the schedule described in ORS 171.752, a statement showing for the…

Statements required to be filed with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission under ORS 171.745 and 171.750 shall be filed in each calendar year: (1) Not later than April 15, for the accounting period beginning January 1 and ending March 31; (2) Not later than July 15, for the acc…

(1) A lobbyist may not instigate the introduction of any legislative action for the purpose of obtaining employment to lobby in opposition to the legislative action. (2) A lobbyist may not attempt to influence the vote of any member of the Legislative Assembly by the promise of f…

(1) A lobbyist may not serve as the chairperson of a legislative work group or legislative task force that is staffed by nonpartisan staff of the legislative department, as defined in ORS 174.114. (2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to a chairperson who is a public …

(1) Each report, registration or statement required by ORS 171.725 to 171.785 shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of false swearing. Such declaration shall be in lieu of any oath otherwise required. (2) No person shall willful…

(1) No lobbyist or public official, as defined in ORS 244.020, shall make any false statement or misrepresentation to any legislative or executive official or, knowing a document to contain a false statement, cause a copy of such document to be received by a legislative or execut…

All information submitted to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission in any report, registration or statement required by ORS 171.725 to 171.785 is a public record. [1973 c.802 §9; 1983 c.740 §38]

In carrying out the provisions of ORS 171.725 to 171.785, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission shall: (1) Prescribe by rule forms for registrations, statements and reports required to be filed by ORS 171.725 to 171.785 and provide the forms to persons required to register and …

(1) In addition to the duties prescribed in ORS 171.772, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission may make inquiries or investigations in the manner prescribed in ORS 171.778 with respect to registrations, statements and reports filed under ORS 171.725 to 171.785, and with respect…

(1)(a) Any person may file with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission a signed written complaint alleging that there has been a violation of any provision of ORS 171.725 to 171.785 or of any rule adopted by the commission under ORS 171.725 to 171.785. The complaint shall state …

(1) In addition to such penalties as otherwise may be provided by law, a person is subject to such sanctions as either house of the Legislative Assembly may prescribe if the person: (a) Violates any provision of ORS 171.740 to 171.762; or (b) Fails to file any report, registratio…

Notwithstanding any provision of a city or county charter or any ordinance or order adopted thereunder, a city or county shall not: (1) Prohibit an elected official, other officer or employee of the city or county from initiating contacts with legislators or giving testimony befo…

(1) The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that it is now possible and feasible in this electronic age to distribute information more widely by way of electronic communication. The Legislative Assembly further finds that it is desirable to make information available to the c…

(1) There is hereby created a Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the members of the committee. (2) The committee has a continuing existence and may meet, a…

The Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology shall: (1) Establish statewide goals and policy regarding information systems and technology, including telecommunications. (2) Conduct studies of information management and technology efficiency and securit…

(1) For each odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint a special legislative committee to issue a report pursuant to section 8, Article VIII of the Oregon Consti…

(1) There is established the Joint Committee on Transportation. (2) The joint committee consists of members of the Senate appointed by President of Senate and members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (3) The President of th…

The Joint Committee on Transportation shall examine transportation related policy and transportation project expenditures and make recommendations related to transportation to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. The Joint Committee on Transportation shall provide general legis…

(1) The Legislative Assembly takes notice of the increasing number of legislative proposals for mandating certain health coverages, whether such proposals mandate payments for certain providers of health care or mandate the offering of health coverages by insurance carriers and h…

Every proposed legislative measure that mandates a health insurance coverage, whether by requiring payment for certain providers or by requiring an offering of a health insurance coverage by an insurer or health care service contractor as a component of individual or group health…

The report required under ORS 171.875, to the extent that information is available, shall include but need not be limited to the following: (1) Answers to the following questions concerning the social effect of the proposed measure: (a) To what extent is the treatment or service …