Oregon Blue Book: Legislative Statutory Committees and Interim Offices

Legislative Statutory Committees and Interim Offices

The North Umpqua River Dam. (Photo courtesy Edwin Battistella)

Legislative Administration Committee
Committee on Executive Appointments
Emergency Board
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology
Legislative Commission on Indian Services
Legislative Counsel Committee
Legislative Fiscal Office
Legislative Revenue Office
Oregon Law Commission

Legislative Administration Committee
Scott Burgess, Legislative Administrator
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/comm/legadmin/legadminset.htm
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov

The Legislative Administration Committee (LAC) provides services to the Legislative Assembly, its support staff and the public. The committee, authorized by ORS 173.710, is composed of the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House, three senators appointed by the president, and four representatives appointed by the speaker. The committee appoints an administrator to serve as its executive officer. The administrator’s office coordinates and oversees the operation of the following administrative units:

Committee Services
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 453, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1813
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/comm/
Committee Services supports the Legislative Assembly by providing professional services to legislative committees, legislators, legislative offices and staff, government agencies and the public. Staff responsibilities include administration of standing, session, and interim committees; research projects; public notification; measure analyses and session staff coordination and training. Committee Services also includes Committee Records and the Legislative Library and Public Access Room.

Committee Records
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 453, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1182
Committee Records maintains minutes, exhibits, and audio recordings of all legislative committee proceedings from the current or interim sessions.

Legislative Library and Public Access Room
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 446, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1668
The Legislative Library and Public Access Room provide information services to members, staff, government agencies, other legislatures and to the public. The library contains more than 1,000 catalogued documents on legislative issues, 20 periodicals and newspaper subscriptions and measure analyses from recent sessions and interims, as well as legislative calendars, journals and laws from past sessions including Oregon Laws dating back to the 1800s.

Employee Services
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 140-B, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1373
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/jobs
Employee Services provides human resource administration to all legislative employees and legislative job seekers.

Facility Services
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 60-H, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1360
Facility Services is responsible for operational support within the State Capitol, oversight of security and food service, Capitol room reservations, risk management, and historic preservation. Services are provided through two units: Legislative Purchasing and Supply, and Operations and Maintenance.

Legislative Purchasing and Supply
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 49, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1180
In addition to serving as the Legislature’s central mail and publication distribution office, Legislative Purchasing and Supply is the site at which the public may receive copies of legislative measures and publications. This unit also issues office supplies to legislative staff.

Operations and Maintenance
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 60-H, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1360
The Operations and Maintenance unit of Facility Services provides custodial and recycling services, building maintenance, heating/cooling plant operations, office furniture and equipment.

Financial Services
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 140-C, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1695
Financial Services provides budgeting, accounting and financial reporting services for the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Administration, and the Legislative Commission on Indian Services. Accounting services are provided for the Legislative Fiscal and Revenue Offices.

Information Systems
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. S-424, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1914
Information Systems develops and maintains the legislature’s computer infrastructure and provides technology services to all legislative offices and employees. Services include a centralized help desk for all technology support requests, development of new software application systems, administration of legislative information technology infrastructure and Web sites.

Legislative Media
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 35, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1195
Legislative Media provides video and audio services for all legislative offices, and televises legislative hearings, floor sessions, press conferences and special events occurring in the Capitol.

Visitor Services
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rotunda Area, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1388
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/capinfo
Visitor Services provides guided tours and video presentations on the legislative process and Capitol history. The unit provides a wide range of information to the public. It also operates the Capitol Gift Shop, which markets Oregon products, crafts and art.

Committee on Executive Appointments
Address: c/o Secretary of the Senate, 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 233, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1851

Article III, Section 4, of the Oregon Constitution provides that the Legislative Assembly may require that all appointments to state public office made by the governor shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

During the legislative session, the Senate president refers executive appointments to an appropriate standing or special committee. The committee is responsible for reviewing the background and qualifications of appointees to ensure statutory requirements are met. Each appointee appears before the committee for a personal interview unless such appearance is waived in accordance with Senate rules. The committee submits its recommendations to the full Senate for its vote on confirmation.

During the interim period between legislative sessions, pursuant to ORS 171.565, the Senate reviews the governor’s appointments. An interim standing committee is appointed by the Senate president, in accordance with Senate rules, and has at least five, but no more than 11 members. The committee generally meets the day prior to convening of the Senate to consider the governor’s appointments and then submits its recommendations to the full Senate for a vote. The Senate
convenes seven or eight times during an interim period for the purpose of considering the governor’s appointments.

Emergency Board
Ken Rocco, Legislative Fiscal Officer
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. H-178, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1828

The Emergency Board, established by ORS 291.324, has 21 members consisting of the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, seven other Senate members, and eight other House members. Between sessions, the Emergency Board may allocate to any state agency, out of emergency funds appropriated to the board, additional monies to carry on an activity required by law for which an appropriation was not made. The board may authorize an agency to expend, from funds dedicated or continuously appropriated for the purpose of the agency, sums in excess of the amount budgeted for the agency; may approve a budget for a new activity coming into existence at a time that would preclude submission of a budget to the Legislature; and may revise the budgets of state agencies to the extent of authorizing transfers between expenditure classifications within an agency.

Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Ken Rocco, Legislative Fiscal Officer
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. H-178, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1828

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means, created under ORS 171.555, is the legislative entity charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Legislative Assembly with regard to its constitutional requirement to adopt a balanced budget. The joint committee is made up of members appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. This appropriation process structure, employed in Oregon and several other states, is especially effective in resolving budgetary differences. The Legislative Fiscal Office provides staff assistance to the committee.

Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Dallas Weyand, Committee Administrator
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. H-178, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1828

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee was created in 1989 pursuant to ORS 171.580–171.590. The committee consists of the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and others, as appointed by the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate. The committee reviews financial and compliance audits for the purpose of recommending changes in the agency operations or state financial and other systems, and sets priorities for program evaluations and performance audits and determines the type of audit, evaluation or review to be performed. The Legislative Fiscal Office provides staff assistance to the committee.

Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology
Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology
Bob Cummings, Committee Administrator
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. H-178, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1828

The Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology was created to establish statewide information systems goals and policies; to make recommendations regarding established and proposed information resource management programs and information technology acquisitions; and to conduct studies of data processing efficiency and security. The committee consists of seven members: four appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and three appointed by the president of the Senate. The committee operates pursuant to ORS 171.852–171.855, and is staffed by the Legislative Fiscal Office.

Legislative Commission on Indian Services
Karen Quigley, Executive Officer
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 167, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1067
E-mail: karen.m.quigley@state.or.us
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov

The Commission on Indian Services was created in 1975 under ORS 172.100–.140 and operates as a small agency within the legislative branch of state government. The commission consists of 13 members appointed by the legislative leadership to two-year terms of office. Each of Oregon’s nine federally-recognized Native American tribal governments has one member. There is also a member from the Portland-area Native American community and one from the Willamette Valley. One state senator and one state representative are also seated on the commission. The commission is an advisory, not an advocacy, body.
The commission’s specific statutory responsibilities include compiling information about services for Native Americans; developing programs to advertise available services, and that make Native American needs and concerns known to public and private agencies whose activities affect Indians; encouraging and supporting agencies to expand and improve services; and evaluating state services to Native Americans, reporting biennially to the governor and the Legislature on matters concerning Native Americans in Oregon.

The commission is the primary point of contact for the State of Oregon for questions about Native Americans and Native American issues in Oregon.

Legislative Counsel Committee
Dexter Johnson, Legislative Counsel
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. S-101, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1243
Web: www.lc.state.or.us/
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov

The Legislative Counsel Committee is a joint legislative committee established under ORS 173.111. The committee consists of the president of the Senate, four senators appointed by the president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and five representatives appointed by the speaker. The legislative counsel, who is selected by the committee, serves as executive officer to the committee. The legislative counsel manages the Office of the Legislative Counsel and employs a legal and professional staff.

One of the principal duties of the Office of the Legislative Counsel is the drafting of measures for legislators, legislative committees and state agencies. The office also provides research services and legal advice to legislators and legislative committees. During legislative sessions, the office prepares amendments to the measures being considered by the Legislative Assembly.

The Office of the Legislative Counsel prepares indexes and tables for all measures introduced during a legislative session. At the end of each regular session, the office publishes the official compilation of that session’s laws, Oregon Laws. The office also prepares and publishes every two years the official codification of Oregon’s statute laws, Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS). Each edition of ORS incorporates the new statutory provisions and amendments to statutory provisions passed by the Legislative Assembly in the preceding regular
session.

Pursuant to ORS 183.710 to 183.725, the Office of Legislative Counsel conducts a review of all new administrative rules adopted by state agencies. This review allows the Legislative Assembly to monitor whether an agency’s rules are consistent with the agency’s statutory authority.

Legislative Fiscal Office
Ken Rocco, Legislative Fiscal Officer
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. H-178, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1828
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/comm/lfo/home.htm
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov

The Legislative Fiscal Office is a permanent, nonpartisan legislative agency created in 1959, pursuant to ORS 173.410 to 173.450, to serve legislators and legislative committees on matters related to the state’s fiscal affairs. The office provides research, analysis, evaluation and recommendations concerning state expenditures, budget issues, agency organization and program administration. The Legislative Fiscal Office also provides fiscal impact assessment of proposed legislation, and staff assistance to the Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Legislative Fiscal Office staffs the Joint Committee on Ways and Means during the session and the Emergency Board during the interim.

Legislative Revenue Office
Paul Warner, Legislative Revenue Officer
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 143, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1266
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/comm/lro/home.htm
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov

The Legislative Revenue Office was established by the 1975 Oregon Legislature to provide nonpartisan analysis of tax and school-finance issues, pursuant to ORS 173.810 to 173.850.

The legislative revenue officer is appointed by, and responsible to, the House and Senate committees that deal with revenue and school finance. The office staffs the House and Senate Revenue Committees, writes revenue impact statements for proposed legislation and researches tax and school finance issues.

Oregon Law Commission
Lane P. Shetterly, Chair
Jeffrey Dobbins, Executive Director
Address: Willamette University College of Law, 245 Winter St. SE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-779-1391
Web: www.willamette.edu/wucl/oregonlawcommission

The Oregon Law Commission was formally established in 1997 to conduct an ongoing, substantive law revision program. The commission replaced the Law Improvement Committee.

The Oregon Law Commission consists of 13 commissioners: two persons appointed by the president of the Senate (one of whom must be a Senator), two persons appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives (one of whom must be a Representative), the deans, or an appointee from each of Oregon’s three law schools, three persons appointed by the Oregon State Bar, the attorney general, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and one person appointed by the governor.
The principal function of the commission is to study Oregon law and to recommend law reform needed to correct defects and anachronisms in the law. The commission reviews current judicial decisions to identify problems in the law, and considers reform proposals from judges, public officials, lawyers and members of the public. The commission is also directed to study the repeal of statutes held unconstitutional by the courts.

The commission recommends legislation as needed to implement its reform proposals and submits a biennial report to the Legislative Assembly. Pursuant to ORS 173.335, the Office of Legislative Counsel assists the commission in carrying out its duties.

Source
Legislative Administration
Address: 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 140-A, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-1848
Web: www.leg.state.or.us/comm/legadmin/