2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 185 - State Advocacy Commissions and Offices
Section 185.540 - Duties.

(1)(a) Analyze the status of women and men under the laws of Oregon relating to civil rights, contracts, income, property and the family in order to assure full equity and treatment under the law;
(b) Monitor the implementation of laws affecting the legal rights of women; and
(c) Educate women about their legal rights and responsibilities under the law.
(2)(a) Work for equity of opportunity and treatment for women in employment through an analysis of the employment policies and practices of employers, both public and private;
(b) Evaluate the development of methods to assure fuller employment options for women including nontraditional job opportunities, child care, job sharing and flextime and part-time employment; and
(c) Examine methods to develop greater employment opportunities and potentials for women with particular consideration for the needs of minority women, older women, rural women and displaced homemakers.
(3)(a) Evaluate the progress of providing equity of educational opportunities for women in Oregon as mandated by state and federal law;
(b) Assist efforts to inform women about nontraditional educational and employment opportunities; and
(c) Promote the elimination of gender, nonconforming and racist barriers in the educational process, such as staffing patterns, teacher training, curriculum and textbook selection.
(4) Assist the Governor on the Governor’s equity-focused initiatives with policy advice, the study of long-standing community issues and the provision of community input, a community voice and leadership, as requested.
(5)(a) Encourage women to pursue a variety of roles in life;
(b) Promote the full recognition of the contributions of women whether in the home, as volunteers in the community or in the labor market;
(c) Promote the valuation of work within the home at a level comparable with work outside the home; and
(d) Investigate family relationships which are detrimental to women and to the development of productive family life.
(6) Encourage and recommend women to serve on appointive boards and commissions and encourage them to seek elective office.
(7) Identify and address issues which may be unique to special categories of women including minority women, juvenile women, older women, rural women and displaced homemakers.
(8) Meet at least annually in a joint meeting of the Commission for Women, the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Commission on Black Affairs and the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs to consider and act upon issues of mutual importance to the missions and statutory duties of the commissions. [1983 c.105 §5; 1995 c.79 §68; 1995 c.278 §29; 2013 c.353 §3; 2021 c.290 §8]