2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 244 - Government Ethics
Section 244.250 - Oregon Government Ethics Commission; appointment; term; quorum; compensation; legal counsel.


(a) The Governor shall appoint eight members from among persons recommended, two each by the leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties in each house of the Legislative Assembly. If a person recommended by the leadership of the Democratic or Republican party is not approved by the Governor, the leadership shall recommend another person.
(b) The Governor shall appoint one member without leadership recommendation.
(2) A person who holds any public office listed in ORS 244.050 (1) except as a member of the commission may not be appointed to the commission. No more than three members may be members of the same political party.
(3) The term of office of a member is four years. A member is not eligible to be appointed to more than two full terms but may additionally serve out an unexpired term. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term.
(4) The commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson for such terms and duties as the commission may require.
(5) A quorum consists of five members but a final decision may not be made without an affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed to the commission.
(6) Members shall be entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495.
(7) The commission may retain or appoint qualified legal counsel who must be a member of the Oregon State Bar and who is responsible to the commission. The appointment of legal counsel under this subsection may be made only when the commission finds it is inappropriate and contrary to the public interest for the office of the Attorney General to represent concurrently more than one public official or agency in any matter before the commission because the representation:
(a) Would create or tend to create a conflict of interest; and
(b) Is not subject to ORS 180.230 or 180.235.
(8) The Attorney General may not represent before the commission any state public official who is the subject of any complaint or action of the commission at the commission’s own instigation. [1974 c.72 §12; 1977 c.588 §6; 1987 c.566 §18; 1991 c.770 §3; 1993 c.743 §17; 2007 c.865 §1; 2015 c.619 §1; 2021 c.266 §1]

Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

Volume : 06 - Local Government, Public Employees, Elections

Chapter 244 - Government Ethics

Section 244.010 - Policy.

Section 244.020 - Definitions.

Section 244.025 - Gift limit.

Section 244.040 - Prohibited use of official position or office; exceptions; other prohibited actions.

Section 244.042 - Honoraria.

Section 244.045 - Regulation of subsequent employment of public officials; lobbying by former members of Legislative Assembly.

Section 244.047 - Financial interest in public contract.

Section 244.049 - Prohibition on use of moneys to make payments in connection with nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment.

Section 244.050 - Persons required to file statement of economic interest; filing deadline.

Section 244.055 - Additional reporting requirements for State Treasury; review; confidentiality.

Section 244.060 - Form of statement of economic interest; contents.

Section 244.070 - Additional statement of economic interest.

Section 244.090 - Report on association with compensated lobbyist.

Section 244.100 - Statements of expenses or honoraria provided to public official.

Section 244.110 - Statements subject to penalty for false swearing.

Section 244.115 - Filing required for member of Congress or candidate; filing date.

Section 244.120 - Methods of handling conflicts; Legislative Assembly; judges; appointed officials; other elected officials or members of boards.

Section 244.130 - Recording of notice of conflict; effect of failure to disclose conflict.

Section 244.160 - Filing of statement of economic interest by public official of political subdivision other than city or county.

Section 244.162 - Information provided to persons required to file statement of economic interest.

Section 244.165 - Rules or policies of state agency or association of public bodies; commission approval; effect.

Section 244.175 - Definitions for ORS 244.177 and 244.179.

Section 244.177 - Employment of relative or member of household; exceptions.

Section 244.179 - Supervision of relative or member of household; exceptions.

Section 244.205 - Legal expense trust fund; establishment; eligible legal expenses.

Section 244.207 - Use of fund proceeds.

Section 244.209 - Application to establish fund; commission review and authorization.

Section 244.211 - Duties of trustee.

Section 244.213 - Contributions to fund.

Section 244.215 - Fund account.

Section 244.217 - Statement of contributions received and expenditures made.

Section 244.218 - Quarterly filing of statements.

Section 244.219 - Termination of fund.

Section 244.221 - Disposition of moneys in terminated fund; distribution of award of attorney fees, costs or money judgment.

Section 244.250 - Oregon Government Ethics Commission; appointment; term; quorum; compensation; legal counsel.

Section 244.255 - Commission funding; rules.

Section 244.260 - Complaint and adjudicatory process; confidentiality; Preliminary Review Phase; presentation of statement of facts and recommendations; Investigatory Phase; possible actions by order; report of findings; contested case procedure; lim...

Section 244.270 - Findings as grounds for removal; notice to public bodies.

Section 244.280 - Commission advisory opinions; effect of reliance on opinion.

Section 244.282 - Executive director and staff advisory opinions; effect of reliance on opinion.

Section 244.284 - Staff advice; effect of reliance on advice.

Section 244.290 - General duties of commission; rules.

Section 244.300 - Status of records.

Section 244.310 - Executive director.

Section 244.320 - Manual on government ethics; effect of reliance on manual; revision.

Section 244.330 - Distribution of manual on government ethics.

Section 244.350 - Civil penalties; letter of reprimand or explanation.

Section 244.370 - Civil penalty procedure; disposition of penalties.

Section 244.390 - Status of penalties and sanctions; consideration of other penalties imposed.

Section 244.400 - Possibility of attorney fees for person prevailing in contested case.