2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 06 - Local Government, Public Employees, Elections
Chapter 250 - Initiative and Referendum
Section 250.139 - Citizen panels; composition; compensation; selection and review of certain state measures; moderators; rules.
(1) The Citizens’ Initiative Review Commission shall select one or more state measures proposed by initiative petition to be voted on at a general election and convene a separate citizen panel to review each selected measure.
(2) In selecting a measure to be reviewed by a citizen panel, the commission shall consider the following criteria:
(a) The fiscal impact of a measure.
(b) Whether the measure amends the Oregon Constitution.
(c) The availability of funds to conduct reviews.
(d) Any other criteria established by the commission by rule.
(3) Each citizen panel shall evaluate and write statements for the measure considered by the panel.
(4)(a) The commission shall select citizens for each panel from a representative sample of anonymous electors, using survey sampling methods that, to the extent practicable, give every elector a similar chance of being selected. Each citizen panel shall consist of not fewer than 18 and not more than 24 electors.
(b) The commission shall ensure, to the extent practicable and legally permissible, that the demographic makeup of each panel fairly reflects the population of the electorate of this state as a whole, with respect to the following characteristics, prioritized in the following order:
(A) The location of the elector’s residence.
(B) The elector’s party affiliation, if any.
(C) The elector’s voting history.
(D) The elector’s age.
(c) In addition to the criteria described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the commission may also consider:
(A) The elector’s gender.
(B) The elector’s ethnicity.
(C) Any other criteria.
(5) The commission shall, from moneys in the account established under ORS 182.470:
(a) Compensate each elector for each day served on a panel in an amount established by the commission by rule;
(b) Reimburse each elector who serves on a panel for travel expenses in accordance with reimbursement policies determined by the commission by rule;
(c) Provide for costs required to convene and conduct a citizen panel; and
(d) Transfer to the Secretary of State all moneys necessary to pay the costs of printing any statements described in ORS 250.141 in the voters’ pamphlet.
(6)(a) Each panel shall meet to review the measure on not fewer than three and not more than five consecutive days for a total of not less than 24 hours unless otherwise provided by commission rule.
(b) Each panel shall conduct public hearings at which the panel shall receive testimony or other information from both proponents and opponents of the measure. Unless otherwise determined by a majority of the panelists, equal time shall be allotted to proponents and opponents of a measure.
(c) The chief petitioners of the measure shall designate two persons to provide information in favor of the measure to the citizen panel. If the chief petitioners fail to timely designate two persons to appear before the panel, the commission may designate two persons who support the measure to provide information in favor of the measure.
(d) The commission shall designate two persons who oppose the measure to provide information in opposition to the measure.
(e) The commission, by rule, may specify additional criteria regarding the public hearings.
(7) The commission shall provide each panel with any complaints regarding the panel not later than the third day the panel convenes.
(8) The commission shall, by rule, establish qualifications for moderators for each citizen panel. A moderator must have experience in mediation and shall complete a training course established by the commission.
(9) The commission shall contract with two moderators for each panel and shall compensate each moderator for service. [2011 c.365 §5; 2013 c.722 §15; 2014 c.72 §2]
