ORS Chapter 285a — Economic Development I

ORS 285a.040. Oregon Business Development Commission; appointment; confirmation; qualifications of members; term; compensation and expenses; presiding officer; quorum; meetings; effect of vacancy. (1) There is established the Oregon Business Development Commission consisting of nine members appointed as follows: (a) One nonvoting member appointed from among the members of the Senate by the President of the Senate; (b) One nonvoting member appointed from among the members of the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (c) Seven members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner prescribed in ORS 171.562 and 171.565. The Governor shall appoint members of the commission in compliance with all of the following: (A) Members shall be appointed with consideration given to representation of the different geographic regions of the state, and at least one member shall be a resident of the area east of the Cascade Range. (B) Not more than five members may belong to one political party. Party affiliation shall be determined by the appropriate entry on official election registration cards. (C) Members shall be appointed with consideration given to representation of the following areas of expertise or training: (i) International trade; (ii) Traded sector business development; (iii) Small business development; (iv) Local economic development; (v) Finance and business investment; (vi) Innovation; or (vii) Other areas of training or expertise identified by the Governor. (2)(a) The term of office of each member appointed by the Governor is four years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Before the expiration of the term of a member appointed by the Governor, the Governor shall appoint a successor whose term begins on July 1 of the following year. A member appointed by the Governor is eligible for reappointment. In case of a vacancy among the members appointed by the Governor for any cause, the Governor shall appoint a person to fill the office for the unexpired term. (b) The term of office of the member appointed by the President of the Senate is four years. In case of a vacancy for any cause, the President of the Senate shall appoint a Senator to fill the office for the unexpired term. (c) The term of office of the member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives is two years. In case of a vacancy for any cause, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a Representative to fill the office for the unexpired term. (3) A member of the commission who is appointed by the Governor is entitled to compensation and expenses as provided by ORS 292.495. Legislative members of the commission are prohibited from receiving compensation and reimbursement for expenses. (4) Subject to confirmation by the Senate, the Governor shall appoint one of the voting commissioners as presiding officer of the commission. The presiding officer shall have duties and powers as the commission determines are necessary for the office. (5) Five voting members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (6) The commission shall meet at least quarterly at a time and place determined by the commission. The commission shall also meet at other times and places as are specified by the call of the presiding officer or by the call of a majority of the voting members of the commission. (7) A vacancy among the voting members of the commission does not impair the right of the remaining voting commissioners to exercise all the powers of the commission. If the remaining voting commissioners are unable to agree, the Governor shall have the right to vote as a member of the commission. (8) A member of the commission appointed due to expertise or training in local economic development described in subsection (1)(c)(C)(iv) of this section shall also be an elected local government official with experience in economic development matters.