2023 Oregon Revised Statutes › Volume : 05 - State Government, Government Procedures, Land Use › Chapter 173 - Legislative Service Agencies › Section 173.315 - Oregon Law Commission established; duties; membership; chairperson.

(1) The Oregon Law Commission is established to conduct a continuous substantive law revision program as described in ORS 173.338.
(2) The Oregon Law Commission has 15 members, as follows:
(a) A person appointed by the President of the Senate who is a member of the Senate at the time of appointment;
(b) A person appointed by the President of the Senate who is a current or former member of the Senate at the time of appointment;
(c) A person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is a member of the House of Representatives at the time of appointment;
(d) A person appointed by the Speaker of the House of the Representatives who is a current or former member of the House of Representatives at the time of appointment;
(e) The deans of Oregon’s accredited law schools, or their designees;
(f) Three persons appointed by the Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar;
(g) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee;
(h) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or the Chief Justice’s designee;
(i) The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, or the Chief Judge’s designee;
(j) A person appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who is a circuit court judge, or a retired circuit court judge who has been designated as a senior judge under ORS 1.300, at the time of appointment; and
(k) One person appointed by the Governor.
(3) The Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the deans of Oregon’s accredited law schools are ex officio members of the commission and have the same powers as appointed members.
(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, appointed members of the commission serve four-year terms. Terms commence on July 1 of even-numbered years. Before the expiration of the four-year term, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor. A person who has served as a member is eligible for reappointment.
(b) A person appointed under subsection (2)(a) of this section serves a term of four years, or until the person ceases to be a member of the Senate, whichever occurs first. A person appointed under subsection (2)(c) of this section serves a term of four years, or until the person ceases to be a member of the House of Representatives, whichever occurs first.
(5) If there is a vacancy in the position of an appointed member:
(a) The appointing authority shall appoint a person as soon as possible to serve during the remainder of the unexpired term; and
(b) The appointing authority may specify that the person appointed to serve the remainder of the unexpired term is also appointed to the next following full term.
(6) If a member of the commission is authorized under subsection (2) of this section to name a designee, a person named as a designee has all of the powers and duties of the member until the designation expires or is revoked. The following persons may be designated:
(a) A dean of one of Oregon’s accredited law schools may designate a member of the faculty of the law school.
(b) The Chief Justice may designate a Supreme Court judge.
(c) The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals may designate another judge of the Court of Appeals.
(d) The Attorney General may designate an assistant attorney general or the Deputy Attorney General.
(7) The term of an appointed member of the commission shall cease if the member misses three consecutive meetings without prior approval of the chairperson, and the appointing authority for the position shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy in the manner provided by subsection (5) of this section.
(8) The Oregon Law Commission shall elect its chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members with such powers and duties as the commission shall determine.
(9) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present at a meeting, the commission may take action by an affirmative vote by a majority of the members of the commission who are present.
(10) Members of the commission who are members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled to compensation and expense reimbursement as provided in ORS 171.072. [1981 c.813 §1; 1997 c.661 §1; 2009 c.114 §1; 2011 c.272 §14]