Oregon Citizens' Initiative Review Commission
| State: Oregon |
| Year established: 2011 |
| Learn more about Oregon ballot measures |
| • Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon |
| • Types of ballot measures in Oregon |
| • List of Oregon ballot measures |
The Oregon Citizens' Initiative Review Commission (CIRC) is a semi-independent state agency consisting of 11 appointed members that convene citizen panels to review initiated measures and file statements that address arguments from proponents and opponents and the fiscal implication of the initiative with the Oregon Secretary of State that are published in the state's voter pamphlet.[1]
In 2009, the state legislature passed House Bill 2895, which authorized the secretary of state to designate one or more organizations to work on establishing citizen panels to review no more than three initiated state measures and file Citizen Statements on each measure to be included with the voters' pamphlet. HB 2895 expired on January 2, 2011. The commission was formally created and added to the ballot initiative process in 2011 with the passage of House Bill 2634.[1][2]
This article covers the following:
- Membership, terms, and vacancies of the commission,
- Process for reviewing initiatives, and
- History of the commission.
Structure
Membership
The Oregon Citizens' Initiative Review Commission (CIRC) is composed of 11 members appointed in the following manner:[3]
- The Governor appoints three members who have been chosen by the four members of an explanatory statement committee. The appointments are as follows:
- one member recommended by the Democratic Party's Senate leadership,
- one member recommended by the Republican Party's Senate leadership, and
- one member recommended by the leadership of the largest political party that is not the same as the Governor's party in the Senate unless a third party holds significant Senate representation, in which case, a member is recommended by the third party's Senate leadership.
- Two former moderators of a citizen ballot measure evaluation panel are appointed by a panel.
- Six electors who have previously served on a citizen panel are appointed from among the panelists.
Terms
A commissioner's term is four years with the terms of no more than six members expiring every two years.[3]
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled by the Governor for the unexpired term according to the appointment structure above.[3]
Funding
State law authorizes the commission to receive federal and state funds and private donations. The commission may not receive contributions from a political action committee, for-profit corporations, unions, and any source the commission determines might be used to transfer prohibited contributions.[4]
Responsibility
State law requires the commission to select one or more citizen-initiated measures that have qualified for the statewide general election to be reviewed by separate citizen panels for each initiative. In selecting an initiative, the commission must consider the following criteria:[5]
- the fiscal impact of the measure,
- whether it amends the state constitution,
- the availability of funding to conduct a review, and
- any other criteria established by the commission by rule.
Citizen panels
Membership
The commission selects electors to serve on each panel from a representative sample of the state. Each panel shall have at least 18 members but no more than 24. The following demographic characteristics must be taken into account and are prioritized in the following order:[5]
- the local of the elector’s residence,
- the elector’s party affiliation, if any,
- the elector’s voting history, and
- the elector’s age.
State law also authorizes the commission to consider the elector's gender, ethnicity, and other criteria when selecting panelists.
Every panel shall contract two moderators and shall compensate each moderator. A moderator must be qualified and have experience in mediation and complete a training course established by the commission.[5]
The commission is required to compensate initiative review panelists for each day served on a panel (based on the average weekly wage in the state) and for travel expenses.[5]
In odd-numbered years, panelists convene to evaluate the procedures related to the panel and make recommendations to the commission.
Review process
State law requires panels to convene to review measures on no less than three and no more than five consecutive days totaling no less than 24 hours. The panels are required to hold public hearings and allot equal time to proponents and opponents of the measure unless a majority of the panelists determine otherwise.[6]
Each panel must submit the following statements (no more than 250 words each) to the secretary of state by the date set by the secretary:[6]
- a statement in favor of the measure,
- a statement in opposition to the measure,
- a statement that "No panelist took this position" if support or opposition was unanimous,
- a statement of key findings that may include a vote of how many panelists agreed with the findings,
- a statement of the fiscal considerations of the policy that must be supported by at least three-quarters of the panelists.
Before the support and opposition statements are filed, supporters and opponents that gave testimony are allowed to review the statements and provide feedback to the panel.
The secretary of state prescribes the size and manner of the statements' placement in the state's voter pamphlet.
History
House Bill 2895 (2009)
During the 2009 regular legislative session, the Oregon State Legislature passed House Bill 2895 (HB 2895) authorizing the secretary of state to designate one or more organizations to work on establishing citizen panels to review no more than three initiated state measures and file Citizen Statements on each measure to be included with the voters' pamphlet. HB 2895 included provisions allowing it to take effect immediately after passage and to expire on January 2, 2011.[7]
During the 2010 election, the secretary of state authorized Healthy Democracy Oregon to select citizens to serve on panels that reviewed Measures 73 and 74, which were on the November 2010 ballot. Each panel submitted a shared agreement statement from the entire panel in addition to pros and cons of each measure.[8][9]
House Bill 2634 (2011)
During the 2011 regular legislative session, the Oregon State Legislature passed House Bill 2634 (HB 2634) adding the Citizens' Initiative Review Commission to the formal ballot initiative process. The state House passed HB 2634 by a vote of 36-22, and the state Senate passed it by a vote of 22-8. The bill was signed by Gov. John Kitzhaber on June 16, 2011.[10][1][11]
See also
- Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon
- Types of ballot measures in Oregon
- List of Oregon ballot measures
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oregon State Legislature, "House Bill 2634," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Semi-Independent Agency Reports," accessed August 24, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Oregon Revised Statutes, "ORS 250.137," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "ORS 250.147," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Oregon State Legislature, "ORS 250.139," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oregon State Legislature, "ORS 250.141." accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "House Bill 2895 (2009)," accessed August 22, 2023
- ↑ Healthy Democracy Oregon, "Citizens Statement-Measure 73"
- ↑ Healthy Democracy Oregon, "The 2010 Citizens’ Initiative Review pilot project"
- ↑ Oregon Legislature, "House Bill 2634 status," accessed June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Oregon House passes bill creating independent citizen commission to weigh in on ballot measures," May 23, 2011
