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82nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2024 Regular Session
Senate Bill 1524
Sponsored by Senator WAGNER, Representative NGUYEN D (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Creates a new way for legislative leaders to recognize unsung heroes for their efforts
to make things better in this state. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).
Establishes the Unsung Legislative Heroes Recognition Program. Sets forth legislative findings
on unsung heroes and authorizes legislative caucus offices to nominate, and presiding officers to
select, up to 12 Oregonians to be recognized as unsung legislative heroes each year.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the Unsung Legislative Heroes Recognition Program.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) The Unsung Legislative Heroes Recognition Program is established.
(2) The Legislative Assembly finds that many Oregonians volunteer behind the scenes in
numerous ways to bring meaningful and positive change to their communities, while con-
sistently demonstrating excellence, enthusiasm, creativity, persistence and problem-solving
skills. The Legislative Assembly further finds that these Oregonians serve as positive role
models in their communities, promoting the spirit of community involvement by helping
others without any intention of obtaining personal gain, while their efforts elicit respect and
admiration. The Legislative Assembly declares that the purpose of the Unsung Legislative
Heroes Recognition Program is to establish an annual process to recognize these outstanding
members of their communities and their efforts, which all Oregonians benefit from.
(3) Each major-party caucus office in the Senate and in the House of Representatives
may select up to three Oregonians that reflect the attributes described in subsection (2) of
this section and that meet the following other requirements:
(a) The nominee may not be paid for any of the work that is the basis for the nomination;
(b) The nominee may not be an elected or appointed official in state government, a local
government, a local service district or a special government body, as those terms are defined
in ORS 174.111, 174.116 and 174.117;
(c) The nominee has not been widely recognized for performing the work that is the basis
for the nomination;
(d) The nominee must not be a lobbyist, as defined in ORS 171.725, or be employed by a
political party that is either a major political party under ORS 248.006 or a minor political
party under ORS 248.008, or be employed by a political committee, as defined in ORS 260.005;
and
(e) The nominee performs the work that is the basis for the nomination primarily within
the Senate or House district whose member is affiliated with the caucus office that is making
thenomination.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 123 SB1524
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(4) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
jointly select up to 12 nominees made under subsection (3) of this section to be Unsung
Legislative Heroes for the year.
(5)(a) Each major-party caucus office shall make the nominations described in subsection
(3) of this section:
(A) On or before February 1 of each even-numbered year; and
(B) On or before April 15 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) The presiding officers shall select Unsung Legislative Heroes for the year on or before
the earlier of:
(A) In the case of an even-numbered year, March 1 or the adjournment sine die of the
even-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly; and
(B) In the case of an odd-numbered year, June 30 or the adjournment sine die of the
odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly.
(6) As used in this section, “major-party caucus office” means a caucus office whose
members are affiliated with a major political party under ORS 248.006.
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