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82nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2024 Regular Session
Senate Bill 1531
Sponsored by Senators WAGNER, LIEBER, KNOPP; Senators ANDERSON, MANNING JR (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: The Act would create a body to plan for America’s 250th birthday. (Flesch Readability
Score:60.7).
Establishes a semiquincentennial commission, to be known as the America 250 Oregon Com-
mission, to coordinate and provide guidance for Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniver-
sary of the establishment of the United States.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the American semiquincentennial; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) The America 250 Oregon Commission is established, consisting of 25
members appointed as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(2)(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two nonvoting members from among
members of the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two nonvoting members
from among members of the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one
from the minority party.
(c) The Governor shall appoint 12 voting members as follows:
(A) One member representing the Oregon Heritage Commission.
(B) One member representing the Oregon Arts Commission.
(C) One member representing the Trust for Cultural Development Board.
(D) One member representing the Commission on Black Affairs.
(E) One member representing the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs.
(F) One member representing the Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
(G) One member representing the Commission for Women.
(H) Five members representing the public at large.
(d) The following nine voting members shall serve ex officio:
(A) The Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society or the executive director’s
designee.
(B) The State Treasurer or the treasurer’s designee.
(C) The Secretary of State or the secretary’s designee.
(D) The Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction or the deputy superintendent’s
designee.
(E) The State Parks and Recreation Director or the director’s designee.
(F) The Director of the Oregon Business Development Department or the director’s
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 299 SB1531
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designee.
(G) The executive director of the Oregon Tourism Commission or the executive director’s
designee.
(H) The Director of Veterans’ Affairs or the director’s designee.
(I) The Governor’s director of tribal affairs or the director’s designee.
(e) The commission may by majority vote invite additional individuals to serve as non-
voting honorary members of the commission.
(f) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint-
ment to become immediately effective.
(3) The commission shall coordinate and provide guidance for Oregon’s official
observance of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States, as marked
by the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
(4) The commission may:
(a) Adopt rules necessary for the operation of the commission;
(b) Cooperate with national, regional, state, local and tribal organizations, institutions,
bodies and other public or private entities that are promoting the semiquincentennial;
(c) Plan, conduct or assist with semiquincentennial events;
(d) Plan, support and produce educational resources and programs related to the
semiquincentennial;
(e) Engage in and encourage fundraising activities, including, but not limited to, the so-
licitation of charitable gifts, grants or donations;
(f) Coordinate interagency participation in the observance;
(g) Create subcommittees of the commission comprising members of the commission,
members appointed from the public at large and honorary members to further the goals of
the commission; and
(h) Engage in any other activity related to the powers and duties conferred on the com-
mission under this section.
(5) The commission shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson
or of a majority of the voting members of the commission.
(6) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(7) Official action by the commission requires the approval of a majority of the voting
members of the commission.
(8) The Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society or the executive director’s
designee shall serve as chairperson.
(9) The Oregon Historical Society shall:
(a) Provide staff support to the commission.
(b) Direct and supervise the budgeting, recordkeeping, reporting and related administra-
tive and clerical functions of the commission.
(c) Print and disseminate for the commission any required notices, rules or orders
adopted by the commission.
(d) Expend and allocate any appropriations authorized by the Legislative Assembly to
carry out the purposes of this section.
(e) Collect all revenues other than those appropriated by the Legislative Assembly and
use them for the purposes of this section.
[2] SB1531
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(10) The Oregon Historical Society may employ personnel, contract for services and re-
ceive, expend and allocate the proceeds of gifts, grants and donations on behalf of the com-
mission for the purposes of this section.
(11) Voting members of the commission are entitled to compensation and expenses as
provided in ORS 292.495.
(12) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist
the commission in the performance of the duties of the commission and, to the extent per-
mitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice that the mem-
bers of the commission consider necessary to perform their duties.
(13) No later than September 15 of each year, the commission shall submit a report in
the manner provided by ORS 192.245 to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly
related to historical commemorations. The report may include recommendations for legis-
lation.
SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2024 Act is repealed on January 2, 2028.
SECTION 3.There is appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services,
for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $250,000, to
be transferred to the Oregon Historical Society for the purpose of carrying out the provisions
of section 1 of this 2024 Act.
SECTION 4. This 2024 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2024 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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