Bill Text: OR SB350 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a Taxpayer Ombudsman; appropriating money; prescribing an effective date.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB350 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB350-Introduced.html


     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 1520

                         Senate Bill 350

Sponsored by Senator ROBLAN (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.

  Establishes office of Taxpayer Ombudsman in Department of
Revenue. Establishes functions, powers and duties of office.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Revenue
for purposes of office.
  Becomes operative January 1, 2014.
  Sunsets January 2, 2016.
  Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to a Taxpayer Ombudsman; creating new provisions;
  amending ORS 314.840; appropriating money; and prescribing an
  effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + Sections 2 and 3 of this 2013 Act are added to
and made a part of ORS chapter 305. + }
  SECTION 2. { +  (1) The office of the Taxpayer Ombudsman is
established in the Department of Revenue. The office shall be
responsible for directly assisting taxpayers and their
representatives to ensure their understanding and utilization of
the policies, processes and procedures available to them in the
resolution of problems related to taxes collected by the
department. The Director of the Department of Revenue shall
select the employees of the office, who may include employees of
the department and residents of this state with knowledge of
taxation.
  (2) The office shall assist taxpayers in:
  (a) Obtaining easily understandable tax information and
information on audits, corrections and appeals procedures of the
department;
  (b) Answering questions regarding preparing and filing returns
with the department; and
  (c) Locating documents or payments filed with or submitted to
the department by taxpayers.
  (3) The office may also:
  (a) Receive and evaluate complaints of improper, abusive or
inefficient service by employees of the department and recommend
to the director appropriate action to correct such service;
  (b) Identify policies and practices of the department that
might be barriers to the equitable treatment of taxpayers and
recommend alternatives to the director;

  (c) Provide expeditious service to taxpayers whose problems are
not resolved through ordinary channels;
  (d) Negotiate with department personnel to resolve the most
complex and sensitive taxpayer problems;
  (e) Take action to stop or prohibit the department from taking
an action against a taxpayer, if, in the determination of the
office, the manner in which a law administered by the department
is being carried out is creating or will create an unjust and
inequitable result for the taxpayer;
  (f) Participate and represent taxpayers' interests and concerns
in planning meetings, reviewing instructions and formulating
department policies and procedures;
  (g) Compile data each year on the number and type of taxpayer
complaints and evaluate the actions taken to resolve complaints;
  (h) Survey taxpayers each year to obtain their evaluation of
the quality of service provided by the department;
  (i) Monitor the number and type of seizures of property under
ORS 314.419;
  (j) Notify and recommend appropriate action to the director if
the office determines that a seizure has occurred or will occur
that has subjected or will subject the taxpayer to a seizure of
property without affording a reasonable opportunity for
discussion of alternative methods of payment of the obligation;
and
  (k) Perform other functions that relate to taxpayer assistance
as prescribed by the director.
  (4) Actions taken by the office may be reviewed only by the
director upon request of the department or a taxpayer. The
director may modify action taken by the office. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + The Taxpayer Ombudsman shall establish
procedures to maintain the confidentiality of the records and
files of taxpayers. The procedures must meet the following
requirements:
  (1) The Taxpayer Ombudsman may not disclose the identity of any
taxpayer unless the taxpayer or the legal representative of the
taxpayer consents in writing to the disclosure and specifies to
whom the disclosure may be made.
  (2) The identity of any taxpayer on whose behalf a complaint is
made, or any individual providing information on behalf of the
taxpayer, shall be confidential. If the complaint becomes the
subject of judicial proceedings, the investigative information
held by the Taxpayer Ombudsman shall be disclosed for the purpose
of the proceedings if requested by the court. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of
Revenue, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $___, which may be expended for the
office of the Taxpayer Ombudsman. + }
  SECTION 5. ORS 314.840, as amended by section 11, chapter 107,
Oregon Laws 2012, is amended to read:
  314.840. (1) The Department of Revenue may:
  (a) Furnish any taxpayer, representative authorized to
represent the taxpayer under ORS 305.230 or person designated by
the taxpayer under ORS 305.193, upon request of the taxpayer,
representative or designee, with a copy of the taxpayer's income
tax return filed with the department for any year, or with a copy
of any report filed by the taxpayer in connection with the
return, or with any other information the department considers
necessary.
  (b) Publish lists of taxpayers who are entitled to unclaimed
tax refunds.
  (c) Publish statistics so classified as to prevent the
identification of income or any particulars contained in any
report or return.
  (d) Disclose a taxpayer's name, address, telephone number,
refund amount, amount due, Social Security number, employer
identification number or other taxpayer identification number to
the extent necessary in connection with collection activities or
the processing and mailing of correspondence or of forms for any
report, return or claim required in the administration of ORS
310.630 to 310.706, any local tax under ORS 305.620, or any law
imposing a tax upon or measured by net income.
  (2) The department also may disclose and give access to
information described in ORS 314.835 to:
  (a) The Governor of the State of Oregon or the authorized
representative of the Governor:
  (A) With respect to an individual who is designated as being
under consideration for appointment or reappointment to an office
or for employment in the office of the Governor. The information
disclosed shall be confined to whether the individual:
  (i) Has filed returns with respect to the taxes imposed by ORS
chapter 316 for those of not more than the three immediately
preceding years for which the individual was required to file an
Oregon individual income tax return.
  (ii) Has failed to pay any tax within 30 days from the date of
mailing of a deficiency notice or otherwise respond to a
deficiency notice within 30 days of its mailing.
  (iii) Has been assessed any penalty under the Oregon personal
income tax laws and the nature of the penalty.
  (iv) Has been or is under investigation for possible criminal
offenses under the Oregon personal income tax laws. Information
disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall be used only for the
purpose of making the appointment, reappointment or decision to
employ or not to employ the individual in the office of the
Governor.
  (B) For use by an officer or employee of the Oregon Department
of Administrative Services duly authorized or employed to prepare
revenue estimates, or a person contracting with the Oregon
Department of Administrative Services to prepare revenue
estimates, in the preparation of revenue estimates required for
the Governor's budget under ORS 291.201 to 291.226, or required
for submission to the Emergency Board or the Joint Interim
Committee on Ways and Means, or if the Legislative Assembly is in
session, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and to the
Legislative Revenue Officer or Legislative Fiscal Officer under
ORS 291.342, 291.348 and 291.445. The Department of Revenue shall
disclose and give access to the information described in ORS
314.835 for the purposes of this subparagraph only if:
  (i) The request for information is made in writing, specifies
the purposes for which the request is made and is signed by an
authorized representative of the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services. The form for request for information
shall be prescribed by the Oregon Department of Administrative
Services and approved by the Director of the Department of
Revenue.
  (ii) The officer, employee or person receiving the information
does not remove from the premises of the Department of Revenue
any materials that would reveal the identity of a personal or
corporate taxpayer.
  (b) The Commissioner of Internal Revenue or authorized
representative, for tax administration and compliance purposes
only.
  (c) For tax administration and compliance purposes, the proper
officer or authorized representative of any of the following
entities that has or is governed by a provision of law that meets
the requirements of any applicable provision of the Internal
Revenue Code as to confidentiality:
  (A) A state;
  (B) A city, county or other political subdivision of a state;
  (C) The District of Columbia; or
  (D) An association established exclusively to provide services
to federal, state or local taxing authorities.
  (d) The Multistate Tax Commission or its authorized
representatives, for tax administration and compliance purposes
only. The Multistate Tax Commission may make the information
available to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or the proper
officer or authorized representative of any governmental entity
described in and meeting the qualifications of paragraph (c) of
this subsection.
  (e) The Attorney General, assistants and employees in the
Department of Justice, or other legal representative of the State
of Oregon, to the extent the department deems disclosure or
access necessary for the performance of the duties of advising or
representing the department pursuant to ORS 180.010 to 180.240
and the tax laws of this state.
  (f) Employees of the State of Oregon, other than of the
Department of Revenue or Department of Justice, to the extent the
department deems disclosure or access necessary for such
employees to perform their duties under contracts or agreements
between the department and any other department, agency or
subdivision of the State of Oregon, in the department's
administration of the tax laws.
  (g) Other persons, partnerships, corporations and other legal
entities, and their employees, to the extent the department deems
disclosure or access necessary for the performance of such
others' duties under contracts or agreements between the
department and such legal entities, in the department's
administration of the tax laws.
  (h) The Legislative Revenue Officer or authorized
representatives upon compliance with ORS 173.850. Such officer or
representative shall not remove from the premises of the
department any materials that would reveal the identity of any
taxpayer or any other person.
  (i) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, to the
extent the department requires such information to determine
whether it is appropriate to adjust those workers' compensation
benefits the amount of which is based pursuant to ORS chapter 656
on the amount of wages or earned income received by an
individual.
  (j) Any agency of the State of Oregon, or any person, or any
officer or employee of such agency or person to whom disclosure
or access is given by state law and not otherwise referred to in
this section, including but not limited to the Secretary of State
as Auditor of Public Accounts under section 2, Article VI of the
Oregon Constitution; the Department of Human Services pursuant to
ORS 314.860 and 412.094; the Division of Child Support of the
Department of Justice and district attorney regarding cases for
which they are providing support enforcement services under ORS
25.080; the State Board of Tax Practitioners, pursuant to ORS
673.710; and the Oregon Board of Accountancy, pursuant to ORS
673.415.
  (k) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business
Services to determine that a person complies with ORS chapter 656
and the Director of the Employment Department to determine that a
person complies with ORS chapter 657, the following employer
information:
  (A) Identification numbers.
  (B) Names and addresses.
  (C) Inception date as employer.
  (D) Nature of business.
  (E) Entity changes.
  (F) Date of last payroll.
  (L) The Director of Human Services to determine that a person
has the ability to pay for care that includes services provided
by the Eastern Oregon Training Center or the Department of Human
Services to collect any unpaid cost of care as provided by ORS
chapter 179.

  (m) The Director of the Oregon Health Authority to determine
that a person has the ability to pay for care that includes
services provided by the Blue Mountain Recovery Center or the
Oregon State Hospital or the Oregon Health Authority to collect
any unpaid cost of care as provided by ORS chapter 179.
  (n) Employees of the Employment Department to the extent the
Department of Revenue deems disclosure or access to information
on a combined tax report filed under ORS 316.168 is necessary to
performance of their duties in administering the tax imposed by
ORS chapter 657.
  (o) The State Fire Marshal to assist the State Fire Marshal in
carrying out duties, functions and powers under ORS 453.307 to
453.414, the employer or agent name, address, telephone number
and standard industrial classification, if available.
  (p) Employees of the Department of State Lands for the purposes
of identifying, locating and publishing lists of taxpayers
entitled to unclaimed refunds as required by the provisions of
chapter 694, Oregon Laws 1993. The information shall be limited
to the taxpayer's name, address and the refund amount.
  (q) In addition to the disclosure allowed under ORS 305.225,
state or local law enforcement agencies to assist in the
investigation or prosecution of the following criminal
activities:
  (A) Mail theft of a check, in which case the information that
may be disclosed shall be limited to the stolen document, the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of the payee,
the amount of the check and the date printed on the check.
  (B) The counterfeiting, forging or altering of a check
submitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Revenue or issued by
the Department of Revenue to a taxpayer, in which case the
information that may be disclosed shall be limited to the
counterfeit, forged or altered document, the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the payee, the amount of the
check, the date printed on the check and the altered name and
address.
  (r) The United States Postal Inspection Service or a federal
law enforcement agency, including but not limited to the United
States Department of Justice, to assist in the investigation of
the following criminal activities:
  (A) Mail theft of a check, in which case the information that
may be disclosed shall be limited to the stolen document, the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of the payee,
the amount of the check and the date printed on the check.
  (B) The counterfeiting, forging or altering of a check
submitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Revenue or issued by
the Department of Revenue to a taxpayer, in which case the
information that may be disclosed shall be limited to the
counterfeit, forged or altered document, the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the payee, the amount of the
check, the date printed on the check and the altered name and
address.
  (s) The United States Financial Management Service, for
purposes of facilitating the offsets described in ORS 305.612.
  (t) A municipal corporation of this state for purposes of
assisting the municipal corporation in the administration of a
tax of the municipal corporation that is imposed on or measured
by income, wages or net earnings from self-employment. Any
disclosure under this paragraph may be made only pursuant to a
written agreement between the Department of Revenue and the
municipal corporation that ensures the confidentiality of the
information disclosed.
  (u) A consumer reporting agency, to the extent necessary to
carry out the purposes of ORS 314.843.
  (v) The Public Employees Retirement Board, to the extent
necessary to carry out the purposes of ORS 238.372 to 238.384,

and to any public employer, to the extent necessary to carry out
the purposes of ORS 237.637 (2).
   { +  (w) The office of the Taxpayer Ombudsman, only at the
request of the taxpayer and only to the extent necessary to carry
out the purposes of sections 2 and 3 of this 2013 Act. + }
  (3)(a) Each officer or employee of the department and each
person described or referred to in subsection (2)(a), (e) to (k)
or (n) to (q) of this section to whom disclosure or access to the
tax information is given under subsection (2) of this section or
any other provision of state law, prior to beginning employment
or the performance of duties involving such disclosure or access,
shall be advised in writing of the provisions of ORS 314.835 and
314.991, relating to penalties for the violation of ORS 314.835,
and shall as a condition of employment or performance of duties
execute a certificate for the department, in a form prescribed by
the department, stating in substance that the person has read
these provisions of law, that the person has had them explained
and that the person is aware of the penalties for the violation
of ORS 314.835.
  (b) The disclosure authorized in subsection (2)(r) of this
section shall be made only after a written agreement has been
entered into between the Department of Revenue and the person
described in subsection (2)(r) of this section to whom disclosure
or access to the tax information is given, providing that:
  (A) Any information described in ORS 314.835 that is received
by the person pursuant to subsection (2)(r) of this section is
confidential information that may not be disclosed, except to the
extent necessary to investigate or prosecute the criminal
activities described in subsection (2)(r) of this section;
  (B) The information shall be protected as confidential under
applicable federal and state laws; and
  (C) The United States Postal Inspection Service or the federal
law enforcement agency shall give notice to the Department of
Revenue of any request received under the federal Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, or other federal law relating to
the disclosure of information.
  (4) The Department of Revenue may recover the costs of
furnishing the information described in subsection (2)(k) to (m)
and (o) to (q) of this section from the respective agencies.
  SECTION 6. ORS 314.840, as amended by section 11, chapter 107,
Oregon Laws 2012, and section 5 of this 2013 Act, is amended to
read:
  314.840. (1) The Department of Revenue may:
  (a) Furnish any taxpayer, representative authorized to
represent the taxpayer under ORS 305.230 or person designated by
the taxpayer under ORS 305.193, upon request of the taxpayer,
representative or designee, with a copy of the taxpayer's income
tax return filed with the department for any year, or with a copy
of any report filed by the taxpayer in connection with the
return, or with any other information the department considers
necessary.
  (b) Publish lists of taxpayers who are entitled to unclaimed
tax refunds.
  (c) Publish statistics so classified as to prevent the
identification of income or any particulars contained in any
report or return.
  (d) Disclose a taxpayer's name, address, telephone number,
refund amount, amount due, Social Security number, employer
identification number or other taxpayer identification number to
the extent necessary in connection with collection activities or
the processing and mailing of correspondence or of forms for any
report, return or claim required in the administration of ORS
310.630 to 310.706, any local tax under ORS 305.620, or any law
imposing a tax upon or measured by net income.
  (2) The department also may disclose and give access to
information described in ORS 314.835 to:
  (a) The Governor of the State of Oregon or the authorized
representative of the Governor:
  (A) With respect to an individual who is designated as being
under consideration for appointment or reappointment to an office
or for employment in the office of the Governor. The information
disclosed shall be confined to whether the individual:
  (i) Has filed returns with respect to the taxes imposed by ORS
chapter 316 for those of not more than the three immediately
preceding years for which the individual was required to file an
Oregon individual income tax return.
  (ii) Has failed to pay any tax within 30 days from the date of
mailing of a deficiency notice or otherwise respond to a
deficiency notice within 30 days of its mailing.
  (iii) Has been assessed any penalty under the Oregon personal
income tax laws and the nature of the penalty.
  (iv) Has been or is under investigation for possible criminal
offenses under the Oregon personal income tax laws. Information
disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall be used only for the
purpose of making the appointment, reappointment or decision to
employ or not to employ the individual in the office of the
Governor.
  (B) For use by an officer or employee of the Oregon Department
of Administrative Services duly authorized or employed to prepare
revenue estimates, or a person contracting with the Oregon
Department of Administrative Services to prepare revenue
estimates, in the preparation of revenue estimates required for
the Governor's budget under ORS 291.201 to 291.226, or required
for submission to the Emergency Board or the Joint Interim
Committee on Ways and Means, or if the Legislative Assembly is in
session, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and to the
Legislative Revenue Officer or Legislative Fiscal Officer under
ORS 291.342, 291.348 and 291.445. The Department of Revenue shall
disclose and give access to the information described in ORS
314.835 for the purposes of this subparagraph only if:
  (i) The request for information is made in writing, specifies
the purposes for which the request is made and is signed by an
authorized representative of the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services. The form for request for information
shall be prescribed by the Oregon Department of Administrative
Services and approved by the Director of the Department of
Revenue.
  (ii) The officer, employee or person receiving the information
does not remove from the premises of the Department of Revenue
any materials that would reveal the identity of a personal or
corporate taxpayer.
  (b) The Commissioner of Internal Revenue or authorized
representative, for tax administration and compliance purposes
only.
  (c) For tax administration and compliance purposes, the proper
officer or authorized representative of any of the following
entities that has or is governed by a provision of law that meets
the requirements of any applicable provision of the Internal
Revenue Code as to confidentiality:
  (A) A state;
  (B) A city, county or other political subdivision of a state;
  (C) The District of Columbia; or
  (D) An association established exclusively to provide services
to federal, state or local taxing authorities.
  (d) The Multistate Tax Commission or its authorized
representatives, for tax administration and compliance purposes
only. The Multistate Tax Commission may make the information
available to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or the proper
officer or authorized representative of any governmental entity
described in and meeting the qualifications of paragraph (c) of
this subsection.

  (e) The Attorney General, assistants and employees in the
Department of Justice, or other legal representative of the State
of Oregon, to the extent the department deems disclosure or
access necessary for the performance of the duties of advising or
representing the department pursuant to ORS 180.010 to 180.240
and the tax laws of this state.
  (f) Employees of the State of Oregon, other than of the
Department of Revenue or Department of Justice, to the extent the
department deems disclosure or access necessary for such
employees to perform their duties under contracts or agreements
between the department and any other department, agency or
subdivision of the State of Oregon, in the department's
administration of the tax laws.
  (g) Other persons, partnerships, corporations and other legal
entities, and their employees, to the extent the department deems
disclosure or access necessary for the performance of such
others' duties under contracts or agreements between the
department and such legal entities, in the department's
administration of the tax laws.
  (h) The Legislative Revenue Officer or authorized
representatives upon compliance with ORS 173.850. Such officer or
representative shall not remove from the premises of the
department any materials that would reveal the identity of any
taxpayer or any other person.
  (i) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, to the
extent the department requires such information to determine
whether it is appropriate to adjust those workers' compensation
benefits the amount of which is based pursuant to ORS chapter 656
on the amount of wages or earned income received by an
individual.
  (j) Any agency of the State of Oregon, or any person, or any
officer or employee of such agency or person to whom disclosure
or access is given by state law and not otherwise referred to in
this section, including but not limited to the Secretary of State
as Auditor of Public Accounts under section 2, Article VI of the
Oregon Constitution; the Department of Human Services pursuant to
ORS 314.860 and 412.094; the Division of Child Support of the
Department of Justice and district attorney regarding cases for
which they are providing support enforcement services under ORS
25.080; the State Board of Tax Practitioners, pursuant to ORS
673.710; and the Oregon Board of Accountancy, pursuant to ORS
673.415.
  (k) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business
Services to determine that a person complies with ORS chapter 656
and the Director of the Employment Department to determine that a
person complies with ORS chapter 657, the following employer
information:
  (A) Identification numbers.
  (B) Names and addresses.
  (C) Inception date as employer.
  (D) Nature of business.
  (E) Entity changes.
  (F) Date of last payroll.
  (L) The Director of Human Services to determine that a person
has the ability to pay for care that includes services provided
by the Eastern Oregon Training Center or the Department of Human
Services to collect any unpaid cost of care as provided by ORS
chapter 179.
  (m) The Director of the Oregon Health Authority to determine
that a person has the ability to pay for care that includes
services provided by the Blue Mountain Recovery Center or the
Oregon State Hospital or the Oregon Health Authority to collect
any unpaid cost of care as provided by ORS chapter 179.
  (n) Employees of the Employment Department to the extent the
Department of Revenue deems disclosure or access to information
on a combined tax report filed under ORS 316.168 is necessary to
performance of their duties in administering the tax imposed by
ORS chapter 657.
  (o) The State Fire Marshal to assist the State Fire Marshal in
carrying out duties, functions and powers under ORS 453.307 to
453.414, the employer or agent name, address, telephone number
and standard industrial classification, if available.
  (p) Employees of the Department of State Lands for the purposes
of identifying, locating and publishing lists of taxpayers
entitled to unclaimed refunds as required by the provisions of
chapter 694, Oregon Laws 1993. The information shall be limited
to the taxpayer's name, address and the refund amount.
  (q) In addition to the disclosure allowed under ORS 305.225,
state or local law enforcement agencies to assist in the
investigation or prosecution of the following criminal
activities:
  (A) Mail theft of a check, in which case the information that
may be disclosed shall be limited to the stolen document, the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of the payee,
the amount of the check and the date printed on the check.
  (B) The counterfeiting, forging or altering of a check
submitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Revenue or issued by
the Department of Revenue to a taxpayer, in which case the
information that may be disclosed shall be limited to the
counterfeit, forged or altered document, the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the payee, the amount of the
check, the date printed on the check and the altered name and
address.
  (r) The United States Postal Inspection Service or a federal
law enforcement agency, including but not limited to the United
States Department of Justice, to assist in the investigation of
the following criminal activities:
  (A) Mail theft of a check, in which case the information that
may be disclosed shall be limited to the stolen document, the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of the payee,
the amount of the check and the date printed on the check.
  (B) The counterfeiting, forging or altering of a check
submitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Revenue or issued by
the Department of Revenue to a taxpayer, in which case the
information that may be disclosed shall be limited to the
counterfeit, forged or altered document, the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the payee, the amount of the
check, the date printed on the check and the altered name and
address.
  (s) The United States Financial Management Service, for
purposes of facilitating the offsets described in ORS 305.612.
  (t) A municipal corporation of this state for purposes of
assisting the municipal corporation in the administration of a
tax of the municipal corporation that is imposed on or measured
by income, wages or net earnings from self-employment. Any
disclosure under this paragraph may be made only pursuant to a
written agreement between the Department of Revenue and the
municipal corporation that ensures the confidentiality of the
information disclosed.
  (u) A consumer reporting agency, to the extent necessary to
carry out the purposes of ORS 314.843.
  (v) The Public Employees Retirement Board, to the extent
necessary to carry out the purposes of ORS 238.372 to 238.384,
and to any public employer, to the extent necessary to carry out
the purposes of ORS 237.637 (2).
    { - (w) The office of the Taxpayer Ombudsman, only at the
request of the taxpayer and only to the extent necessary to carry
out the purposes of sections 2 and 3 of this 2013 Act. - }
  (3)(a) Each officer or employee of the department and each
person described or referred to in subsection (2)(a), (e) to (k)
or (n) to (q) of this section to whom disclosure or access to the
tax information is given under subsection (2) of this section or
any other provision of state law, prior to beginning employment
or the performance of duties involving such disclosure or access,
shall be advised in writing of the provisions of ORS 314.835 and
314.991, relating to penalties for the violation of ORS 314.835,
and shall as a condition of employment or performance of duties
execute a certificate for the department, in a form prescribed by
the department, stating in substance that the person has read
these provisions of law, that the person has had them explained
and that the person is aware of the penalties for the violation
of ORS 314.835.
  (b) The disclosure authorized in subsection (2)(r) of this
section shall be made only after a written agreement has been
entered into between the Department of Revenue and the person
described in subsection (2)(r) of this section to whom disclosure
or access to the tax information is given, providing that:
  (A) Any information described in ORS 314.835 that is received
by the person pursuant to subsection (2)(r) of this section is
confidential information that may not be disclosed, except to the
extent necessary to investigate or prosecute the criminal
activities described in subsection (2)(r) of this section;
  (B) The information shall be protected as confidential under
applicable federal and state laws; and
  (C) The United States Postal Inspection Service or the federal
law enforcement agency shall give notice to the Department of
Revenue of any request received under the federal Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, or other federal law relating to
the disclosure of information.
  (4) The Department of Revenue may recover the costs of
furnishing the information described in subsection (2)(k) to (m)
and (o) to (q) of this section from the respective agencies.
  SECTION 7.  { + (1) Sections 2 and 3 of this 2013 Act and the
amendments to ORS 314.840 by section 5 of this 2013 Act become
operative January 1, 2014.
  (2) The amendments to ORS 314.840 by section 6 of this 2013 Act
become operative January 2, 2016. + }
  SECTION 8.  { + Sections 2 and 3 of this 2013 Act are repealed
on January 2, 2016. + }
  SECTION 9.  { + This 2013 Act takes effect on the 91st day
after the date on which the 2013 regular session of the
Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die. + }
                         ----------

feedback