Bill Text: OR SB768 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to institutional discrimination in state government; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB768 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB768-Introduced.html

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     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 3513

                         Senate Bill 768

Sponsored by Senator STARR (at the request of  Oregon League of
  Minority Voters)

                             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 Oregon Civil Rights Network. Instructs Oregon
Advocacy Commissions Office to provide administrative assistance
to network. Instructs network to develop certain guidelines and
to share information and expertise related to discrimination and
systemic inequalities in Oregon. Requires network to develop
coordinated enforcement process for investigation of complaints.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to institutional discrimination in state government;
  creating new provisions; and amending ORS 185.005, 185.010 and
  185.025.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + Section 2 of this 2013 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 185.005 to 185.025. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) There is established the Oregon Civil
Rights Network consisting of:
  (a) The Department of Justice;
  (b) The Employment Department;
  (c) The Department of Consumer and Business Services;
  (d) The Bureau of Labor and Industries;
  (e) The Department of Human Services;
  (f) The Commission on Black Affairs;
  (g) The Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs;
  (h) The Commission on Hispanic Affairs;
  (i) The Commission for Women;
  (j) The Oregon Disabilities Commission;
  (k) The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office; and
  (L) Other state agencies that enter into the intergovernmental
agreement described in subsection (3) of this section.
  (2) The Oregon Civil Rights Network shall:
  (a) Develop guidelines for identifying, avoiding and
eliminating discriminatory practices in state government;
  (b) Share expertise and information related to addressing
systemic inequalities in Oregon;
  (c) Conduct investigations into allegations of discrimination
or systemic inequalities presented to the network;
  (d) Report the results of investigations conducted by the
network and make recommendations to the appropriate agencies
regarding instances of discrimination or systemic inequality
revealed as a result of investigations conducted by the network;
  (e) Identify opportunities for and obstacles to eliminating
compliance with the laws relating to discrimination in Oregon;
  (f) Create a coordinated enforcement process for the laws
relating to discrimination and the elimination of inequalities
that is efficient, fair and effective for the public and the
regulatory agencies charged with enforcing those laws; and
  (g) Take such other action as the member agencies deem
appropriate to improve compliance with laws relating to
discrimination in Oregon.
  (3) The agencies identified in subsection (1)(a) to (k) of this
section shall enter into an intergovernmental agreement for the
purpose of coordinating the efforts of the agencies under this
section. Any other agency of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, that has an interest in compliance with laws relating to
discrimination may become a member of the Oregon Civil Rights
Network by entering into the agreement on such terms as may be
prescribed by the agencies identified in subsection (1)(a) to (k)
of this section.
  (4) Any agency that is a member of the Oregon Civil Rights
Network may enter into an agreement with another member agency to
provide information to the other agency. Information provided to
an agency under this subsection may be used by the agency only
for the purpose of enforcing compliance with laws that are
administered by the agency. + }
  SECTION 3. ORS 185.005 is amended to read:
  185.005. The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office is established
to provide administrative support to:
  (1) The Commission on Hispanic Affairs;
  (2) The Commission on Black Affairs;
  (3) The Commission for Women;   { - and - }
  (4) The Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs { + ;
and + }
   { +  (5) The Oregon Civil Rights Network + }.
  SECTION 4. ORS 185.010 is amended to read:
  185.010. (1) The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office shall be
staffed by an administrator, who is responsible for the
performance of the duties, functions and powers of the office.
  (2) A board consisting of the chairpersons of the commissions
served by the office and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor
and Industries shall establish the qualifications for and appoint
the Administrator of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office.
  (3) The Administrator of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office
shall receive a salary as prescribed by law, or as prescribed by
the board described in subsection (2) of this section if a salary
is not prescribed by law.
  (4) The Administrator of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office
is in the unclassified service.
  (5) The Administrator of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office
shall provide  { + the Oregon Civil Rights Network and + } each
commission served by the office with the administrative support
needed by the  { + network and each + } commission to carry out
the statutory duties of the  { + network or + } commission.
Subject to any applicable provisions of the State Personnel
Relations Law, the administrator shall employ all persons
necessary for the operation of the office, prescribe the duties
of those employees and establish the compensation payable to
those employees.
  SECTION 5. ORS 185.025 is amended to read:
  185.025. (1) The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office Account is
established in the General Fund of the State Treasury. The
account consists of the moneys received by the Oregon Advocacy
Commissions Office,   { - or by - }   { + the Oregon Civil Rights
Network or + } the commissions served by the office, other than
moneys appropriated to the office by the Legislative Assembly.
All moneys in the account are appropriated continuously to the
office, and may be used by the office only for the  { + network
or + } commission to which the contribution was made and for the
purposes for which the contributions were made.
  (2) The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office, and the
 { + network and the + } commissions served by the office, may
accept contributions of funds and assistance from the United
States, agencies of the United States or any other source, public
or private, and agree to conditions on receiving the funds or
assistance. Any funds received under this section must be
deposited in the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office Account.
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