ORS 176.350: Racial Justice Council; membership; policy committees; terms of office.

(1) The Racial Justice Council is created within the Office of the Governor. (2) The membership of the council consists of the Governor, as chairperson, and no more than 40 additional members appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor, subject to the following requirements: (a) Each member must have a demonstrated commitment to racial equity, social and economic justice and diversity and inclusion; (b) Each member must have connections to, or experience working with, historically underserved communities, particularly tribal communities, immigrants, refugees and communities of Black or Indigenous people or other people of color; (c) Each member must have personal or professional experience and knowledge in public policy, criminal justice reform, police accountability, economic opportunity, housing, homelessness, health equity, behavioral health, education or research; and (d) Appointments to the council must be made to ensure representation of the racial, gender and geographical diversity of Oregon. (3) The Governor may assign one or more members to serve as a liaison between the council and the advocacy commissions. (4)(a) The Governor shall establish committees to address policies of interest to the council. A committee may address multiple policy areas. (b) The Governor shall appoint each council member to at least one committee. The Governor may appoint additional individuals who are not members of the council to serve as voting or nonvoting members of a committee, provided that: (A) Public officials who serve in the legislative or judicial branch may serve only as nonvoting members of a committee; and (B) Members of the Legislative Assembly may serve on a committee only if the committee includes an equal number of members from each chamber of the Legislative Assembly. (c) Committees shall report to the council. The council shall approve or disapprove recommendations of a committee. (d) Appointments to each committee must be made to ensure representation of the racial, gender and geographical diversity of Oregon. (5) The term of a member of the council is two years. Members are eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term. (6) Members of the council are not entitled to compensation under ORS 292.495. The chair, in the chair’s discretion, may reimburse members of the council as provided in ORS 292.495 for actual and necessary travel or other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council. (7) Official action by the council requires modified consensus of the members of the council. (8) The council shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson. (9) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the council in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the council considers necessary to perform its duties. (10) At least once per year, the council shall report to the Legislative Assembly, the Secretary of State, the Bureau of Labor and Industries, the State Treasurer and the Attorney General. The report must describe strategies designed to institutionalize racial justice into the conduct of state business and may include other matters pertinent to dismantling systemic and institutional racism. (11) As used in this section: (a) “Advocacy commission” means the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the Commission on Black Affairs and the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. (b) “Racial justice” means systematic fair treatment of people of all races that results in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all people. [2021 c.612 §1]