ORS 477.440: Emergency Fire Cost Committee; members; terms; vacancies.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Grazing land owner” means an individual, combination of individuals, partnership, corporation or association that holds an ownership interest in grazing land in this state. (b) “Large forest owner” means an individual, combination of individuals, partnership, corporation or association that holds an ownership interest in at least 5,000 acres of timberland in this state. (c) “Small forest owner” means an individual, combination of individuals, partnership, corporation or association that holds: (A) An ownership interest in at least 10 acres, but less than 5,000 acres, of timberland in this state; and (B) All of the acres within a single tax lot and within contiguous parcels owned by the same individual, combination of individuals, partnership, corporation or association. (2) The State Board of Forestry shall appoint an Emergency Fire Cost Committee for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section and ORS 477.445, 477.450, 477.455, 477.460, 477.755, 477.760, 477.770 and 477.775. (3) The committee may: (a) Make recommendations to the board concerning the minimum qualifications for serving on the committee. (b) Establish standards, requirements or procedures that the committee considers necessary for the effective administration of the committee. (4) The committee shall consist of six members, including one nonvoting representative of the board and five voting members who are appointed by the board as follows: (a) Two members who are, or are representatives of, large forest owners whose forestland is being assessed for forest fire protection within a forest protection district. (b) One member who is, or is a representative of, a small forest owner whose forestland is being assessed for forest fire protection within a forest protection district. (c) One member who is, or is a representative of, an owner of grazing land, as defined in ORS 477.205, whose grazing land is being assessed for forest fire protection within a forest protection district. (d) One member appointed at large to represent one of the groups identified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this subsection. (5) The board shall appoint at least one member from each forest region established under ORS 527.640. (6) Members shall serve at the pleasure of the board. (7) Members shall be appointed for four-year terms. (8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the board shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term. [Formerly 527.280; 1983 c.759 §12; 1987 c.919 §19; 2025 c.581 §18] Sec. 19. (1) The State Board of Forestry shall appoint the first five voting members of the Emergency Fire Cost Committee described in ORS 477.440 on or before December 31, 2025. (2) Notwithstanding ORS 477.440 (7), of the voting members of the committee first appointed by the board: (a) One shall serve for a term ending one year after the date of appointment. (b) One shall serve for a term ending two years after the date of appointment. (c) One shall serve for a term ending three years after the date of appointment. (d) Two shall serve for a term ending four years after the date of appointment. (3) The board may appoint to the committee persons serving on the committee on the effective date of this 2025 Act [September 26, 2025] who qualify under ORS 477.440. [2025 c.581 §19] Sec. 26b. The Emergency Fire Cost Committee shall complete any ongoing audits of moneys in the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund as soon as practicable after the effective date of this 2025 Act [September 26, 2025]. [2025 c.581 §26b]