ORS 634.226: Protected area governing committee; member election and terms; committee officers; duties and powers; rulemaking authority.

(1) A protected area, established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be governed and administered by an area committee consisting of five members. The term of office of each member, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, shall be three years. Such area committee shall be established in accordance with the following: (a) Within 30 days after the establishment of a protected area, as provided in ORS 634.216, the State Department of Agriculture shall give notice that petitions to nominate candidates for three positions on such committee shall be accepted by the department. Such notice shall be given by publication at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the protected area and by delivery of a copy of the notice to the county clerk of the county in which the protected area is situated, who thereafter shall post the same in a conspicuous public place. Such notice shall contain: (A) The address of the department; (B) The time within which the petition to nominate is to be filed; (C) The fact that 25 or more electors, or two-thirds of the electors then registered, if there are less than 25, residing within the protected area must subscribe such petition; (D) The fact that such electors may subscribe the nominating petition of more than one candidate for a position on said committee; and (E) The fact that a candidate must reside within the protected area. (b) Upon receipt of any nominating petitions described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, the department shall prepare ballots containing the names of the candidates, in alphabetical order of surnames, and a space for at least one write-in candidate. If no nominating petitions are received by the department, this fact shall be stated upon the ballot and at least three spaces provided thereon for write-in candidates. Such ballots shall also state the time within which the ballots are to be returned to the department and the address of the department. All electors within the boundaries of the territory as determined by the department are eligible to vote in the referendum. The department shall determine the results of such election and shall file with the Secretary of State a declaration of the results of such election, which declaration shall be maintained as a public record in the office of the Secretary of State. The three candidates receiving the largest number of the votes cast in such election shall be the three elected members of the area commission, whose terms of office, to be determined by lot, shall be one, two and three years respectively. (c) Upon determining the results of the election provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the department shall appoint two members to the area committee, which appointments shall be subject to the approval of the majority of the three elected members of said committee. Such appointed members shall be residents of the protected area and have knowledge of pesticides, pesticide application and existing conditions, affecting pesticide application. The terms of office, to be determined by lot, shall be one and two years respectively, and the department shall thereafter appoint the successors in office of such members, as well as those of elected members whose office is vacated prior to the expiration of a term. (2)(a) Upon the establishment of the area committee, the members thereof shall designate a chairperson, secretary and treasurer, which designations may, from time to time, be changed. A majority of the area committee shall constitute a quorum and an act by a majority of such quorum shall constitute an official act of the area committee. (b) The area committee shall: (A) Provide for surety bonds for all persons entrusted with funds or property of the protected area; (B) Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records of all activities, meetings, orders and regulations of the protected area; (C) Employ, as deemed necessary, persons to assist the area committee in its administration and enforcement activities, including issuance of permits to applicators; (D) Not engage in the business of buying or selling pesticides; (E) Promulgate, in consultation with the department, regulations as provided in subsection (4) of this section; (F) Carry out the procedures for the establishment of a restricted area as provided in ORS 634.232; (G) Prepare and make public at annual meetings to be called by the area committee chairperson, annual reports and audits; and (H) Be authorized to receive funds from any source and use the same to carry out and enforce ORS 634.212 to 634.242. (3) Each year after the establishment of a protected area and at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting called pursuant to subsection (2)(b)(G) of this section, the area committee shall notify the department of the annual meeting time. Upon receipt of such notice, the department shall initiate and carry out the procedures for election of members to vacancies on the area committee and shall follow the procedures for elections provided in subsection (1) of this section. The candidates shall be elected and take office as provided in subsection (1) of this section. (4)(a) In accordance with the provisions of ORS chapter 183, the area committee shall promulgate regulations governing or prohibiting the application of pesticides within the protected area, by aircraft or otherwise, which relate to the time, place, method of pesticide application and other matters necessary to prevent damage or injury to susceptible crops, insects, wildlife or forests. (b) In promulgating such regulation, the area committee shall consider, among other things, the: (A) Topography and climate, including temperature, humidity and prevailing winds; (B) Characteristics and properties of pesticides used or applied; and (C) Location of susceptible crops, insects, wildlife or forests. (c) Any interested person may petition to enlarge or restrict the regulation of pesticide application by filing a petition to amend the regulations of the protected area with the area committee which, in consultation with the department and in accordance with the provisions of ORS chapter 183, shall allow or deny such petition and amend the regulations of the protected area accordingly. [1973 c.341 §27; 1997 c.249 §194]