Public Affairs

Oregon’s 75th Legislative Session convenes on January 12. The Board of Governors approved a package of 27 bar-sponsored law improvement bills. These bills were proposed by various bar groups in order to improve Oregon’s body of law.

Sections and Groups that submitted legislation include: the Board of Governors, the Military Assistance Panel, Business Law, Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Debtor/Creditor, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Indian Law, Real Estate & Land Use, and the Procedure & Practice Committee.

Read the legislative proposals and bills here.

Visit the Oregon Legislature�s web site here

Read recent Legislative Press Releases here

Access the 2009 Public Affairs Legislative Session Tracking/Reports here
Keep track of the bills and generate reports on the bills your Section/Committee has identified as bills of interest. If you have questions regarding taking positions on legislation or on how to use the Public Affairs Legislative Tracking/Reports site, please contact the Public Affairs Department at 503.431.6376.

Location of Judiciary Hearing Rooms

Ways and Means Chairs Announced

In the first and perhaps most significant committee chair appointments, Speaker-Elect Hunt and Senate President Courtney have appointed as Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee Rep. Peter Buckley (D. Ashland) and Sen. Margaret Carter (D. Portland). The Co-Chairs will be leaders in crafting the 2009-11 biennial budget.

November Election Shows Increase in Lawyer-Legislators

Oregon will have more legislators with legal training in the 2009 legislative session. Previously ten legislators were legally trained. This number jumped to thirteen after the November election. In the Senate there will be five members with legal training, four Democrats and one Republican. The House will have eight members with legal training, six Democrats and two Republicans.

Check the Nov. 26 issues of the Capitol Insider for more details.

Get Updated With 2008 Oregon Legislation Highlights

Find out which new laws will affect your practice and clients when you buy 2008 Oregon Legislation Highlights. The Legislatures's 2008 Supplemental Session resulted in the passage of over 70 bills. The 2008 Oregon Legislation Highlights publication describes bills enacted in various practice areas. Effective dates of each described bill are also provided.

Copies are still available for $30. To order, call the Service Desk at (503) 684-7413, or toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-8260, ext. 413 or click here to view and print the order form.

Mission Statement

The Public Affairs Department works to apply the knowledge and experience of the legal profession to the public good by advising governmental bodies, proposing legislation for law improvement, and advocating on matters that affect the legal profession.

The Public Affairs Program:
provides legal expertise and assistance to lawmakers;
informs bar leaders, members and government bodies on bar related legislation and public policy issues;
assists bar groups with law improvement projects; and
influences major issues affecting the legal profession and justice system.

Policies/Proposals

OSB Bylaws

Article 12 - Legislation And Public Policy

The Political Process: Roles and Responsibilities

OSB Legislative Proposals/Session Results

OSB 2007 Legislative Session Results
OSB 2005 Legislative Session Results
OSB 2003 Legislative Session Results
OSB 2001 Legislative Session Results
OSB 1999 Legislative Session Results

Keller Rule

What is the Keller Rule?

In 1990, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Keller v. State Bar of California, 499 US 1, 111 SCt 2228 (1990) that an integrated (mandatory) bars use of compulsory dues to finance political and ideological activities violates the 1st Amendment rights of dissenting members when such expenditures are not germane to the bars purpose, which the court identified as regulating the legal profession and improving the quality of legal services.

Keller does not prohibit integrated bars from using member dues to advance political or ideological positions that are not germane to the bars purpose; however, it requires that dissenting members receive a refund of the portion of dues attributable to the non-germane activity.

The OSB Legislative Guideline Overview

The board has determined that the use of bar dues to participate in shaping legislation that involves the regulation of the legal profession and matters concerning the quality of legal services available to the people of Oregon is germane to the bar's role and is in the public interest.

Oregon State Bar legislative or policy activities shall be limited to those reasonably related to any of the following subjects:

The regulation and discipline of lawyers;
The improvement of the functioning of the courts including issues of judicial independence, fairness, efficacy and efficiency;
The availability of legal services to society;
The regulation of lawyer trust accounts;
The education, ethics, competence, integrity and regulation of the legal profession; or
The provision of law improvement assistance to elected and appointed government officials;
Issues involving the structure and organization of federal, state and local courts in or affecting Oregon;
Issues involving the rules of practice, procedure and evidence in federal, state or local courts in or affecting Oregon; and
Issues involving the duties and functions of judges and lawyers in federal, state, and local courts in or affecting Oregon.

*Excerpt from OSB Bylaws, Article 12 Legislation and Public Policy

Publications

Capitol Insider Newsletters

Public Affairs Department brochure

2009 Legislative Tips Handbook
2007 Legislative Tips Handbook
2005 Legislative Tips Handbook
2003 Legislative Tips Handbook
2001 Legislative Tips Handbook

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Contacts

Public Affairs Committee Members

The Public Affairs Committee of the Board of Governors oversees the work of the program, and makes recommendation to the Board of Governors on public policy issues.

Public Affairs Committee Process

The Board or its Public Affairs Committee sets priorities regarding legislation or positions on legislation. In so doing, the Board will make a reasonable effort to do the following:

Encourage as wide a participation of the membership as possible
in formulating positions on legislative issues;
Inform members of the Bars legislative positions;
Respect divergent opinions of subgroups within the legal profession;
Provide assistance to bar sections and committees; avoid
committing bar funds to issues that are divisive or create factions
within the profession;
Present major issues to the House of Delegates for approval.

2009 Public Affairs Committee Members

Stephen V. Piucci Chair, Portland
900 SW 13th, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97205
503-228-7385
503-228-2571
steve@piucci.com

Ann L. Fisher Vice-Chair, Portland
AF Legal & Consulting Services
PO Box 25302
Portland, OR 97298
Phone: 503-721-0181
Fax: 503-291-1556
energlaw@aol.com

Gerry Gaydos, Eugene
Gaydos Churnside & Balthrop PC
440 E Broadway, Suite 300
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: 541-343-8060
Fax: 541-343-1599
gerry@gcbpc.com

Robert L. Vieira, Portland
OHSU Baird Hall, Room 1028
Mail Code L349
3181 SW Sam Jackson
Portland, OR 97239
Phone: 503-494-7878
Fax: 503-494-7519
vieirar@ohsu.edu

Kellie F. Johnson, Portland
Multnomah County DA's Office
600 Multnomah County Courthouse
1021 SW 4th Ave.
Portland, OR 97204
503 988-3162 Fax: 503 988-3643
kellie.johnson@mcda.us

Gina Johnnie, Salem
Sherman Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt
693 Chemeketa St
PO Box 2247
Salem, OR 97308
Phone: 503 364-2281
Fax: 503 370-4308
Email: gina@shermlaw.com

Michelle Castano Garcia, Portland
Washington Trust Bank
920 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503 778-7060
Email: mgarcia@watrust.com

Oregon State Bar Public Affairs Staff

P.O. Box 231935
Tigard, OR
97281-1935
(503) 620-0222
or toll-free in Oregon: (800) 452-8260
Fax: (503) 684-1366

Staff:
Susan Evans Grabe, Director
David Nebel, Attorney
Matt Shields, Attorney
Camille Greene, Public Affairs Assistant

OSB Section and Committee Legislative Contacts

Elected Officials with Legal Training

All OSB Staff Contacts

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How To Get Involved

Tips for Communicating with Your Legislator

Tips for Lobbying and Getting Prepared

OSB Guidelines for Section & Committee Involvement

OSB Legislative Policy Guideline