Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 171 § 171.790 — Contact with Legislative Assembly by local government officials and employees

Contact with Legislative Assembly by local government officials and employees. Notwithstanding any provision of a city or county charter or any ordinance or order adopted thereunder, a city or county shall not: (1) Prohibit an elected official, other officer or employee of the city or county from initiating contacts with legislators or giving testimony before public sessions of committees of the Legislative Assembly or public hearings of state agencies when: (a) The contacts are made or testimony given as a representative of the city or county; (b) The contacts are made or testimony given to represent the interests of the city or county or the residents thereof; (c) No substantial part of the duties performed by the official, officer or employee consists of influencing or attempting to influence matters which may be the subject of action by either house of the Legislative Assembly or any of its committees; (d) The official, officer or employee receives no consideration for making the contacts or giving testimony other than the remuneration ordinarily paid to the official, officer or employee out of the funds of the city or county in return for duties performed for the city or county, together with reimbursement for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in appearing before the legislative committees or state agencies; and (e) The official, officer or employee is not required to register with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission under ORS 171.725 to 171.785 and the rules of the commission adopted thereunder. (2) Prohibit an elected official, other officer or employee of the city or county from initiating contacts with legislators when the contacts are made to express personal political views and do not occur during working hours while the official, officer or employee is on the job. (3) Prohibit an elected official, other officer or employee of the city or county from responding to requests from legislators or committees of the Legislative Assembly for information, data or opinions. [1985 c.788 §1]