Oregon Code § 251.173·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Translation Advisory Council; membership; compensation; duties.
(1)(a) The Translation Advisory
Council is established. The council shall consist of five at-large members and
at least one translator member for each of the 10 most commonly spoken
languages in this state, other than English, and for each language in each
county that the Secretary of State reasonably anticipates a voters pamphlet at
the next election will be required to be translated into under ORS 251.167. The
secretary may appoint more than one translator member for languages that are
more commonly spoken throughout this state. Members shall be appointed by and
serve at the pleasure of the secretary.
(b) The term of a
member of the council is two years. A member may be reappointed twice and may
not serve more than a total of six years. Before the expiration of the term of
a member, the Secretary of State shall appoint a successor or reappoint the member.
If there is a vacancy for any cause, the secretary shall make an appointment to
be immediately effective.
(c) The Secretary
of State shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that members appointed to the
council are geographically diverse and reside in counties throughout this
state. Prior to appointing each translator member, the secretary shall confer
with, and seek recommendations from, the board of county commissioners for each
county in which the secretary reasonably anticipates a voters pamphlet will be
required to be translated into the language for which the translator member is
appointed.
(d) To qualify to
be appointed as a translator member, a translator member must be proficient in
reading and writing in English and in the translated language for which the
translator member is appointed. A translator member may demonstrate proficiency
by providing:
(A) Proof of
being certified as an interpreter by a public body of this state for the
translated language;
(B) Proof of
holding a bachelors degree or higher in the translated language;
(C) At least one
example of a written translation of the translated language that the translator
member conducted as part of the translator members job duties or contracted
services; or
(D) Proof of
volunteer experience in translating the translated language with a nonprofit
organization, educational institution, social service agency or public body.
(2)(a) Members of
the council shall elect at least one chairperson of the council but may elect
two co-chairpersons of the council.
(b) A majority of
the members of the council constitutes a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(c) The council
shall meet at least once every calendar year. To the extent practicable, the
council shall meet by telephone or video conference but may meet in person.
(d) The members
of the council are entitled to compensation and expenses in the manner and
amounts provided for in ORS 292.495.
(e) The Secretary
of State shall provide clerical and other necessary support services to the
council.
(3) The Secretary
of State shall consult with the council and to the maximum extent practicable
implement recommendations for ensuring that a translation of a voters pamphlet
required under ORS 251.167 is:
(a) Conducted
with professionalism and by a clear process with review;
(b) Culturally
responsive and based in the context of a particular community being served by
the translation;
(c) As accurate
in context and sentence structure as the original version; and
(d) Held to the
same standards as, but not subject to a higher scrutiny than, the original
version. [2021 c.464 §7; 2024 c.55 §4]