Oregon Public Records Advocate 800 Summer St.  Salem OR 97310 www.oregon.gov/pra Providing dispute resolution services, training, guidance and advice to improve the administration of Oregon’s public records law.

Contact:  PublicRecordsAdvocate.PRC@oregon.gov | 503-871-9036

SB 500 A completes the legislative Ways and Means process

SB 500 A passed through the Ways and Means process this morning with a unanimous do pass recommendation. Great news for the bill, and the nearing of the end for the beginning of the transition process. Next up is a floor vote by the Senate and then, upon passage there, onto the House. However, it was decided by the Ways and Means Committee that funding for a newly independent office would not be taken up now. Instead, things will be kept status quo within the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which currently holds and administers the office’s budget, through the 2021-2023 biennium. At the same time, a budget to fund an independent advocate’s office in which it holds and administers the funds itself beginning in the 2023-2025 biennium, will now be drafted for presentation to and consideration by the legislature.