Bill Text: OR SB681 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Oregon Senate Bill 681 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to unanimous jury verdicts; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB681 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB681-Introduced.html



     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 1056

                         Senate Bill 681

Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT, CONSUMER AND SMALL
  BUSINESS PROTECTION

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Creates Task Force on Unanimous Jury Verdicts to study
potential impact of requiring unanimous jury verdicts in Oregon.
  Sunsets task force on date of convening of 2015 regular session
of the Legislative Assembly.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to unanimous jury verdicts; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Task Force on Unanimous Jury Verdicts
is established, consisting of the following members appointed by
the Governor:
  (a) The executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice
Commission;
  (b) Two members who are representatives of the Oregon District
Attorneys Association;
  (c) Two members who are criminal defense attorneys in Oregon;
  (d) If available, one member who is a federal attorney working
in Oregon; and
  (e) If available, one member who is a federal judge sitting in
Oregon.
  (2) The task force shall study the potential impact of amending
the Oregon Constitution to require unanimous jury verdicts in
criminal procedures, including the potential fiscal impact and
the potential impact on the criminal justice system.
  (3) A majority of the voting members of the task force
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
  (4) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the voting members of the task force.
  (5) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
  (6) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall
make an appointment to become immediately effective.
  (7) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by
the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting
members of the task force.
  (8) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the task force.
  (9) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided
in ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation,
to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to
criminal procedure as appropriate no later than October 1, 2014.
  (10) The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission shall provide staff
support to the task force.
  (11) Members of the task force are not entitled to
compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary
travel and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of
their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in
ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses shall be paid out of funds
appropriated to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for
purposes of the task force.
  (12) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance
of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to
confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
duties. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 1 of this 2013 Act is repealed on the
date of the convening of the 2015 regular session of the
Legislative Assembly as specified in ORS 171.010. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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