House Bill 3538

Digest: The Act makes the SOS the chief civics officer in the state and establishes a division in the SOS office for civics. The Act says that civics shall be taught in schools and that civics programs shall be given to adults. The Act creates a task force to study and propose ideas to improve civics in this state. The Act creates the PRC as an office for people to make complaints about false campaign statements, investigate the complaints and make findings, including required warnings near certain statements. The Act takes effect when signed. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.9). Establishes the Secretary of State as the chief civics officer of this state and establishes the Division of Civic Engagement within the Secretary of State office. Directs the division to establish civics education in public schools and develop programs and outreach for adults to enhance civic engagement. Establishes the Civics Action Benchmarks Task Force to study and make recommendations on the steps to be taken to enhance the participation of Oregonians in civic affairs. Establishes the Commission on Political Rhetoric. Directs the commission to receive complaints alleging that a candidate for public office has made false statements with purposeful malice or reckless intent. Provides that if a supermajority of the commission determines that the subject of a complaint made false statements with purposeful malice or reckless intent, the voters' pamphlet and other publications containing the candidate's statements must also contain a warning statement specified by the Act. Appropriates moneys to the Secretary of State and Commission on Political Rhetoric to fund the programs established in the Act. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

In the House of Representatives

• Paul Evans

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Feb 11 – Jun 27

1. Feb 11Introduced
2. Feb 12Sent to Rules
3. Jun 27Died when the session ended