261.005 Short title
This chapter shall be known as the People’s Utility District Law.
Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 261 — People’s Utility Districts
107 sections261.007 Policy
The purpose of this chapter is to implement the intent and purpose of section 12, Article XI, of the Oregon Constitution including authorization for the establishment of people’s utility districts to develop the water and energy resources of this state for the benefit of the people of this state and to supply public utility service, including water, water po…
261.010 Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless otherwise required by the context: “Affected territory” means that territory proposed to be formed into, annexed to or consolidated with a district. “Board of directors,” “directors” or “board” means the governing body of a people’s utility district, elected and functioning under the provisions of this chapter. “County gove…
261.015 [Renumbered 261.121]renumbered
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.020 [Repealed by 1973 c.796 §79]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.025 Statutory provisions cumulative
The provisions of this chapter are additional and cumulative to the provisions of any other law now or hereafter existing for the holding of elections in districts.
261.030 Limit of authority to control existing utilities of electric cooperatives or cities
Nothing contained in this chapter authorizes or empowers the board of directors of any people’s utility district to interfere with or exercise any control over any existing utility owned and operated by any electric cooperative or city in the district unless by consent of the governing body of the electric cooperative or of the city council or the governing …
261.035 Effect of chapter on charter provisions of cities and acquisition of plants
Nothing in this chapter modifies in any manner any charter provisions of any city, or prohibits any city from acquiring and operating its own plant.
261.040 [Amended by 1979 c.558 §6; renumbered 261.118]renumbered
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.045 Procedure in absence of specific provision
Where the procedure for formation of a district, annexation of territory to a district, consolidation of two or more districts, issuance of bonds and levying and collection of taxes, holding of elections or any other matter in connection with organization or operation of utility districts is not specifically provided for, any suitable method and proceeding, …
261.050 Taxation of district property
All property, real and personal, owned, used, operated or controlled by any people’s utility district, in or for the production, transmission, distribution or furnishing of electricity or electric service for or to the public, shall be assessed and taxed in the same manner and for the same purposes, and the district and the directors and officers thereof sha…
261.055 Special elections called by board
When any people’s utility district desires to hold an election for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the district any question that may lawfully be submitted to them, the board may, at any regular or special meeting called in accordance with its rules or the statutes governing the same, adopt a resolution calling a special election to be held on a…
261.060 Election procedure
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, every district election shall be conducted in accordance with ORS 255.005 to 255.035, 255.055, 255.075, 255.085, 255.215 to 255.288 and 255.295 to 255.345.
261.065 Application of initiative, referendum and recall laws
The laws of this state regarding initiative, referendum and recall shall apply to people’s utility districts. FORMATION; BOUNDARY CHANGES
261.105 Powers of district; formation; annexation; consolidation
People’s utility districts may be created as provided in this chapter. A people’s utility district may exercise all powers conferred by this chapter. When a majority of all votes cast, at an election within the boundaries of any proposed district to determine whether or not the district is to be formed, favors formation, the district shall be created. In a…
261.110 Areas includable in district; description of district in petition for election
People’s utility districts may consist of territory, contiguous or otherwise, within one or more counties, and may consist of one or more cities, or a portion of a city, with or without unincorporated territory. Petitions asking that an election be held to determine whether or not a district shall be created shall set forth and particularly describe the bou…
261.113 Petition or resolution for formation to propose special levy for certain purposes
Electors’ petitions and resolutions for formation of a district shall include a proposal for the authorization of the district to impose a special levy of a certain amount to finance an engineer’s report on revenue bonds for the acquisition or construction of the initial utility system, including the replacement value of the unreimbursed investment of an inv…
261.115 Contents of electors’ petition; certification
All electors’ petitions shall contain a statement as to whether or not the petitioners are desirous of forming a utility district, or to annex territory to an existing utility district, or to consolidate two or more existing utility districts, the description of the territory sought to be included therein and the name by which the utility district is to be k…
261.118 Withdrawal from petition
After a petition has been filed with the county clerk, no person may withdraw that person’s name from it.
261.120 [Amended by 1975 c.647 §17; repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.121 Basis of computing percentage of petition signatures
When the boundaries described in any petition include a part of a precinct, the vote of the entire precinct shall be used as a basis in computing the percentage of signatures required on electors’ petitions.
261.125 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.130 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.131 Period for county clerk to certify petition
Within 10 days after receipt of an electors’ petition the county clerk shall certify the sufficiency of signatures to the county governing body.
261.135 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.140 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.141 Formation, annexation or consolidation by resolution; contents of resolution
In addition to the initiation of a people’s utility district formation, annexation or consolidation by electors’ petition: Formation of a district may be initiated by resolution of the governing body of each county in which territory of the proposed district is situated or, if a city proposes to create a district, by resolution of the city governing body; …
261.145 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.147 Resolution to remove territory not served by district; hearing; notice; election on question of removal; effect of removal
When any parcels of territory within an existing district are not being served by the district, the board of directors of the district may fix a place and time for a public hearing to consider the removal of such parcels from the district. Notice stating the time and place of the hearing shall be published in accordance with ORS 261.161 (1). The hearing may…
261.150 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.151 Hearing by Director of State Department of Energy on district formation; notice; report by director
Upon certification of a petition for formation or adoption of a resolution by the county governing body for district formation, the county clerk shall submit a copy of the resolution or petition, without signatures attached, to the Director of the State Department of Energy. Not less than 30 days after receipt of the petition or resolution copy, the director…
261.155 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.160 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.161 Hearing by county governing body; notice; determination of boundaries
After certification of a petition, or passage of the resolution when the formation, annexation or consolidation proposal is by resolution of the county governing body, the county governing body shall, within 10 days, fix a date for a hearing on the boundaries described in the electors’ petition or resolution of the county governing body for inclusion in the …
261.165 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.170 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.171 County governing body to call election; notice; dates
Upon its own resolution, the county governing body may, and upon receipt of an electors’ petition or resolution of the governing body of a people’s utility district or city that the county governing body finds to be in compliance with this chapter shall, at the earliest practical date submit the question of district formation, annexation or consolidation and…
261.175 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.180 Effect of annexation or consolidation on title to property and indebtedness
If a parcel of territory or a city is annexed to an existing people’s utility district, or two or more districts are consolidated, such annexation or consolidation shall not affect or impair the title to any property owned or held by the district or districts, or any property owned or held by the annexed city, or in trust therefor, or any debts, demands, lia…
261.185 [Amended by 1973 c.796 §10; repealed by 1975 c.647 §53]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.190 Election of first board of directors; qualifications; tenure
At all elections where the creation of a district is authorized, five directors shall be elected to manage and transact the business of the district. Candidates for the office of director must be electors of this state, must have resided in the proposed district continuously for not less than two years next preceding the date of the election, and must conti…
261.195 [Amended by 1973 c.796 §12; repealed by 1975 c.647 §53]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.200 Proclamation of district formation or boundary change; special levy; property owner petition
If a majority of votes cast at the election favors formation of the people’s utility district and authorization of the district to impose a special levy for the purposes stated in the petition for formation, or annexation of a parcel of territory or a city to an existing district, or consolidation of two or more districts, as the case may be, and in conformi…
261.205 [Repealed by 1975 c.647 §53]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.210 Payment of election expenses; security deposit
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, all expenses in any county of any election held under this chapter for formation of a district and election of a board of directors shall be paid from the general fund of the county in the same manner that other claims against the county are paid. When formation of a district is initiated by electors’ pe…
261.215 When district formed; designation; district as corporation
From the date of the proclamation relative to formation of a people’s utility district the territory shall be a separate district to be known as the district named and specified in the proclamation. The inhabitants thereof shall be a corporation by the name and style of the utility district specified in the proclamation, and as such shall have perpetual succ…
261.220 Mandamus to compel performance of its duties by county governing body
If the county governing body refuses to call an election, or hold a hearing, as provided in this chapter, or refuses to declare the results of any election or issue the required proclamation, any elector may apply within 10 days after the refusal to the circuit court for the county in which the proposed district, or its greater portion, is located for a writ…
261.225 State agencies and private utilities to provide new district certain information
The State Department of Energy, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon and any privately owned utility serving the affected territory shall cooperate in providing information and data as requested by a people’s utility district for construction or acquisition of the initial utility system. As requested, the State Department of Energy and the Public Utility…
261.235 Definitions for ORS 261.235 to 261.255
As used in ORS 261.235 to 261.255, unless the context requires otherwise: “City” means a city organized under the law of California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon or Washington and owning and operating an electric light and power system. “Common facilities” means any property used for the generation, transmission, distribution or marketing of electricity …
261.240 Policy; construction
The Legislative Assembly finds and declares it to be in the public interest and for a public purpose that districts, cities, electric cooperatives, and electric utility companies participate as authorized in ORS 261.235 to 261.255 jointly and with other persons to: Achieve economies of scale in the generation of electricity; Meet the future power needs of …
261.241 Membership in electric cooperative or limited liability corporation
A people’s utility district may become a member of an electric cooperative, or of a limited liability company, for the purposes of planning, financing, constructing, acquiring, operating, owning or maintaining property used for the generation and associated transmission of electricity within or outside this state. A district may not become a stockholder in, …
261.245 Authority of district to acquire interest in power facilities
In addition to the powers otherwise conferred on districts of this state, such a district owning and operating an electric light and power system may plan, finance, construct, acquire, operate, own and maintain an undivided interest in common facilities within or without the state jointly with one or more other districts, with one or more cities, with one or…
261.250 District liability; application of moneys; use of power of eminent domain
In carrying out the powers granted in ORS 261.241 and 261.245, a district of this state is liable only for its own acts with regard to the planning, financing, construction, acquisition, operation, ownership or maintenance of common facilities. No moneys or other contributions supplied by a district of this state for the planning, financing, construction, ac…
261.253 Restriction on public contract imposing unconditional or unlimited financial obligation on electric utility
A public contract entered into by a noninvestor-owned electric utility may not contain a clause or condition that imposes an unconditional and unlimited financial obligation on the electric utility that is party to the contract unless the terms and conditions of the contract are subject to approval and are approved by the electors of the people’s utility dis…
261.255 Use of district money or property; revenue bonds
Any district of this state participating in common facilities under ORS 261.235 to 261.255 may furnish money and provide property, both real and personal, and to the extent and in the manner provided by ORS 261.355 issue and sell revenue bonds pledging revenues of its electric system and its interest or share of the revenues derived from the common facilitie…
261.305 General powers of district
People’s utility districts shall have power: To have perpetual succession. To adopt a seal and alter it at pleasure. To sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded. To acquire and hold, including by lease-purchase agreement, real and other property necessary or incident to the business of the districts, within or without, or partly within or partly withou…
261.310 Irrigation, drainage, other districts given power of utility district in certain cases
Any existing irrigation, drainage or other district in good standing and duly organized under the laws of this state shall be eligible to qualify and do any and all things necessary or incident to the purchase, generation and distribution of electric power under the terms of this chapter without the necessity of reorganizing and complying with the organizati…
261.315 Acquisition of distribution facilities outside district
Except as to distribution facilities located in unincorporated territory at or near the boundaries of the people’s utility district and forming an interconnected part of the distribution system within the district, as determined by the county governing body after a public hearing, no facilities then being used for the distribution of electric energy outside …
261.320 [Repealed by 1971 c.741 §38]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.325 Acquisition of water rights
Any utility district created under this chapter may acquire in its own name the right to use the unappropriated waters of this state in accordance with the laws of this state.
261.327 Acquisition of distribution facilities of private utility; compensation for energy efficiency measures
When a district acquires from an investor owned utility, by eminent domain or otherwise, facilities for the distribution of energy within an affected territory, the district shall compensate the owner of the facilities, in addition to any other amounts otherwise due, an amount equal to the replacement value of the investor owned utility’s unreimbursed invest…
261.330 District water right appropriation exclusive if not excessive
Any filing made by any people’s utility district upon the unappropriated waters of this state for use in the future development of a hydroelectric plant by the district shall be reserved to the district and shall not be subject to appropriation by any other person, city or corporation, unless it is judicially determined that such filing exceeds the reasonabl…
261.335 Districts subject to public contracting and purchasing requirements
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, people’s utility districts are subject to the public contracting and purchasing requirements of ORS 279.835 to 279.855, 279C.005, 279C.100 to 279C.125 and 279C.300 to 279C.470 and ORS chapters 279A and 279B, except ORS 279A.140 and 279A.250 to 279A.290. The public contracting and purchasing req…
261.340 [Repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.345 Employment of labor; pay and conditions; agreements; rights of previous employees of private utility
All labor employed by a district, directly or indirectly, shall be employed under and in pursuance of the provisions of ORS 279B.235, 279C.540, 279C.545, 653.268 and 653.269. The minimum scale of wages to be paid by a people’s utility district or by any contractor or subcontractor for such district shall be not less than the prevailing wage for the characte…
261.348 Transactions for production, supply or delivery of electricity; financial products contracts
Notwithstanding any other law, people’s utility districts and municipal electric utilities may enter into transactions with other persons or entities for the production, supply or delivery of electricity on an economic, dependable and cost-effective basis, including financial products contracts and other service contracts that reduce the risk of economic los…
261.350 Agreements for use of excess district facilities
Whenever any of the facilities, works or utilities of the district, or any part thereof, are not used or employed to its fullest capacity for the benefits or requirements of the district or its inhabitants, the district may enter into agreements, upon terms and conditions satisfactory to the board, for renting, leasing or otherwise using the available portio…
261.355 Procedure for issuance and sale of revenue bonds
For the purpose of carrying into effect the powers granted in this chapter, any district may issue and sell revenue bonds, when authorized by a majority of its electors voting at any primary election, general election or special election. All revenue bonds issued and sold under this chapter shall be so conditioned as to be paid solely from that portion of t…
261.360 Authority to issue general obligation bonds
When authorized by a majority of its electors voting at any primary election or general election or at a special election, at which special election not less than 25 percent of the electors of the district voted on the question, any district may issue and sell general obligation bonds so conditioned that the district shall therein and thereby unconditionally…
261.365 Bond requirements
All revenue bonds issued under ORS 261.355 shall contain a clause that they are payable solely from revenues derived by the district from its operations, remaining after paying from said revenues all expenses of operation and maintenance, including taxes. Such bonds may be issued from time to time, shall be of such denominations, and shall run for a period …
261.370 [Repealed by 1975 c.642 §6 (261.371 enacted in lieu of 261.370)]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.371 Authority to issue and sell revenue bonds
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, revenue bonds issued and sold under this chapter may be issued and sold as prescribed in ORS chapter 287A.
261.375 Election to authorize district bond issue
Except as provided in ORS 261.355 (3) and subject to ORS 261.355 (10), before any district issues general obligation or revenue bonds, other than general obligation refunding, revenue refunding or advance refunding bonds, the question of whether the bonds shall be issued shall be submitted to the electors of the district, either at any general, state or coun…
261.380 Refunding district indebtedness
The power to refund indebtedness approved by the electors of the district is vested in the board of directors and may be exercised by adoption of a resolution providing therefor. It shall not be necessary for the board to submit the question of the proposed refunding to the electors of the district at an election or otherwise, but revenue bonds shall not be …
261.385 [Amended by 1963 c.9 §5; 1991 c.459 §357; repealed by 2023 c.173 §1]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.390 Property taxable; time and manner of tax levy and collection
All taxes provided for in this chapter shall be levied upon all real and personal property situated within the boundaries of the district and by law taxable for state and county purposes. Such taxes shall be levied and collected at the time and in the manner provided for levy and collection of state and county taxes, and shall be by the county officers colle…
261.405 Board of directors; election; qualifications
The management of a people’s utility district shall be vested in a board of five directors. Upon formation of a district, annexation, consolidation, merger and after each decennial United States Census, the board of directors shall by ordinance divide the district into five subdivisions, as nearly equal in population as possible, and where practicable fix t…
261.410 Nomination and election of directors of established districts
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, directors shall be nominated and elected by the electors of the subdivision such director represents at time of holding the next general election. Nominating petitions must be furnished by the district.
261.415 Vacancy in office of director
The office of director shall be considered vacant: Upon the failure of the person elected or appointed to the office to qualify for it not later than 30 days after the time the term of office commences; Upon the occurrence of any event listed in ORS 236.010; or Upon the incumbent’s absence from meetings of the board for 60 days without the consent of the …
261.420 Terms of office of directors
Of the board of directors elected at the next general election following creation of the district, three shall hold office for four years, and two shall hold office for two years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, the length of the respective terms to be determined by lot. Thereafter, at each general election, a number of directors corres…
261.425 Officers of board
The board shall choose one of its members president, one vice president, and one treasurer. The board shall choose a secretary of the district, who may or may not be a member of the board. In the absence or disability of the president, the vice president shall act as president. The treasurer shall be custodian of all funds of the district, and pay them out …
261.430 Board meetings
A majority of members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of official business. The decision of a majority of the board shall be deemed to be the act or decision of the board. No vacancy of less than a majority of members of the board shall impair the right of the remaining board members to exercise all powers of the board. T…
261.435 [Amended by 1953 c.284 §2; 1957 c.334 §4; 1959 c.118 §1; 1967 c.168 §1; repealed by 1979 c.558 §30]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.440 [Repealed by 1969 c.325 §4]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.445 Appointment and removal of district manager; qualifications; salary; acting manager; powers and duties
The board, before or at the time the district commences construction or operation of any utility or service, shall appoint a manager, who shall be an experienced executive with administrative ability. The manager shall be appointed for an indefinite time and be removable at the action of the board. Appointments and removals shall be by resolutions adopted by…
261.450 [Repealed by 1969 c.345 §20]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.455 [Repealed by 1969 c.344 §8]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.460 Legislative function of board
The board of directors shall constitute the legislative body of the district, and shall determine all questions of policy. All legislative acts of the board shall be expressed in written resolutions or ordinances. Every ordinance enacted by the board shall be preceded by an enacting clause substantially as follows: “Be It Enacted by the ______ People’s Util…
261.465 Board supervision and regulation of district utilities; fixing rates
The board shall supervise and regulate every utility owned, operated or owned and operated by the district, including the fixing and adjusting of rates, rentals, charges and classifications, contracts, practices and schedules, for or in connection with any service, product or commodity owned or controlled by the district. Rates so fixed shall be sufficient …
261.470 Accounting system adopted by board; annual reports; annual audit
The board shall adopt the effective uniform system of accounts prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and require that accounting for receipts and disbursements for the district be accomplished in accordance with said system of accounts. The board shall file with the Director of the State Department of Energy and with the county clerk of eac…
261.505 [Amended by 1973 c.796 §17; 1975 c.647 §21; renumbered 261.055]renumbered
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.510 [Amended by 1959 c.72 §1; repealed by 1973 c.796 §79]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.515 [Repealed by 1973 c.796 §79]repealed
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
261.605 Testing validity of certain commission and board proceedings
The board of directors of a people’s utility district may by petition commence proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the district, or the greater portion thereof, is located, for the purpose of having a judicial examination and judgment of the court as to regularity and legality of proceedings in connection with creation of the district, in…
261.610 Nature of proceeding; notice; appearance to contest; court determinations
The proceedings shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem, and the practice and procedure therein shall follow the practice and procedure of an action not triable by right to a jury, so far as consistent with the determination sought to be obtained, except as provided in ORS 261.605 to 261.635. The jurisdiction of the district and of electors therein sh…
261.615 Appeal to Court of Appeals
Either party may appeal to the Court of Appeals at any time within 30 days after the rendering of the general judgment, which appeal must be heard and determined within three months from the time of taking such appeal.
261.620 Guidance for court determination
The court, in inquiring into the regularity, legality or correctness of any such proceedings, must disregard any error, irregularity or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties to the special proceedings. It may approve the proceedings in part and disapprove and declare illegal or invalid other or subsequent proceedings in part. I…
261.625 Costs of proceeding
The costs of the special proceedings may be allowed and apportioned between the parties in the discretion of the court.
261.630 Institution of proceeding by elector; directors as parties; notice
Any elector of the district within 30 days after the entry of any order, or the performance of any act mentioned in ORS 261.605, and for which a contest is provided by that section, may bring a like proceeding in the circuit court of the county where the district, or the greater portion thereof, is located, to determine the validity of any of the acts, order…
261.635 Procedure exclusive
No contest of any proceeding, matter or thing by this chapter provided to be had or done by the board of directors, by the district, by the county governing body or by any elector of the district, shall be had or maintained at any time or in any manner except as provided in ORS 261.605 to 261.630. DISSOLUTION
261.705 Authority to dissolve district; vote authorizing dissolution
Any people’s utility district which has not received voter authorization within five years of its formation election to issue bonds in an amount sufficient to acquire or build a system to provide service within its district may be dissolved whenever a majority vote of the electors of the district voting at an election for such purpose favors the dissolution.
261.710 Call of election; effect of favorable vote
The dissolution election may be called by the board of directors on their own motion or by a petition filed with the directors of the district, signed by electors of the district equal in number to not less than three percent of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor in the district at the most recent election at which a candidate for…
261.715 Directors as trustees
Upon dissolution the directors then in office shall be deemed to be, and thereafter be referred to as, the trustees of the district, with power and authority in the name and in behalf of the district to sell, transfer and dispose of any and all property and assets of the district and to do each and every thing necessary and needful or requisite for settlemen…
261.720 Inventory and sale of district property
The trustees shall proceed at once to take, or cause to be taken, an inventory of all property of the district, its assets and liabilities, and shall sell the same as a whole or any part thereof upon such terms and conditions as the trustees deem advisable.
261.725 Disposal of sale proceeds
The proceeds derived from the sale shall be used to pay the indebtedness of the district. If, after payment of all debts of the district, there remain any surplus funds to the credit of the district, such funds shall be turned over to the county treasurer of each county in which the district may be located, to become a part of the general fund of the county…
261.730 Disposal of district books and records; termination of corporate existence
After the affairs of the district have been fully settled, all books and records of the district shall be deposited by the trustees in the office of the county clerk of the county wherein the district or its principal part in area thereof is located, and the corporate existence of the district without further action is dissolved and terminated for all purpos…
261.900 Construction
The rule of strict construction shall have no application to ORS 261.007, 261.010, 261.030, 261.065 to 261.118, 261.131 to 261.171, 261.190, 261.200, 261.220, 261.225, 261.305 to 261.325, 261.345, 261.355, 261.371, 261.375, 261.605, 261.635 and this section; but the same shall be liberally construed, in order to carry out the purposes and objects for which O…