ORS 171.776 Commission duties; advisory opinions; status of opinions

In addition to the duties prescribed in ORS 171.772, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission may make inquiries or investigations in the manner prescribed in ORS 171.778 with respect to registrations, statements and reports filed under ORS 171.725 to 171.785, and with respect to any alleged failure to register or to file any statements or reports required under ORS 171.725 to 171.785, and upon signed complaint by any individual or on its own instigation, with respect to apparent violation of any part of ORS 171.725 to 171.785.

Upon written request of any lobbyist, lobbyist employer or any person, or upon its own motion, the commission, under signature of the chairperson, may issue and publish opinions on the requirements of ORS 171.725 to 171.785, based on actual or hypothetical circumstances.

If any lobbyist or lobbyist employer associated with the lobbyist is in doubt whether a proposed transaction or action constitutes a violation of ORS 171.725 to 171.785, the lobbyist or lobbyist employer may request in writing a determination from the commission. The requester shall supply such information as the commission requests to enable it to issue the interpretation.

A lobbyist or lobbyist employer associated with the lobbyist shall not be liable under ORS 171.725 to 171.785 for any action or transaction carried out in accordance with an advisory interpretation issued under subsection (3) of this section. Such an advisory interpretation shall be considered a formal opinion having precedential effect and shall be subject to review by legal counsel to the commission before the interpretation is sent to the requester.