Merit Institute Merit

The Oregon Government Transparency & Performance Act (OR-GT&P)

Oregon state companion to GT&P. Strengthens the Oregon Public Records Law, inspector-general independence, and extends state-law whistleblower rewards under the Oregon False Claims Act (ORS 180.750 et seq.).

THE OREGON GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & PERFORMANCE ACT (OR-GT&P)

Vehicle: State passage. Oregon Legislative Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Judiciary / Rules.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Oregon Government Transparency & Performance Act (OR-GT&P).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that the Oregon Public Records Law operates under ORS 192.311 et seq.; that the Oregon Government Ethics Commission operates under ORS Chapter 244; and that the Oregon False Claims Act, ORS 180.750 et seq., authorizes the Attorney General and qui tam relators. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with collective bargaining and merit-system protections.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH OREGON LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Oregon Public Records Law” means ORS 192.311 et seq.
  2. (b) “ORFCA” means the Oregon False Claims Act, ORS 180.750 et seq.
  3. (c) “State performance data” means outcome measures published by State agencies.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Oregon Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • ORS 192.311 et seq. (public records).
  • ORS 180.750 et seq. (ORFCA).
  • ORS 659A.203 et seq. (whistleblower).
  • Collective bargaining rights under ORS Chapter 243.

TITLE II — STATE PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

Sec. 201. Dashboard

  1. (a) The Department of Administrative Services shall publish an Oregon Performance Dashboard in machine-readable form, updated at least quarterly, crosswalked to Federal FPD.

TITLE III — OPEN RECORDS

Sec. 301. Public Records Strengthening

  1. (a) Reduce response time to “as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay” with a hard 15-business-day response cap absent extraordinary circumstances.
  2. (b) Mandatory fee waivers for public-interest requesters under ORS 192.324.
  3. (c) Public Records Advocate expanded authority consistent with ORS 192.461 et seq.

TITLE IV — INSPECTOR-GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

Sec. 401. Inspector-General Protections

  1. (a) Removal for cause only; findings reported to Presiding Officers.
  2. (b) Budgetary and staffing independence for agency inspectors general.

TITLE V — WHISTLEBLOWER AND QUI TAM

Sec. 501. ORFCA Strengthening

  1. (a) Amendments to ORS 180.750 et seq. to (i) confirm relator share ranges, (ii) strengthen retaliation remedies under ORS 659A.200 et seq., (iii) clarify public-disclosure bar.
  2. (b) Full collective-bargaining protections preserved under ORS Chapter 243.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Canonical federal version: GT&P. Other Oregon bills: OR-ACSA, OR-MEWRA, OR-AI-Workforce.