(2) The joint committee consists of members of the Senate appointed by President of Senate and members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3) The President of the Senate shall appoint one cochair for the joint committee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one cochair for the joint committee with the duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of the offices as the President and the Speaker determine.
(4) The joint committee has a continuing existence and may meet, act and conduct its business during sessions of the Legislative Assembly or any recess thereof and in the interim between sessions.
(5) The term of a member shall expire upon the date of the convening of the odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly next following the commencement of the member’s term. When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the joint committee in the interim between odd-numbered year regular sessions, until such vacancy is filled, the membership of the joint committee shall be considered not to include the vacant position for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present and a quorum is a majority of the remaining members.
(6) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective.
(7) Members of the joint committee shall receive an amount equal to that authorized under ORS 171.072 from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly for each day spent in the performance of their duties as members of the joint committee or any subcommittee thereof in lieu of reimbursement for in-state travel expenses. However, when engaged in out-of-state travel, members shall be entitled to receive their actual and necessary expenses therefor in lieu of the amount authorized by this subsection. Payment shall be made from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly.
(8) The joint committee may not transact business unless a quorum is present. A quorum consists of a majority of joint committee members from the House of Representatives and a majority of joint committee members from the Senate.
(9) Action by the joint committee requires the affirmative vote of a majority of joint committee members from the House of Representatives and a majority of joint committee members from the Senate.
(10) The joint committee may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the joint committee.
(11) The Legislative Policy and Research Director may employ persons necessary for the performance of the functions of the joint committee. The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall fix the duties and amounts of compensation of the employees. The joint committee shall use the services of continuing legislative staff, without employing additional persons, to the greatest extent practicable.
(12) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the joint committee in the performance of the duties of the joint committee and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the joint committee consider necessary to perform their duties. [2017 c.750 §26]