Oregon Statutes 260.055 – Accounts of contributions and expenditures; inspection; preservation
(1)(a) Each candidate, the treasurer of each political committee, the treasurer of each petition committee and each person that makes independent expenditures in a total amount of more than $250 in a calendar year shall keep detailed accounts. The accounts shall be current as of not later than the seventh business day after the date of receiving a contribution or making an expenditure or independent expenditure with respect to all contributions received and all expenditures or independent expenditures made by or on behalf of the candidate or committee that are required to be reported under ORS § 260.044, 260.057, 260.076 or 260.078. Subject to ORS § 260.085, the accounts shall list all information required to be reported under ORS § 260.083.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 260.055
- expenditure: includes the payment or furnishing of money or anything of value or the incurring or repayment of indebtedness or obligation by or on behalf of a candidate, political committee or person in consideration for any services, supplies, equipment or other thing of value performed or furnished for any reason, including support of or opposition to a candidate, political committee or measure, or for reducing the debt of a candidate for nomination or election to public office. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
- Independent expenditure: means an expenditure by a person for a communication in support of or in opposition to a clearly identified candidate or measure that is not made with the cooperation or with the prior consent of, or in consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate or any agent or authorized committee of the candidate, or any political committee or agent of a political committee supporting or opposing a measure. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, club, organization or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
- Petition committee: means an initiative, referendum or recall petition committee organized under ORS § 260. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
- Political committee: means a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that has:
(a) Received a contribution for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party; or
(b) Made an expenditure for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
- Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
(b) This subsection does not apply to candidates for political party office.
(2) Accounts kept by a candidate, a treasurer of a political committee, a treasurer of a petition committee or a person that makes independent expenditures in a total amount of more than $250 in a calendar year may be inspected under reasonable circumstances at any time before the election to which the accounts refer or during the period specified for retention of the accounts under subsection (3) of this section by any opposing candidate or the treasurer of any political committee for the same electoral contest. The right of inspection may be enforced by writ of mandamus issued by any court of competent jurisdiction. The treasurers of political committees supporting a candidate may be joined with the candidate as defendants in a mandamus proceeding.
(3) Accounts kept by a candidate, a treasurer of a political committee, a treasurer of a petition committee or a person that makes independent expenditures in a total amount of more than $250 in a calendar year shall be preserved by the candidate, treasurer or person for at least two years after the date the statement of the contribution or expenditure is filed under ORS § 260.057 or the independent expenditure is made. [1971 c.749 § 5; 1973 c.744 § 6; 1977 c.268 § 2; 1979 c.190 § 347; 1981 c.234 § 10; 1991 c.719 § 14; 1991 c.911 § 9; 1993 c.493 § 59; 2001 c.82 § 4; 2003 c.542 § 12; 2005 c.809 § 32; 2009 c.818 § 21; 2010 c.9 § 8; 2013 c.758 § 4; 2017 c.749 § 35; 2019 c.637 § 9]