Civil penalty for violation of lobby regulation

(1) Any person who violates any provision of ORS 171.740 to 171.762, or any rule adopted under ORS 171.725 to 171.785, shall forfeit and pay to the General Fund for each violation a civil penalty of not more than $5,000, to be determined by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. (2)(a) The commission may impose civil penalties upon a person who fails to file the statement required under ORS 171.745 or 171.750. In enforcing this subsection, the commission is not required to follow the procedures in ORS 171.778 before finding that a violation of ORS 171.745 or 171.750 has occurred. (b) Failure to file the required statement in timely fashion is prima facie evidence of a violation of ORS 171.745 or 171.750. (c) The commission may impose a civil penalty of $10 for each of the first 14 days the statement is late beyond the date set by law and $50 for each day thereafter. The maximum penalty that may be imposed under this subsection is $5,000. (3) A civil penalty imposed under this section may be recovered in an action brought in the name of the State of Oregon in any court of appropriate jurisdiction or may be imposed as provided in ORS 183.745. In any proceedings before the court, including judicial review under ORS 183.745, the court may review the penalty as to both liability and reasonableness of amount. (4) In lieu of or in conjunction with finding a violation of law or rule or imposing a civil penalty under this section, the commission may issue a written letter of reprimand, explanation or education. [1973 c.802 §13; 1987 c.566 §6a; 1991 c.734 §9; 2007 c.877 §10; 2013 c.262 §4] _______________