Sister State Committee; membership; term

(1) The Sister State Committee shall be appointed as described in subsection (2) of this section. The committee may consist of not more than 21 members. (2) Membership of the Sister State Committee includes: (a) A cochairperson of the committee who is appointed by the President of the Senate from among the members of the Senate; (b) A cochairperson of the committee who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among the members of the House of Representatives; (c) Two members of the Senate who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate; (d) Two members of the House of Representatives who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (e) Additional members selected according to criteria established by the committee and appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (3) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly select one of the members appointed under subsection (2)(e) of this section to be executive director to plan for and coordinate activities under ORS 285A.145. (4)(a) A member of the Legislative Assembly appointed under subsection (2)(a) to (d) of this section serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may continue to serve as long as the member remains in the chamber of the Legislative Assembly from which the member was appointed. Before the expiration of the legislative term of office of a member appointed under subsection (2)(a) to (d) of this section, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor whose term on the committee begins when the former member’s legislative term of office ends. If there is a vacancy for a member appointed under subsection (2)(a) to (d) of this section for any other cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become effective immediately. (b) The term of office of committee members appointed under subsection (2)(e) of this section is two years. A member appointed under subsection (2)(e) of this section is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for a member appointed under subsection (2)(e) of this section before the expiration of the term, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become effective immediately for the unexpired term. (5) Members of the Legislative Assembly who are members of the Sister State Committee are entitled to a per diem as provided in ORS 171.072 except when members are out of the United States. (6) The cochairpersons of the Sister State Committee shall preside alternately at Sister State Committee meetings. (7) A majority of the members of the Sister State Committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (8) The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall provide administrative staff support for one meeting of the Sister State Committee held before each visit described in ORS 285A.145 (2) and for one meeting held after each visit. (9) The Sister State Committee shall plan, coordinate or conduct activities under ORS 285A.145 for all sister states of this state except provinces described in ORS 285A.152. (10) For the purposes of this section and ORS 285A.145, “sister state” means an international state or province.