(2) The purpose of the task force is to develop a design for revenue collection for Oregon’s roads and highways that will replace the current system for revenue collection. The task force shall consider all potential revenue sources.

(3) The task force shall consist of 12 members, as follows:

(a) Two members shall be members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(b) Two members shall be members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(c) Four members shall be appointed by the Governor, the Speaker and the President acting jointly. In making appointments under this paragraph, the appointing authorities shall consider individuals who are representative of the telecommunications industry, of highway user groups, of the Oregon transportation research community and of national research and policy-making bodies such as the Transportation Research Board and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

(d) One member shall be an elected city official, appointed by the Governor, the Speaker and the President acting jointly.

(e) One member shall be an elected county official, appointed by the Governor, the Speaker and the President acting jointly.

(f) Two members shall be members of the Oregon Transportation Commission, appointed by the chairperson of the commission.

(4)(a) The term of a legislator appointed to the task force is four years except that the legislator ceases to be a member of the task force when the legislator ceases to be a legislator. A legislator may be reappointed to the task force.

(b) The term of a member of the task force appointed under subsection (3)(c) of this section is four years and the member may be reappointed.

(c) The term of a member of the task force appointed under subsection (3)(d) or (e) of this section is four years except that the member ceases to be a member of the task force when the member ceases to be a city or county elected official. A city or county elected official may be reappointed to the task force.

(d) The term of a member of the Oregon Transportation Commission appointed to the task force is four years except that the member ceases to be a member of the task force when the member ceases to be a member of the commission. A member of the commission may be reappointed to the task force.

(5) A legislator appointed to the task force is entitled to per diem and other expense payments as authorized by ORS 171.072 from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly. Other members of the task force are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495.

(6) The Department of Transportation shall provide staff to the task force.

(7) The task force shall study alternatives to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes. The task force shall gather public comment on alternative approaches and shall make recommendations to the Department of Transportation and the Oregon Transportation Commission on the design of pilot programs to be used to test alternative approaches. The task force may also make recommendations to the department and the commission on criteria to be used to evaluate pilot programs. The task force may evaluate any pilot program implemented by the department and report the results of the evaluation to the Legislative Assembly, the department and the commission.

(8) When the task force is studying alternatives to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes and developing recommendations on the design of pilot programs to test alternative approaches under subsection (7) of this section, the task force shall:

(a) Take into consideration the availability, adaptability, reliability and security of methods that might be used in recording and reporting highway use.

(b) Take into consideration the protection of any personally identifiable information used in reporting highway use.

(c) Take into consideration the ease and cost of recording and reporting highway use.

(d) Take into consideration the ease and cost of administering the collection of taxes and fees as an alternative to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes.

(e) Take into consideration effective methods of maintaining compliance.

(f) Consult with highway users and transportation stakeholders, including representatives of vehicle users, vehicle manufacturers and fuel distributors.

(9) The task force shall report to each odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly on the work of the task force, the department and the commission in designing, implementing and evaluating pilot programs.

(10) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the members of the task force.

(11) Notwithstanding ORS 171.130 and 171.133, the task force by official action may recommend legislation. Legislation recommended by the task force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of the task force. Legislative measures proposed by the task force shall be prepared in time for presession filing with the Legislative Counsel by December 15 of an even-numbered year. [2001 c.862 §2; 2011 c.470 §7; 2011 c.545 §2; 2011 c.629 §1]