Section 251.173 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Translation Advisory Council; membership; compensation; duties(1)(a) The Translation Advisory Council is established. The council shall consist of five at-large members and at least one translator member for each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages in this state, other than English, and for each language in each county that the Secretary of State reasonably anticipates a voters' pamphlet at the next election will be required to be translated into under ORS 251.167. The secretary may appoint more than one translator member for languages that are more commonly spoken throughout this state. Members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary.(b) The term of a member of the council is two years. A member may be reappointed twice and may not serve more than a total of six years. Before the expiration of the term of a member, the Secretary of State shall appoint a successor or reappoint the member. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the secretary shall make an appointment to be immediately effective.(c) The Secretary of State shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that members appointed to the council are geographically diverse and reside in counties throughout this state. Prior to appointing each translator member, the secretary shall confer with, and seek recommendations from, the board of county commissioners for each county in which the secretary reasonably anticipates a voters' pamphlet will be required to be translated into the language for which the translator member is appointed.(d) To qualify to be appointed as a translator member, a translator member must be proficient in reading and writing in English and in the translated language for which the translator member is appointed. A translator member may demonstrate proficiency by providing:(A) Proof of being certified as an interpreter by a public body of this state for the translated language;(B) Proof of holding a bachelor's degree or higher in the translated language;(C) At least one example of a written translation of the translated language that the translator member conducted as part of the translator member's job duties or contracted services; or(D) Proof of volunteer experience in translating the translated language with a nonprofit organization, educational institution, social service agency or public body.(2)(a) Members of the council shall elect at least one chairperson of the council but may elect two co-chairpersons of the council.(b) A majority of the members of the council constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.(c) The council shall meet at least once every calendar year. To the extent practicable, the council shall meet by telephone or video conference but may meet in person.(d) The members of the council are entitled to compensation and expenses in the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495.(e) The Secretary of State shall provide clerical and other necessary support services to the council.(3) The Secretary of State shall consult with the council and to the maximum extent practicable implement recommendations for ensuring that a translation of a voters' pamphlet required under ORS 251.167 is: (a) Conducted with professionalism and by a clear process with review;(b) Culturally responsive and based in the context of a particular community being served by the translation;(c) As accurate in context and sentence structure as the original version; and(d) Held to the same standards as, but not subject to a higher scrutiny than, the original version.Amended by 2024 Ch. 55,§ 4, eff. 1/1/2025.Section 6 of the 2024 amending legislation provides that the amendments to ORS 251.026, 251.167, 251.170, 251.173 and 251.315 by sections 1 to 5 of the 2024 Act first apply to state voters' pamphlets and county voters' pamphlets that are distributed on or after January 31, 2025.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.