Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 244.010 (2026)

Policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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      244.010 Policy. (1) The Legislative Assembly declares that service as a public official is a public trust and that, as one safeguard for that trust, the people require all public officials to comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter.

      (2) The Legislative Assembly recognizes and values the work of all public officials, whether elected or appointed.

      (3) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that many public officials are volunteers and serve without compensation.

      (4) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that it is the policy of the state to have serving on many state and local boards and commissions state and local officials who may have potentially conflicting public responsibilities by virtue of their positions as public officials and also as members of the boards and commissions, and declares it to be the policy of the state that the holding of such offices does not constitute the holding of incompatible offices unless expressly stated in the enabling legislation.

      (5) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that public officials should put loyalty to the highest ethical standards above loyalty to government, persons, political party or private enterprise.

      (6) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that public officials should not make private promises that are binding upon the duties of a public official, because a public official has no private word that can be binding on public duty.

      (7) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that public officials should expose corruption wherever discovered.

      (8) The Legislative Assembly recognizes that public officials should uphold the principles described in this section, ever conscious of the public’s trust. [1974 c.72 §§1,1a; 1987 c.566 §7; 2005 c.22 §185; 2007 c.865 §28; 2009 c.68 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1978–2014 · leading case: Davidson v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 712 P.2d 87 (Or. 1985).
Davidson v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 712 P.2d 87 (Or. 1985). · cites it 4× “ORS 244.010(1). Because the legislature delegated to the Commission the task of applying this statute, on judicial review we determine only whether the Commission's order is within the statutory text and policy.”
Groener v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 651 P.2d 736 (Or. Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 2× “360 provides for forfeiture of twice the financial benefit the public official received in violation of the Act, neither provision is penal in the sense of a criminal sanction; each is a civil sanction designed to deter violation of the legislative policy of safeguarding the…”
Nkrumah v. City of Portland, 323 P.3d 453 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “He relies on the “fundamental principle of open, honest government” as the source of what he contends is “an important public duty and societal obligation to treat the Mayor’s office as a public trust,” pointing to the writings of Thomas Jefferson and United States Supreme Court…”
Davidson v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 702 P.2d 417 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “In ORS 244.010(1), the legislature declared the policy of the Oregon Government Ethics Law: “The Legislative Assembly hereby declares that a public office is a public trust, and that as one safeguard for that trust, the people require all public officials to adhere to the code…”
Caragol v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 780 P.2d 751 (Or. Ct. App. 1989). “Petitioner seeks review of an order of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (Commission) that held that he had violated the Oregon Government Ethics Law, ORS 244.010 et seq, 1 while serving on the City Council of Wood-burn.”
Columbia Cnty. Admin. Sch. Dist. No. 5 Jt. v. Prichard, 585 P.2d 701 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 2× “In 1974, the Oregon legislature enacted ORS 244.010(2), providing: "The Legislative Assembly recognizes that it is the policy of the state to have serving on many state and local boards and commissions state and local officials who may have potentially conflicting public…”
Buntyn v. Gov't Standards & Practices Comm'n, 63 P.3d 37 (Or. Ct. App. 2003). “For example, ORS 244.010(1) states that “[t]he Legislative Assembly hereby declares that a public office is a public trust, and that as one safeguard for that trust, the people require all public officials to adhere to the code of ethics set forth in ORS 244.”
Keller v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 809 P.2d 721 (Or. Ct. App. 1991). “” On review, the Commission concedes that the stipulated facts provide insufficient evidence to permit a finding that those individuals were “public officials.” 2 In the alternative, the Commission went on to identify the broad policy underlying the government ethics laws.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 244.010(1) — 5 cases
Davidson v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 712 P.2d 87 (Or. 1985). “ORS 244.010(1). Because the legislature delegated to the Commission the task of applying this statute, on judicial review we determine only whether the Commission's order is within the statutory text and policy.”
Groener v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 651 P.2d 736 (Or. Ct. App. 1982). “360 provides for forfeiture of twice the financial benefit the public official received in violation of the Act, neither provision is penal in the sense of a criminal sanction; each is a civil sanction designed to deter violation of the legislative policy of safeguarding the…”
Nkrumah v. City of Portland, 323 P.3d 453 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “He relies on the “fundamental principle of open, honest government” as the source of what he contends is “an important public duty and societal obligation to treat the Mayor’s office as a public trust,” pointing to the writings of Thomas Jefferson and United States Supreme Court…”
Davidson v. Oregon Gov't Ethics Comm'n, 702 P.2d 417 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “In ORS 244.010(1), the legislature declared the policy of the Oregon Government Ethics Law: “The Legislative Assembly hereby declares that a public office is a public trust, and that as one safeguard for that trust, the people require all public officials to adhere to the code…”
Buntyn v. Gov't Standards & Practices Comm'n, 63 P.3d 37 (Or. Ct. App. 2003). “For example, ORS 244.010(1) states that “[t]he Legislative Assembly hereby declares that a public office is a public trust, and that as one safeguard for that trust, the people require all public officials to adhere to the code of ethics set forth in ORS 244.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 244.010(2) — 1 case
Columbia Cnty. Admin. Sch. Dist. No. 5 Jt. v. Prichard, 585 P.2d 701 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). “In 1974, the Oregon legislature enacted ORS 244.010(2), providing: "The Legislative Assembly recognizes that it is the policy of the state to have serving on many state and local boards and commissions state and local officials who may have potentially conflicting public…”
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