How to apply for a Legal Expense Trust Fund
Subject to the authorization of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) as described in ORS 244.209, a public official may establish a Legal Expense Trust Fund if the public official incurs or reasonably expects to incur legal expenses in any civil, criminal or other legal proceeding or investigation that relates to or arises from the course and scope of duties of the public official specifically in connection with activities described in ORS 244.205(2).
Please read ORS 244.209 to review the necessary elements to include in your application to create a Legal Expense Trust Fund.
What happens after the request to establish a fund has been approved?
Once your request to establish a Legal Expense Trust Fund has been reviewed and authorized by the Commission, the trustee will receive information from OGEC regarding your responsibilities while the fund is active. You will be required to create an account in EFS and submit quarterly contribution and expenditure reports through EFS. The trustee must submit a quarterly report even if there are no contributions or expenditures to delcare for the reporting period.
Report Due Dates
Legal Expense Trust Fund contribution and expenditure reports are due on the 15th day of the month following each calendar quarter as follows:
January 15
April 15
July 15
October 15
There is no grace period or extension allowed if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday. The EFS is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. OGEC may impose civil penalties upon a person who fails to file the required statement in a timely manner.
Electronic Filing System (EFS)
EFS Sign In
Terminating the Trust
The trustee will also have additional obligations when terminating the trust [ORS 244.219].