The Laws Committee has two initiatives:

1. Corporate law task force.  In the movement to create a sustainable future, business practices are a subject of sharp focus.  How does corporate law impact those practices in defining the structure of a corporation?  For example, the perceived duty of directors to maximize profits does not take into account the ecological or social impact of the operations of the corporation.
   
   The task force considered how the Oregon Business Corporation Act might be amended to clarify or expand the discretion of directors to consider sustainability in their decision-making.  Governor Ted Kulongoski recently signed the proposed legislation into law. 
   

   Read press release...

   
   

2. Sustainability screening task force.  In socially responsible investing, screens have been developed to assess the issuer of equities.  A negative screen might bar companies that sell tobacco products; a positive screen might encourage the manufacture of alternative energy equipment; a holistic screen might promote investment in publicly traded corporations with authentic sustainability initiatives (in contrast to green-washing campaigns).
   
   The task force is considering how to construct a matrix to assess laws and regulations through the lens of sustainability.  The matrix could be used to assess proposed laws and regulations or to identify targets that might be improved through an amendment process.