BY SARAH ROSS

SALEM- During an update to the House Committee on Rules, committee members were informed that the state’s redistricting process is expected to begin fully next spring.

The Legislature does not anticipate receiving census numbers from the federal government until April, according to Committee Chairman Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay. If the body adjourns in June as expected, the Committee will be given just ninety days to complete the redistricting process.

Although the Legislature has the power to redraw political district lines, the body has not been able come up with a plan approved by the Oregon Supreme Court since 1961. When this happens, the Secretary of State redraws the districts. The process of redistricting occurs every ten years, after the census is completed.

The State Supreme Court is charged with approving the legislative redistricting plan, be it from the Legislature or the Secretary of State. On the Congressional level, the U.S. Supreme Court must approve the plan.

Oregon is not expected to gain or lose a Congressional seat, said Erin Seiler of the Committee Services Office.

Committee staff in charge of the process in Oregon expect to hold numerous redistricting hearings across the state before and after a plan is put together, as they have done in previous years. These meetings are held for the purpose of hearing about communities of interest, contiguity, and other issues that need to be considered during the process, said Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland.