(1) There is hereby established an Advisory Commission on Prison Terms and Parole Standards. The commission shall consist of equal numbers of State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision members and circuit court judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The legal counsel to the Governor shall serve as an ex officio member of the commission and shall not vote unless necessary to break a voting deadlock. The Director of the Department of Corrections shall act as an advisor to the commission.
(2) The term of office of each of the members appointed by the Chief Justice is four years. Before the expiration of the term of any of those members, the Chief Justice shall appoint a successor whose term begins on July 1 next following. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Chief Justice shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.
(3) A member of the commission shall receive no compensation for services as a member. However, all members may receive actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties under ORS 292.495.
(4) The chairperson of the State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision and a judge elected by the judicial members shall serve in alternate years as chairperson of the commission. The chairperson and a vice chairperson shall be elected prior to July 1 of each year to serve for the year following. The commission shall adopt its own bylaws and rules of procedure. A majority of the commission members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members shall be required to make proposals to the board under ORS 144.775 to 144.791.
(5) The commission shall meet at least annually at a place and time determined by the chairperson and at such other times and places as may be specified by the chairperson or five members of the commission.
(6) The State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision shall provide the commission with the necessary clerical and secretarial staff support and shall keep the members of the commission fully informed of the experience of the board in applying the standards derived from those proposed by the commission.
(7) The commission shall propose to the State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision and the board shall adopt rules establishing ranges of duration of imprisonment and variations from the ranges. In establishing the ranges and variations, factors provided in ORS 144.780 and 144.785 shall be considered.