An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1022 By: David of the Senate
and
Boles of the House
An Act relating to waters and water rights; amending
82 O.S. 2011, Section 1085.12, which relates to the
powers and duties of the Executive Director of the
Oklahoma Water Resources Board; providing gender -
neutral language; modifying reference to Board;
authorizing Executive Director to issue certain
permits; and providing an effective date.
SUBJECT: Oklahoma Water Resources Board
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 82 O.S. 2011, Sect ion 1085.12, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1085.12. A. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall
appoint an Executive Director, who shall h ave had at least six (6)
years practical and administrative experience in water resource
management, and fix his or her duties and compensation. The
Oklahoma Water Resources Board is specifically authorized to
delegate to such Executive Director such of i ts powers and duties as
it may deem proper, including powers and duties involving the
exercise of official d iscretion. The authority hereby granted to
the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to delegate powers and duties to
the Executive Director shall extend to any powers and duties given
or transferred to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board under this act
title, or under any other law conferring powers or imposing duties
ENR. S. B. NO. 1022 Page 2
upon the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and shall also extend to
any powers conferred or duties imposed upon the Oklahoma Water
Resources Board by any future law, unless such future laws shall any
law expressly negate negates the authority to make such delegation.
Any other part of this act title, or any other law granting
authority to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to delegate any
powers or duties, shall not be deemed to be a limitation upon t he
authority conferred by this section. The Executive Director shall
exercise any such delegated powers and perform such delegated
duties, in accordance with any rules, regulations or orders made by
the Oklahoma Water Resources Board which are applicable thereto.
Provided, however, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall not
delegate to such director any power of determining policy, the
execution of any contract or the final adjudication of any claims,
applications or controversies, all of which powers a nd duties shall
be exercised solely by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
B. In addition to the powers and duties specified in subsection
A of this section, the Executive Director shall have the power and
duty to issue temporary permits and regular permi ts excluding all
permits from sensitive sole source aquifers that meet all the
requirements of Titles 27A and 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes and other
considerations required by law and that have not been the subject of
a protest from an interested party.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
ENR. S. B. NO. 1022 Page 3
Passed the Senate the 5th day of May, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 14th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o 'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __