ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDME NT TO ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO . 522 By: Taylor of the Senate and Echols of the House An Act relating to medical marijuana; requiri ng Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority t o contract with third-party vendor to provide certain services; directing Authority to determine minimum services ; directing third-party vendor to conduct certain functions for applicants; requiring third-party vendor to issue certain credential; pro viding for certain appeal; excluding third-party vendor from certain liability; directing promulgation of rules; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. AMENDMENT NO. 1. Strike the title, enacting clause, and entire bill and insert: "An Act relating to medical marijuana; requiri ng Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to contract with third-party vendor to provide certain services; directing Authority to determine minimum services; directing third-party vendor to conduct certain functions for applicants; requiring third -party vendor to issue certain credential or badge; providing for certain appeal; excluding third -party vendor from certain liability; directing promulgation of rules; and providing for codification. ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 427.3a of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Beginning January 1, 2024, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuan a Authority within the State Department of Health shall contract with one or more third-party vendors to provide the licensing services necessary to carry out the provisions of Section 420 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Oklahoma Medic al Marijuana and Patient Protection Act relating to the licensing of medical marijuana research licensees, medical marijuana education facility licensees, medical marijuana business licensees , and employees of such entities. B. The Authority shall determin e the minimum services to be provided by such third -party vendor and shall establish costs and prices. A third-party vendor shall on behalf of the Authority conduct the statutorily required background checks and verify eligibility and suitability for any license applicant for a medical marijuana research license, medical marijuana education facility license, any category of medical marijuana business license, and employees of such entities. C. Upon successful completion by the third -party vendor of the statutorily required background checks and verification of eligibility and suitability for a license applicant or employee, the ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 third-party vendor shall issue a credential or badge to the applicant or employee. The results of background checks and verifications shall be provided to the Authority by the third -party vendor. D. In the event that the third -party vendor determines that an applicant, or its employee, does not meet the minimum statuto ry requirements for a license, the applicant or employee shall ha ve no recourse against the third -party vendor but may appeal such adverse determination to the Authority. E. The third-party vendor shall bear no liability for any acts taken in good-faith compliance with the provisions of Section 420 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act and the rules promulgated by the State Commissioner of Health. F. The State Commissioner of Health may pr omulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. " ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the House of Representatives the 28th day of April, 2022. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ____ day of _______ ___, 2022. Presiding Officer of the Senate ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 522 By: Taylor of the Senate and Echols of the House An Act relating to medical marijuana; requiri ng Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority t o contract with third-party vendor to provide certain services; directing Authority to determine minimum services; directing third-party vendor to conduct certain functions for applicants; requiring third-party vendor to issue certain credential; pro viding for certain appeal; excluding third-party vendor from certain liability; directing promulgation of rules; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STA TE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new s ection of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 427.3a of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority within the State Department of Health shall contract with one or more third-party vendors to provide the licensing services necessary to carry out the provisions of Section 420 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act relating to the licensing of medical marijuana research ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 licensees, medical marijuana education facility licensees, medi cal marijuana business licensees and employees of such entities . B. The Authority shall determine the minimum services to be provided by such third -party vendor and shall establish costs and prices. A third-party vendor shall on behalf of the Authority conduct the statutorily required background checks and verify eligibility and suitability for any license applicant for a medical marijuana research license, medical marijuana education facility license, any category of medical marijuana business l icense, and employees of such entities. C. Upon successful completion by the third -party vendor of the statutorily required background checks and verification of eligibility and suitability for a license applicant or employee, the third-party vendor shall issue a credential or badge to the applicant or employee. The results of background checks and verification shall be provided to the Authority by the third -party vendor. D. In the event that the third -party vendor determines that an applicant, or its em ployee, does not meet the minimum statutory requirements for a license, the applicant or employee shall have no recourse against the third -party vendor but may appeal such a dverse determination to the Authority. E. The third-party vendor shall bear no liability for any acts taken in good-faith compliance with the provisions Section 420 et ENGR. S. B. NO. 522 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patien t Protection Act, and the rules promulgated by the State Commissioner of Health. F. The State Commissioner of Health may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of thi s section. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021. Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2021. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2021. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives