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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 86 By: Simpson of the Senate
and
Miller of the House
An Act relating to veterans; amending 72 O.S. 2011,
Section 63.2, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter
262, O.S.L. 2014 (72 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 63.2),
which relates to the Oklahoma Veterans Commission;
modifying membership criteria of Commission;
providing an effective date ; and declaring an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 72 O.S. 2011, Section 63.2, as
last amended by Section 2, Chapter 262, O.S.L. 2014 (72 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 63.2), is amended to read as follows:
Section 63.2. The Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall consist of
nine (9) members. At least eight (8) members all of whom shall be
honorably discharged veterans; provided, three one of the members
shall be veterans a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict and one two
shall be a veteran veterans of the Persian Gulf Wars. The members
shall be selected in the following manner: The state executive
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board or committees of the veterans ’ organizations named in this
section shall each submit to the Governor of Oklahoma a list of five
(5) persons qualified to serve as members of the Oklahoma Veterans
Commission. All appointments shall be broadly representative of the
veterans of this state in terms of age, gender, and race or
ethnicity. The list shall be submitted to the Gove rnor not later
than three (3) months prior to the expiration of the terms of office
of the members of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission. The Governor
shall name one member from each of the following Veterans ’ groups:
the American Legion; the Veterans of F oreign wars Wars; the Disabled
American Veterans; the Paralyzed Veterans of America; the Military
Order of the Purple Heart; and the National Guard Association of
Oklahoma. The members representing the American Legion and the
Paralyzed Veterans of America shall take office no later than July
1, 2015. The members representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars and
the Military Order of the Purple Heart shall take office no later
than July 1, 2016. The members representing the Disabled American
Veterans and the Oklahoma National Guard Association of Oklahoma
shall take office no later than July 1, 2017. The Governor shall
also appoint three members at large , one of whom may be a nonveteran
and shall have a family member residing in a state veteran center,
one to be appointed 2015, one to be appointed in 2016, and one to be
appointed in 2017.
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The executive officer of each veterans ’ organization operating
within the State of Oklahoma this state shall, on or before January
1 of the year in which the organization ’s appointee’s term expires,
submit to the Secretary of State, the Governor, the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives a copy of the performance audit and the financial
audit of the organization for the immediatel y preceding fiscal year
of the organization. Such audits shall be conducted in accordance
with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and
shall clearly show the total paid membership of the organization and
shall be certified to by a c ertified public accountant. Failure to
comply with this section shall render the organization ineligible to
submit a nominee to the Governor. The members of the Commission
shall be appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the
Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. When a
vacancy on the Oklahoma Veterans Commission occurs, the organization
which is represented by the vacant position shall submit a list of
five (5) names to the Governor. The Governor shall choose a
replacement from that list. No person shall be appointed by the
Governor who is related by affinity or consanguinity within the
third degree to any person employed by the Oklahoma Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Before any member appointed as provided herein shall enter upon
his or her duties as a member of the Commission, he or she shall
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take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the
Constitution of this state.
Present members of the Commission shall continue in office until
the expiration of their ter ms and until their successors are
appointed and enter upon the duties of their offices. Appointments
shall be made for a three -year period. Any vacancy on the
Commission resulting from any cause shall be filled by appointment
by the Governor for the rema inder of the term as provided in this
section.
No member of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall be employed
by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs during the time of
his or her service on the Oklahoma Veterans Commission nor shall any
person who served as a member of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission be
employed by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs subsequent
to his or her service on the Commission for a period of two (2)
years.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS,
dated 03/30/2021 - DO PASS.