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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
February 4, 2021
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 86 By: Simpson
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. 2 020, Section 63.2),
which relates to the Oklahoma Veterans Commission;
modifying membership crite ria 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 follow s:
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
board or committees of the veterans ’ organizations named in this
section shall each sub mit to the Governor of Oklahoma a list of five
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(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 term s of age, gender, and race or
ethnicity. The list shall be submitted to the Governor not later
than three (3) months prior to the expirat ion 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 Foreign wars Wars; the Disabled
American Veterans; the Par alyzed Veterans of America; the Military
Order of the Purple Heart; and th e National Guard Association of
Oklahoma. The members representing the American Legion and the
Paralyzed Veterans of America shall take offic e 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 Ame rican
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 nonvetera n
and shall have a family member residing in a state veteran center,
one to be appointed 201 5, one to be appointed in 2016, and one to be
appointed in 2017.
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 whi ch the organization’s appointee’s term expires,
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submit to the Secretary of State , the Governor, the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker o f the House of
Representatives a copy of the perfo rmance audit and the financial
audit of the organiza tion for the immediately preceding fisca l year
of the organization. Such audits shall be conducted in accordance
with auditing standards generally accept ed in the United States and
shall clearly show the total paid membership of the organization and
shall be certified to by a certified public a ccountant. Failure to
comply with this section shall render the organization ineligible to
submit a nominee to th e Governor. The members of the Commission
shall be appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the
Senate, and shall serve at the pl easure 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 sh all 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 perso n 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, h e or she shall
take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the
Constitution of this state.
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Present members of the Commissio n shall continue in office until
the expiration of their terms and until their s uccessors are
appointed and enter upon th e 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 remainder of the term as provided in this
section.
No member of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall be employed
by the Oklahoma Department of Ve terans 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 MIL ITARY AFFAIRS
February 4, 2021 - DO PASS AS AMENDED