Req. No. 6144 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
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
HOUSE BILL 2656 By: Steagall
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to public health and safety; amending
63 O.S. 2021, Section 683.4, which relates to powers
and duties of the Director of the Oklahoma Department
of Emergency Management and Homeland Security ;
modifying scope of authority; amending 63 O.S. 20 21,
Section 683.9, which relates to emergency powers of
the Governor; limiting duration of certain
proclamations; providing for approval of extension by
Legislature; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 20 21, Section 683.4, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 683.4 A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEM). The
Governor shall appoint a Director of the Department, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, who shall be the head of the Department.
The Governor shall fix the salary of the Director, in cooperation
with standards promulgated by the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services.
Req. No. 6144 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
B. The Director may employ personnel and fix their compensation
in cooperation with standards promulgated by t he Office of
Management and Enterprise S ervices, and may make such expenditures
within the appropriation therefor, or from such other available
funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Oklahoma
Emergency Management Act of 2003 and other p rograms specified by
law.
C. The Director and other personnel of the Department sh all be
provided with appropriate office space, furniture, equipment,
supplies, stationery, and printing in the same manner as provided
for personnel of other state agencies.
D. The Director, subject to the direct ion and control of the
Governor, shall be t he executive head of the Department and shall
serve as the chief advisor to the Governor on emergency management
and shall:
1. Be responsible to t he Governor for carrying o ut the programs
as required by law;
2. Coordinate the activities of all organizati ons for emergency
management within the state;
3. Maintain Be the liaison with to and cooperate with the
emergency management agencies and organiz ations of other states and
of the federal government;
4. Develop and mainta in a comprehensive all -hazards mitigation
plan for this state;
Req. No. 6144 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
5. Implement the Oklahoma Hazard Mitigation Program;
6. Have such additional authority, duties, and responsibilities
authorized by the Oklahoma Emerg ency Management Act of 2003 and as
may be prescribed by the Governor;
7. Supervise the Office of Volunteerism in accordance with
Section 683.26 of this title; and
8. Report quarterly to the Governor, the Speaker of the H ouse
of Representatives and the Pr esident Pro Tempore of the Senate the
balance and outstanding obligations of the Stat e Emergency Fund.
E. The Director shall supervise the formulation, execution,
review and revisions of the state Emergency Operations Pla n as
provided for by Section 683.2 of this title. The plan shall be
reviewed annually and revised as necessary.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 20 21, Section 683.9, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 683.9 The provisions of th is section shall be operative
only during the existence of a natural or man -made emergency. The
existence of such emergency may be proclaimed by the Governor or by
concurrent resolution of the Legislature if the Governor in such
proclamation, or the Legis lature in such resolution, finds t hat an
emergency or disaster has occurred or is anticipated in the
immediate future. Any such emergency , whether proclaimed by the
Governor or by the Legislature, shall terminate upon the
proclamation of the termination t hereof by the Governor , or by
Req. No. 6144 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
automatically after thirty (30) days unless re newed by concurrent
resolution of the Legislature, whichever occurs first. Any such
emergency proclaimed by the Legislature shall terminate upon passage
by the Legislature of a co ncurrent resolution terminating su ch
emergency. During such period as such state of emergency exists or
continues, the Governor shall have and may exercise the following
additional emergency powers:
1. To activate the Emergency Operations Plan, and to as sume
regulatory control over all e ssential resources of this state,
directly or through the boards, agencies, offices and officers
established by the Emergency Operations Pla n, to determine
priorities of such resources and allocate such resources as the
Governor may deem necessary in coope ration with the political
subdivisions of this state, the federal government, or other states.
"Resources" shall mean all economic resource s within this state
including, but not limited to, food, manpower, health, water,
transportation, economic stabiliza tion, electric power, petroleum,
gas, and solid fuel, industrial production, construction and
housing.;
2. To enforce all laws, rules and regu lations relating to
emergency management and to assume direct operational contr ol of any
or all emergency managem ent forces and helpers in this state .;
3. To provide for the evacuation of all or part of the
population from any stricken or threatened area o r areas within this
Req. No. 6144 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
state and to take such steps as are necessary for the rece ipt and
care of such evacuees .;
4. Subject to the provisions of the State Con stitution, to
remove from office any public officer having administrative
responsibilities under this act the Oklahoma Emergency Management
Act of 2003 for willful failure to obe y any order, rule or
regulation adopted pursuant to this act the Oklahoma Emergency
Management Act of 2003 . Such removal shall be upon charges after
service upon such pe rson of a copy of such charges and after giving
such person an opportunity to be heard in the defense of such
person. Pending the preparation and disposition of charges, the
Governor may suspend such person for a period not exceeding thirty
(30) days. A vacancy resulting from removal or suspension pursuant
to this section shall be filled by the Governor until it is filled
as otherwise provided by law .; and
5. To perform and exercise such other functions, powers, and
duties as are necessary to promote and sec ure the safety and
protection of the civilian population and to carry out the
provisions of the Emerge ncy Operations Plan in a national or state
emergency.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
59-1-6144 TJ 12/15/22