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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 104 By: Young
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to state government; creating th e
Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equal ity; providing
for membership, appointment, term s, removal,
vacancies, and reimbursement; providing certain
administrative support; establishing powers and
duties; establishing revolving fund; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date .
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 13001 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma C ommission on Race and
Equality. The Commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members.
The members shall be appointed as follows : three members shall be
appointed by the Governor, three members shall be appointed by the
President Pro Tempore of the Sena te, three members shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Repres entatives, and four
members shall be app ointed by the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus .
All members shall be appointed by the app ropriate appointing
authority for a term of three (3) years commencing with the date
that the previous appointee ’s term expired. Each member shall serve
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no more than three (3) terms. The member shall only serve two (2)
consecutive terms and shall be inac tive for a period of one (1) year
prior to serving the maximum three-term limit. In making such
appointments, consideration shall be give n to making the membership
broadly representative of the geographic areas of the state and the
several racial and et hnic groups residing in the state. Each member
shall hold office until the successor of the member is appointed and
has qualified. A member of the Commission may be removed by the
appropriate appointing authority for cause. A member appointed to
fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of a term of a member
separated from the Commission for any cause shall b e appointed for
the remainder of the term of the member whose offic e has been so
vacated. Members of the Commission shall receive no salary but
shall be entitled to travel reimbursement as provid ed by the State
Travel Reimbursement Act from funds available to the appropriate
appointing authority.
B. The Office of Manage ment and Enterprise Services shall
provide staff support to the Oklahoma Commi ssion on Race and
Equality and make arrangements fo r suitable meeting space for the
Commission as needed.
C. The initial chair sha ll be appointed by the Oklahoma
Legislative Black Caucus , with the approval of the Governor,
President Pro Tempore of the Sen ate, and Speaker of the House of
Representatives. After the initial chair’s first term ends, t he
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President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall name the chair of the
Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equal ity, and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall name the vice chair. Any other
officers deemed necessary shall be elected from among the members at
the first meeting of the Commission. Thereafter, at the fi rst
meeting of each fiscal year, the Commission shall elect a chair, a
vice chair and such other officers deemed necessary to conduct the
business of the Commission from among its members. The Commission
shall meet at least once every three (3) months and at such other
times as called by the chair or by a majority of the Commission.
D. The Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality shal l have the
power and the duty to:
1. Advise on equality issues relating to racial discrimination
and bias, state agencies and employees, communities, organizations,
and businesses of this state which desire the services of the
Commission;
2. Monitor legislation to determine whether legislation is
discriminatory toward one race or ethni city or whether the race or
ethnicity of an individual would have an effect o n the enforcement
of the legislation;
3. Act as a resource and a clearinghouse for research on issues
related to racial discrimination and bias;
4. Act as a resource in any state appointments to commissions
and boards for diversity ;
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5. Conduct meetings and se minars within the state as
appropriate to support the goals and duties of the Commission; and
6. Report to the Governor, the Presiden t Pro Tempore of the
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of its
activities. The report may include recommendations concerning
needed legislation or regulatory changes relating to racial
discrimination and bias.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 13002 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services designated the
“Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality Revolving Fund”. The fund
shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations,
and shall consist of all gifts and donations contributed to sup port
the work of the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality. All
monies accrued to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and
may be budgeted and expended by the Director of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services on behalf of the Okla homa
Commission on Race and Equality for the purposes prescribed by the
Legislature in creating the Commission. Expenditures from the fund
shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against
claims filed as prescribed by law with the Direct or of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and paym ent.
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SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
59-1-921 KR 1/3/2023 9:56:21 AM