Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB515 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 04/19/2023

                             
 
 
An Act 
ENROLLED SENATE 
BILL NO. 515 	By: Bergstrom of the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Kendrix of the House 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to the Administrative Procedures Act; 
amending 75 O.S. 2021, Sections 250.3, 253, 303.1, 
307.1, 308, and 308.3, which relate to administrative 
rule provisions and the Joint Committee on 
Administrative Rules ; conforming language; deleting 
definitions; directing certain submi ssions to chief 
legislative officer of each chamber; modifying date 
of submission for proposed permanent administrative 
rules; repealing 75 O.S. 2021, Section 303a, which 
relates to expedited rule repeal process; updating 
statutory language; updating statutory reference; and 
declaring an emergency . 
 
 
 
 
SUBJECT:  Administrative Procedures Act 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 250.3, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 250.3. As used in the Administrative Procedure s Act: 
 
1.  “Administrative head” means an official or agency body 
responsible pursuant to law for issuing final agency orders; 
 
2.  “Adopted” means a proposed emergency rule which has been 
approved by the agency but has not been approved or disapproved by 
the Governor as an emergency rule as provided b y Section 253 of this 
title, or a proposed permanent rule which has been approved by the   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 2 
agency and not disapproved by the Governor pursuant to p aragraph 6 
of subsection A of Section 303 of this title, but has not been 
finally approved or disapproved by th e Legislature or the Governor; 
 
3.  “Agency” includes but is not limited to any constitutionally 
or statutorily created state board, bureau, commi ssion, office, 
authority, public trust in which the state is a be neficiary, or 
interstate commission, except: 
 
a. the Legislature or any branch, committee or o fficer 
thereof, and 
 
b. the courts; 
 
4.  “Concurrent majority” means a majority of members on the 
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules from both the Oklahoma 
Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives; 
 
5. “Emergency rule” means a rule that is made pursuant to 
Section 253 of this title; 
 
6.  “Expedited repeal” means the procedure utilized by a ru le-
making agency as specified in Section 9 of this act; 
 
7. 5.  “Final rule” or “finally adopted rule ” means a rule other 
than an emergency rule, which has not been published pursuant to 
Section 255 of this title but is otherwise in compliance with the 
requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act, and is: 
 
a. approved by the Legislature pursuant to Section 308.3 
of this title, provided that any such joint re solution 
becomes law in accordance with Section 11 of Article 
VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, 
 
b. approved by the Governor pursuant to subsection C of 
Section 308.3 of this title, 
 
c. approved by a joint resolu tion pursuant to subsection 
B of Section 308 of this title, provided that any such 
resolution becomes law in accordance with Section 11 
of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, or 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 3 
d. disapproved by a joint r esolution pursuant to 
subsection B of Section 308 of this title or Section 
308.3 of this title, which has been vetoed by the 
Governor in accordance with Section 11 of Article VI 
of the Oklahoma Constitution and the veto has not been 
overridden; 
 
8. 6.  “Final agency order” means an order that includes 
findings of fact and conclusions of law pursua nt to Section 312 of 
this title, is dispositive of an individual proceeding unless there 
is a request for rehearing, reopening, or reconsideration pursuant 
to Section 317 of this title and which is subject to j udicial 
review; 
 
9. 7.  “Hearing examiner” means a person meeting the 
qualifications specified by Article II of the Administrative 
Procedures Act and who h as been duly appointed by an agency to hold 
hearings and, as required, render orders or proposed order s; 
 
10. 8.  “Individual proceeding” means the formal process 
employed by an agency having jurisdiction by law to resolve issues 
of law or fact between parties and which results in the exercise of 
discretion of a judicial nature; 
 
11. 9.  “License” includes the whole or part of any agency 
permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter, or similar 
form of permission required by law; 
 
12. 10.  “Office” means the Office of the Secretary of State; 
 
13. 11.  “Order” means all or part of a formal or official 
decision made by an agency including but not limited to final agency 
orders; 
 
14. 12.  “Party” means a person or agency named and 
participating, or properly seeking and entitle d by law to 
participate, in an individ ual proceeding; 
 
15. 13.  “Permanent rule” means a rule that is made pursuant to 
Section 303 of this title; 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 4 
16. 14.  “Person” means any individual, partnership, 
corporation, association, governmental subdivision, or public or 
private organization of any cha racter other than an agency; 
 
17. 15.  “Political subdivision” means a county, city, 
incorporated town or school district within this state; 
 
18. 16.  “Promulgated” means a finally adopted rule which has 
been filed and published in acco rdance with the provis ions of the 
Administrative Procedures Act, or an emergency rule or preemptive 
rule which has been approved by the Governor; 
 
19. 17.  “Rule” means any agency statement or group of related 
statements of general applicability and future effe ct that 
implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy, or d escribes the 
procedure or practice requirements of the agency.  The term “rule” 
rule includes the amendment or revocation of an effective rule but 
does not include: 
 
a. the issuance, renewal, denial , suspension or 
revocation or other sanction of an individu al specific 
license, 
 
b. the approval, disapproval or prescription of rates.  
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “rates” 
shall not include fees or charges fixed by an agency 
for services provided by that agency including but not 
limited to fees charged for licensing, permitting, 
inspections or publications, 
 
c. statements and memoranda concerning only the internal 
management of an agency and not affecting private 
rights or procedures availabl e to the public, 
 
d. declaratory rulings issued pursuant to Section 307 of 
this title, 
 
e. orders by an agency, o r 
 
f. press releases or “agency news releases ”, provided 
such releases are not for the purpose of interpreting, 
implementing or prescribing law or agency policy;   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 5 
 
20. 18.  “Rulemaking” means the process em ployed by an agency 
for the formulation of a rule; 
 
21. 19.  “Secretary” means the Secretary of State; 
 
22. 20.  “Small business” means a for-profit enterprise 
consisting of fifty or fewer full -time or part-time employees; and 
 
23. 21.  “Technical legal defect” means an error that would 
otherwise invalidate an action by a court of law. 
 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 253, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 253. A.  1.  If an agency finds that a rule is 
necessary as an emergency measure, the rule may be promulgated 
pursuant to the provisions of this section, if the rule is first 
approved by the Governor.  The Governor shall not approve the 
adoption, amendment, revision or rev ocation of a rule as an 
emergency measure unless the agency submits substantial evidence 
that the rule is necessary as an emergency measure to do any of the 
following: 
 
a. protect the public health, safety or welfare, 
 
b. comply with deadlines in amendments to an agency’s 
governing law or federa l programs, 
 
c. avoid violation of federal law or regulation or other 
state law, 
 
d. avoid imminent reduction to the agency ’s budget, or 
 
e. avoid serious prejudice to the public in terest. 
 
As used in this subsection, “substantial evidence” shall mean 
credible evidence which is of sufficient quality and probative value 
to enable a person of reasonable caution to support a conclusion. 
 
2.  In determining whether a rule is necessary as a n emergency 
measure, the Governor shall consider whether the emergency si tuation   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 6 
was created due to the agency’s delay or inaction and cou ld have 
been averted by timely compliance with the provisions of this 
chapter. 
 
B.  An emergency rule adopted by an age ncy shall: 
 
1.  Be prepared in the format required by Section 251 of thi s 
title; 
 
2. a. Include an impact statement which meets the 
requirements set forth in subparagraph b of this 
paragraph unless the Governor waives the requirement 
in writing upon a findin g that the rule impact 
statement or the specified contents thereof are 
unnecessary or contrary to the public interest. 
 
b. The rule impact statement shall include, but not be 
limited to: 
 
(1) a brief description of the proposed rule, 
 
(2) a description of the persons who most likely will 
be affected by the proposed rule, inc luding 
classes that will bear the costs of the proposed 
rule, and any information on cost impacts 
received by the agency from any private or public 
entities, 
 
(3) a description of the classe s of persons who will 
benefit from the proposed rule, 
 
(4) a description of the probabl e economic impact of 
the proposed rule upon affected classes of 
persons or political subdivisions, including a 
listing of all fee changes and, whenever 
possible, a separate justification for each fee 
change, 
 
(5) the probable costs and benefits to the agenc y and 
to any other agency of the implementation and 
enforcement of the proposed rule, and any 
anticipated effect on state revenues, including a   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 7 
projected net loss or gain in such revenues if it 
can be projected by the agency, 
 
(6) a determination of whether implementation of the 
proposed rule may have an adv erse economic effect 
on small business as provided by the Oklahoma 
Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
 
(7) an explanation of the measures the agency ha s 
taken to minimize co mpliance costs and a 
determination of whether there are less costly or 
nonregulatory methods or less intrusive methods 
for achieving the purpose of the proposed rule, 
 
(8) a determination of the effect of the proposed 
rule on the public health, safety, and 
environment and, if the proposed rule is designed 
to reduce significant risks to the public health, 
safety, and environment, an explanation of the 
nature of the risk and to what extent the 
proposed rule will reduce the risk, 
 
(9) a determination of any detrimental effect on the 
public health, safety, and environment if the 
proposed rule is not implemented, and 
 
(10) the date the rule impact statement was prepared 
and if modified, the date modified. 
 
c. The rule impact statement shall be p repared on or 
before the date the emergency ru le is adopted; 
 
3.  Be transmitted pursuant to Section 4 64 of Title 74 of the 
Oklahoma Statutes to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House 
of Representatives, the Pre sident Pro Tempore of the Senate , and the 
chairs of the Joint Committee on Administ rative Rules chief 
legislative officer of each chamb er, along with the information 
required by this subsection within ten (10) days after the rule is 
adopted; and 
 
4.  Not be invalidated on the ground that th e contents of the 
rule impact statement are insu fficient or inaccurate.   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 8 
 
C.  1.  Within forty -five (45) calendar days of receipt of a 
proposed emergency rule filed with the Governor, the Speaker of the 
Oklahoma House of Representatives, the President Pro Te mpore of the 
Senate, and the chairs of the Joint Committee on Administrative 
Rules chief legislative officer of each chamber, the Governor shall 
review the demonstration of emergency pursuant to subsection A of 
this section, and shall separately review the rule in accordance 
with the standards prescrib ed in paragraph 3 of this subsection. 
 
2.  Prior to approval of emergency rules, the Governor shall 
submit the emergency rule to the Secretary of State for review of 
proper formatting. 
 
3.  If the Governor deter mines the agency has established the 
rule is necessary as an emergency measure pursuant to subsection A 
of this section, the Governor shall approve the proposed emergency 
rule if the rule is: 
 
a. clear, concise, and understandable, 
 
b. within the power of th e agency to make and within the 
enacted legislative standards, and 
 
c. made in compliance with the requi rements of the 
Administrative Procedures Act. 
 
D.  1.  Within the forty -five-calendar-day period set forth in 
paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section, the Governor may 
approve the emergency r ule or disapprove the emergency rule.  
Failure of the Governor to approve an emergency rule within the 
specified period shall constitute disapproval of the emergency rule. 
 
2.  If the Governor disapproves the adopted emergency rule, the 
Governor shall return the entire document to the agency with reasons 
for the disapproval.  If the agency elects to modify the rule, the 
agency shall adopt the modifications, and shall file the modified 
rule in accordance with the requi rements of subsection B of this 
section. 
 
3.  Upon disapproval of an emergency rule, the Governor shall, 
within fifteen (15) days, make written notification to the Speaker   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 9 
of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the 
Senate, the chairs of the Joint Committee on Administrativ e Rules 
chief legislative officer of each chamber, and the Office of 
Administrative Rules. 
 
E.  1.  Upon approval of an emergency rule, the Governor shall 
immediately make written notification to the agency, the Speake r of 
the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the 
Senate, the chairs of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules 
chief legislative officer of each chamber, and the Office of 
Administrative Rules.  Upon receipt of the notice of the appr oval, 
the agency shall file with the O ffice of Administrative Rules a s 
many copies of the notice of app roval and the emergency rule as 
required by the Secretary. 
 
2.  Emergency rules shall be subject to legislative review 
pursuant to Section 308 of this tit le. 
 
3.  The emergency rule shall be published in accordance with the 
provisions of Section 255 of this title in “The Oklahoma Register” 
following the approval by the Governor.  The Governor ’s approval and 
the approved rules shall be retained as official re cords by the 
Office of Administrativ e Rules. 
 
F.  1.  Upon approval by the Governor, an emergency rule s hall 
be considered promulgated and shall be in force immediately, or on 
such later date as specified therein.  An emergency rule shall only 
be applied prospectively from its effective date . 
 
2.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the 
emergency rule shall remain in full force and effect through the 
first day of the next succeeding regular session of the Legislature 
following promulgation of suc h emergency rule until September 1 4 
following such session, unless it is made ineffective pursuant to 
subsection H of this section. 
 
G.  No agency shall adopt any emergency rule which establishes 
or increases fees, except during such times as the Legislatur e is in 
session, unless specifica lly mandated by the Legislature or f ederal 
legislation, or when the fa ilure to establish or increase fees would 
conflict with an order issued by a court of law. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 10 
H.  1.  If an emergency rule is of a continuing nature, the 
agency promulgating such emergency rule shall initiate proceedings 
for promulgation of a permanent rule p ursuant to Sections 303 
through 308.2 of this title.  If an emergency rule is superseded by 
another emergency rule prior to the enactment of a permanent rule, 
the latter emergency rule shall retain the same expiration date as 
the superseded emergency rule, unless otherwise authorized by the 
Legislature. 
 
2.  Any promulgated emergency rule shall be made ineffective if: 
 
a. disapproved by the Legislature, 
 
b. superseded by the promulgation of permanent rules, 
 
c. any adopted rules based upon such emergency rules are 
subsequently disapproved pursuant to Section 308 of 
this title, or 
 
d. an earlier expiration date is specified by the agency 
in the rules. 
 
3. a. Emergency rules in effect on th e first day of the 
session shall be null an d void on September 15 
following sine die adjournment of the Legislature 
unless otherwise specifically provided by the 
Legislature. 
 
b. Unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature, an 
agency shall not adopt any emergency rule, which h as 
become null and void pursuant to subparagraph a of 
this paragraph, as a new emergency rule or adopt any 
emergency rules of similar scope or intent as the 
emergency rules which became null and void pur suant to 
subparagraph a of th is paragraph. 
 
I.  Emergency rules shall not become effective unless approved 
by the Governor pursuant to the provisions of this section. 
 
J.  1.  The requirements of Section 303 of this title relating 
to notice and hearing sha ll not be applicable to emergency rules 
promulgated pursuant to the provisi ons of this section.  Provided ,   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 11 
this shall not be construed to prevent an abbreviated notice and 
hearing process determined to be necessary by an agency. 
 
2.  The rule report requir ed pursuant to Section 303.1 of this 
title shall not be applicable to emergen cy rules promulgated 
pursuant to the provisions of this section.  Provided, this shall 
not be construed to prevent an agency from complying with such 
requirements at the discretio n of such agency. 
 
3.  The statement of submission requir ed by Section 303.1 of 
this title shall not be applicabl e to emergency rules promulgated 
pursuant to the provisions of this section. 
 
K.  Prior to approval or disapproval of an emergency rule by the 
Governor, an agency may withdraw from review an emergency rule 
submitted pursuant to the provisions of this sectio n.  Notice of 
such withdrawal shall be given to the Governor, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Se nate in 
accordance with the requirements set forth in Sect ion 464 of Title 
74 and to the Office of Administrative Rules as required by the 
Secretary.  In order to be promulgated as emergency rules, any 
replacement rules shall be resubmitted pursuant to the provisions of 
this section. 
 
L.  Upon completing the requi rements of this sectio n, an agency 
may promulgate a prop osed emergency rule.  No emergency rule is 
valid unless promulgated in substantial compliance with the 
provisions of this section. 
 
M.  Emergency rules adopted by an agency or approved by the 
Governor shall be subject to re view pursuant to the provisions of 
Section 306 of this title. 
 
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 303.1, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 303.1. A.  Within ten (10) days after adoption of a 
permanent rule, the agenc y shall file two copies of the fol lowing 
with the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
President Pro Tempore of the Senate , and the chairs of the Joint 
Committee on Administrative Rules chief legislative officer of each 
chamber:  all such new rules or amendments; revi sions or revocations   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 12 
to an existing rule proposed by an agency; a nd the agency rule 
report as required by subsection E of this section. 
 
B.  If the agency determines in the rule impact statement 
prepared as part of the agen cy rule report that the proposed r ule 
will have an economic impact on any political subdivisions or 
require their cooperation in implementing or enforcing a proposed 
permanent rule, a copy of the proposed rule and rule report shall be 
filed within ten (10) days after adoption of the perman ent rule with 
the Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Intergovernmenta l Relations for 
its review.  The Committee may communicate any recommend ations that 
it may deem necessary to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, and President Pro Tempo re of the Senate during the 
period that the permanent rules are be ing reviewed. 
 
C.  When the rules have been submitted to the Governor, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro T empore 
of the Senate, and chairs of the Joint Committee on Administrative 
Rules the chief legislative officer of each chamber , the agency 
shall also submit to the Office of Administrative Rule s for 
publication in “The Oklahoma Register”, a statement that t he adopted 
rules have been submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. 
 
D.  The text of the adopted rules shall be submitted to the 
Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 
President Pro Tempore of the Senate in the same format as r equired 
by the Secretary pursuant to Section 251 of this title. 
 
E.  The report required by subsection A of this se ction shall 
include: 
 
1.  The date the notice of the inte nded rulemaking action was 
published in “The Oklahoma Register” pursuant to Section 25 5 of this 
title; 
 
2.  The name and address of the agency; 
 
3.  The title and number of the rule; 
 
4.  A citation to the constitutional or statutory authority for 
the rule; 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 13 
5.  The citation to any federal or state law, court ruling, or 
any other authority requ iring the rule; 
 
6.  A statement of the gist of the rule or a brief summary of 
the content of the adopted rule; 
 
7.  A statement explaining the need for the adopted rule; 
 
8.  The date and location of the meeting , if held, at which such 
rules were adopted or the date and location wh en the rules were 
adopted if the rulemaking agency is not required to hold a meeting 
to adopt rules; 
 
9.  A summary of the comments and explanation of changes or lack 
of any change made in the adopted rules as a result of testimony 
received at all hearings or meetings held or sponsored by an agency 
for the purpose of providing the public an oppo rtunity to comment on 
the rules or of any written commen ts received prior to the adoption 
of the rule.  The summary shall include all comments received about 
the cost impact of the proposed rules; 
 
10. A list of persons or organizations who appeared or 
registered for or against the adopted rule at any public he aring 
held by the agency or those who h ave commented in writing before or 
after the hearing; 
 
11.  A rule impact statement if required pursuant to Section 303 
of this title; 
 
12.  An incorporation by re ference statement if the rule 
incorporates a set of rule s from a body outside the state, such as a 
national code; 
 
13.  The members of the gove rning board of the agenc y adopting 
the rules and the rec orded vote of each member; 
 
14.  The proposed effective dat e of the rules, if an effective 
date is required pursuan t to paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 
304 of this title; and 
 
15.  Any other information requested by the Governor, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the President Pro   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 14 
Tempore of the Senate or the Joint Committee on Administrative 
Rules. 
 
SECTION 4.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 307.1, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 307.1. A.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall may establish a 
joint rule committee to be designated as the Join t Committee on 
Administrative Rules or designated standing committee of each such 
house to review administrati ve rules. 
 
B.  The President Pro Tempore and the Speaker shall appoint 
current members of the Senate and House of Rep resentatives to the 
Committee.  The President Pro Tempore and Speaker shall designate 
one of their respective appointments as co -chair of the Committee. 
 
C.  A quorum shall be required to conduct any business of the 
Committee.  A quorum shall be a majority of the Senate members of 
the Committee and a majority of the House members of the Commit tee. 
 
D. The Committee shall Such committees may meet as needed and 
during sessions of the Legislature and at regular intervals in the 
interim. 
 
E. C.  The function of the Committee committees shall be the 
review of all adopted agency administrative rules including 
recommending by concurrent majority an appr oval or disapproval of 
each proposed rule to the Legislature.  The Committee may also 
recommend by concurrent maj ority an agency amend or furt her consider 
a proposed rule and the promotion of adequate and proper rules by 
agencies.  Each committee may review all adopted rules and such 
other rules the committee deems a ppropriate and may m ake 
recommendations concerning such rules to its respective house of the 
Legislature, or to the agency adopting the rule, or to both its 
respective house of the Le gislature and the agency. 
 
F. The Committee shall approve or disapprove by concurrent 
majority a repeal of rules under the expedited repeal process 
pursuant to this act.  Such rules shall be presented to the 
Legislature for final approval for repeal. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 15 
G. D.  In addition to the review of agency-adopted rules 
pursuant to this act, the Committee committees shall have the power 
and duty to: 
 
1.  Conduct a continuous study and investigations as to whether 
additional legislation or changes in legislation are needed based on 
various factors, including but not limited to, review of proposed 
rules, review of existing rules including but not limited to 
consideration of amendments to or repeal of existing rules, the lack 
of rules, the ability of agencies to promulgate such rules, t he 
burden of administrative rules on the regulated community and the 
needs of administrative agencies; 
 
2.  Conduct a continuous study of the rulemaking process of all 
state agencies including those agenci es exempted by Section 250.4 of 
this title for the p urpose of improving the rulemaking process; 
 
3.  Conduct such other studies and i nvestigations relating to 
rules as may be determined to b e necessary by the Committee; and 
 
4.  Monitor and investigate compl iance of agencies with the 
provisions of the Adminis trative Procedures Act, make periodic 
investigations of the rulemaking activitie s of all agencies and 
evaluate and report on all rules i n terms of their propriety, legal 
adequacy, relation to constitution al or statutory authorization, 
economic and budgetar y effects and public policy. 
 
SECTION 5.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 308, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 308. A.  Upon receipt of any adopted proposed permanent 
rules, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 
Pro Tempore of the Senate shall assign such rules to the Joint 
Committee on Administrative Rules appropriate committees of each 
house of the Legislature for review.  Except as otherwise provi ded 
by this section: 
 
1.  If such rules are received on or before April 1, the 
Legislature shall have until the last da y of the regular legislative 
session of that year to act on the recommendations of the Joint 
Committee on Administrative Rules review such rules.  Provided, 
proposed permanent rules for cons ideration by the 2nd Session of the   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 16 
59th Legislature shall be subm itted on or before March 1.  For each 
legislative session thereafte r, proposed permanent rules shall be 
submitted on or before Febr uary 1 of the given year; and 
 
2.  If such rules are receive d after April 1 the date 
established pursuant to paragraph 1 of th is subsection, the 
Legislature shall have until the last day of th e regular legislative 
session of the next year to act on the recommendations of the Joint 
Committee on Administrative Rules such rules. 
 
B.  By the adoption of joint resolutions during the re view 
period specified in subsection A of this section, the Legisl ature 
may disapprove or approve any rule, and disapprove all or part of a 
rule or rules and disapprove or approve the repeal of rules under 
the expedited repeal process pursuant to this act .  Rules under 
consideration at a meet ing of the Joint Committee on Administrative 
Rules during the interim may be acted upon by the Legisla ture at any 
time during session. 
 
C.  Unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature, whenever a 
rule is disapproved as pro vided in subsection B of this s ection, the 
agency adopting such rules shall not have authority to resubmit an 
identical rule, except d uring the first sixty (60) calendar days of 
the next regular legislative session.  Any effective emergency rule 
which would have been superseded by a dis approved permanent rule 
shall be deemed null and void on the date the Legislature 
disapproves the perma nent rule.  Rules may be disapproved in part or 
in whole by the Legislature.  Upon enactment of any joint resolution 
disapproving a rule, the agency shal l file notice of such 
legislative disapproval with the Secretary for publication in “The 
Oklahoma Register”. 
 
D.  Unless otherwise provided by specific vote of the 
Legislature, joint resolutions introduced for purposes of 
disapproving or approving a rule o r the omnibus joint resolutio n 
described in Section 308.3 of this title shall not be subject to 
regular legislative cutoff dates, shall be limited to such 
provisions as may be necessary for disapproval or approval of a 
rule, and any such other direction or mandate regarding the rule 
deemed necessary by the Legislature.  The resolution shall contain 
no other provisions. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 17 
E.  A proposed permanent rule shall be d eemed finally adopted 
if: 
 
1.  Approved by the Legislature pursuant to Section 6 of this 
act 308.3 of this title, provided that any such joint resolution 
becomes law in accordance with Section 11 o f Article VI of the 
Oklahoma Constitution; 
 
2.  Approved by a joint resolution pursuant to subsection B of 
this section, provided t hat any such resolution bec omes law in 
accordance with Section 11 of Article VI of th e Oklahoma 
Constitution; or 
 
3.  Disapproved by a joint resolution pursuant to subsection B 
of this section or Section 308.3 of this title which has been vetoed 
by the Governor in accordance with Se ction 11 of Article VI of the 
Oklahoma Constitution and the veto has not been overridden. 
 
F.  Prior to final adoption of a rule, an agency may withdraw a 
rule from legislative review.  Notice of such withdrawal shall be 
given to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representativ es, 
the President Pro Tempore o f the Senate, and to the Secretary for 
publication in “The Oklahoma Register ”. 
 
G.  An agency may prom ulgate an emergency rule only pursuant to 
Section 253 of this title. 
 
H.  Any rights, privileges, or interests gained by an y person by 
operation of an emerg ency rule, shall not be affected by reaso n of 
any subsequent disapproval or rejection of such rule by either house 
of the Legislature. 
 
SECTION 6.     AMENDATORY     75 O.S. 2021, Section 308.3, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 308.3. A.  The Legislature shall have joint r esolutions 
prepared for consideration each session. 
 
B.  For the purpose of this section, a proposed permanent rule 
may be disapproved, in whole or in part, in a joint resolution 
considered by the Legislature. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 18 
C.  If any rule received on or before April 1 the date 
established pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsection A of Section 308 
of this title is not subject to a joint resolution pass ed by both 
houses of the Legislature and signed by the Governor or is found by 
the Governor to have a technical legal defect p reventing approval of 
administrative rules intended to be ap proved by the Legislature, the 
Governor may declare any rules received on or before April 1 and not 
subject to a joint resolution passed by both houses of the 
Legislature to be approved or disappr oved and finally adopted by 
publishing a single declaration in “The Oklahoma Register” on or 
before July 17.  If the Governor find s that the joint resolution has 
a technical legal defect, the Governor shall make the finding in 
writing and submit the findin g to the Legislature. 
 
SECTION 7.     REPEALER     75 O.S. 2021, Section 303a, is 
hereby repealed. 
 
SECTION 8.  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 eff ect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 515 	Page 19 
Passed the Senate th e 16th day of February, 2023. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
Passed the House of Representatives the 18th day of April, 2023. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives 
 
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ 
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _______________________________ __ 
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____ 
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock ___ ____ M. 
 
 	_________________________________ 
 	Governor of the State of Oklahoma 
 
 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___ 
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _______________________________ __