SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 1
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SENATE FLOOR VERSION
March 1, 2023
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 944 By: Pugh of the Senate
and
Hilbert of the House
An Act relating to the Semiquincentennial of the
United States; creating the Oklahoma
Semiquincentennial Commission; providing sunset date;
providing for duties of the Commission; providing for
membership; providing deadline for appointments and
first meeting; providing for staffing; declaring
quorum; allowing tra vel expense reimbursement;
declaring certain authorization; requiring report;
creating the Semiquincentennial Revolving Fund;
providing sunset date; transferring remaining monies
after sunset date; providing for codification; and
declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF TH E STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 500 of Title 53, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows:
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Semiquincentennial
Commission until June 30, 2027.
B. The duties of the Commission shall be as follows:
1. Be the point of contact for state and national organizations
and events related to the Semiquincentennial of the United State s;
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 2
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2. Develop programs and plans for the official observance of
the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026,
as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 1776 ; and
3. Cooperate with the United States Semiquincentennial
Commission and various state agencies, boards, commissions,
departments, and political subdivisions in order to execute
commemorative events and to implement educational activities ,
events, and celebrations related to the Semi quincentennial of the
United States.
C. The Commission shall be composed of twenty-five (25)
members. The members shall serve as follows:
1. Five members appointed by the Governor as follows:
a. one who shall be a member with experience in the study
and documentation of the history of Latino communities
in Oklahoma,
b. one who shall be a member with experience in the study
and documentation of the history of Black communities
in Oklahoma,
c. one who shall be a member with experience in the study
and documentation of the history of American Indian
communities in Oklahoma,
d. one who shall be a current fifth-grade teacher
currently certified to teach in Oklahoma with
experience teaching United States history , and
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 3
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
e. one who shall be a secondary teacher currently
certified to teach United States history in Okla homa;
2. Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, one appointee from each of the five
congressional districts;
3. Five members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tem pore
of the Senate, one appointee from each of the five congressional
districts; and
4. Nine voting ex officio members shall be appointed as
follows:
a. the Lieutenant Governor, or designee, who shall serve
as chair,
b. the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical
Society, or designee, who shall serve as vice chair,
c. the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
or designee,
d. the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or designee ,
e. the Chancellor of the State Regents for Higher
Education, or designee ,
f. the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council,
or designee,
g. the Executive Director of the O klahoma Tourism and
Recreation Department, or designee,
h. the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or designee ,
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 4
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
i. the Regent of the Oklahoma Society Daughters of the
American Revolution, and
j. the President of the Oklahoma Socie ty of the Sons of
the American Revolution.
D. Commission members may be removed for cause. Whenever a
vacancy on the Commission o ccurs by death, resignation, or
otherwise, the appointing authority shall fill t he same by
appointment, and the appointee shall hold office during the
unexpired term. Each member shall hold office until a successor has
been appointed.
E. All appointments to the Commission shall be made no l ater
than August 1, 2023. The Commission shall hold its first meeting no
later than September 1, 2023. The Commission shall be staffed by
the Oklahoma Historical Society. All appropriate agencies of state
government shall provide assistance to the Commi ssion upon request
of the Commission.
F. A quorum of thirteen members shall be required to conduct
official business of the Commission. The Commission may establish
subcommittees to effectuate the purpose of the Commission. The
Commission shall meet as oft en as necessary to perform its duties.
G. Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for
serving on the Commission but shall receive travel reimbursement for
necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 5
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
duties by their respe ctive agencies in accordance with the State
Travel Reimbursement Act.
H. The Commission shall be authorized to:
a. employ personnel,
b. contract for services, and
c. accept gifts, grants, and donations which shall be
deposited into the Semiquincentennial Revolving Fund,
created in Section 2 of thi s act.
I. On or after June 30, 2027, any remaining supplies or
property of the Commission shall transfer to the Oklahoma Historical
Society.
J. No later than March 1, 2024, the Com mission shall
electronically submit a report to the Governor, President Pr o
Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives to include the following information:
1. Mission statement of the Commission;
2. Goals of the Commission;
3. List of proposed activities;
4. List of milestones along with appli cable dates for executing
the proposed activities; and
5. Projected budget for planned activities and private
fundraising goals.
SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB944 SFLR Page 6
(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 501 of Title 53, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Oklahoma Historical Society to be designated the
“Semiquincentennial Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a con tinuing
fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of
all monies received from legislative appropriations, private
donations, gifts, and grants. All monies accruing to the credit of
the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by
the Oklahoma Semiquincentennial Commission for the purposes of the
Commission. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants
issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as pre scribed by
law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
Services for approval and payment. The Semiquincentennial Revolving
Fund shall sunset on June 30, 2027. Any remaining monies in the
fund shall transfer to the Historical Society Re volving Fund,
created in Section 1.10 of Titl e 53 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
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 t his act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
March 1, 2023 - DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS