Req. No. 11180 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 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2430 By: Echols, Wallace, Roberts, and Wolfley of the House and Weaver and Hicks of the Senate CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to state government; defining terms; authorizing certain assignment of claims to the Attorney General; providing sc ope of authority; providing for limitations; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency. 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 20m of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. As used in this section: 1. "Person" means a natural person, corporation, partne rship, limited liability company, proprietorship, association, municipal corporation, including any public trust whi ch has a municipal corporation as its beneficiary, or other political subdivision of Req. No. 11180 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 this state, including any public trust which has a poli tical subdivision as its beneficiary, or any other legal entity ; and 2. "Assignment" means the transfer of any clai ms, causes of actions or rights held by a person against another party to the State of Oklahoma by the Attorney General. Assignment completely transfers the person's legal rights to the Attorney General and creates privity between the Attorney General and the party against whom the claims are instituted, authorizing the Attorney General to stand in the shoes of the person. Assignment only includes affirmative claims and not liabilities of the person as defined in subsection D of Section 2013 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. 1. The State of Oklahoma, through the Oklahoma Attorney General, is hereby explicitly authorized to accept assignments from any person, as defined subsection A of this section, for the purpose of representing said claims in le gal matters or proceedings within the jurisdiction of the State of Oklahoma. 2. Assignments to the State of Oklahoma shall be made in accordance with applicable law. C. 1. The Oklahoma Attorney General, upon accepting an assignment pursuant to this stat ute, shall have the authority to represent the assigned claims in all legal matters or proceedings. 2. The Attorney General shall ex ercise the same duties and responsibilities towards the assigned claims as towards any other Req. No. 11180 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 claims managed by the Office of the Attorney General, subject to the terms and conditions of an assignment agreement. D. 1. Nothing in this statute shall be construe d to require the Oklahoma Attorney General to accept any assignment, nor shall it limit the Attorney General 's discretion to decline an assignment for any reason deemed appropriate by the Attorney General or his or her designee. 2. Assigned claims are not sub ject to Section 20i of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes . 3. All legal rights and benefits given to the Attorney G eneral shall remain in full force and effect for the assigned claims. E. 1. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Office of the Attorney General shall only accept assignment wh en it determines it is in the best interest of the public. 2. In determining the best interest of the public, the Attorney General shall consider factors s uch as: a. protection of public health, safety, and welfare , b. economic vitality and job creation , c. environmental sustainability, and d. equity and fair treatme nt for all citizens. SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the p reservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby Req. No. 11180 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 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effec t and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 59-2-11180 LRB 05/27/24