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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 1054 By: Stanley
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to soldiers and sailors; ame nding 72
O.S. 2021, Section 63.2, which relates to membe rs of
the Oklahoma Veterans Commission; modifying procedure
by which Commissioners are selected; requiring the
Governor to publicly announce Commission openings;
providing procedure for filling vacancies; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 72 O.S. 2021, Section 63.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 63.2. The Oklahoma Veterans Commission shal l consist of
nine (9) members, all of whom shall be honorably discharged United
States veterans; provided, one of the members shall be a veteran of
the Vietnam Conflict and two shall be veterans of the Pe rsian Gulf
Wars. The After the effective date of this act, the members shall
be selected in the following manner: The state executive board or
committees of the veterans’ organizations named in this section
shall that have representation in this state may each submit to the
Governor a list of five persons they determine are qualified to
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serve as members of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission. All The
Governor shall work with the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and
Military to ensure appointments shall be broa dly representative of
the veterans of this state in t erms of age, gender, and race or
ethnicity. The list shall be submitted to the G overnor The Governor
shall release an announcement of upcoming openings of the Commission
twelve (12) months prior to vacancy of each seat. At that time,
interested organizations shall be able to submit a list of qualified
candidates not later than three (3) months prior to the expiration
of the terms of office of the members of the Oklahoma Veterans
Commission. The Governor shall name one member from each of the
following Veterans’ groups select the most qualified can didates from
any of the various Veter ans Service Organizations that are in good
standing and have representation, within this state. Organizations
or groups submitting names may include but are not limited to : the
American Legion; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Disabled American
Veterans; the Paralyzed Veterans of America ; the Military Order of
the Purple Heart; Team Red, White, and Blue ; Team Rubicon; Student
Veterans of America; The Mission Continues ; the Military Officers
Association of America; and the National Guard Association of
Oklahoma. The members representing the American Legion and the
Paralyzed Veterans of America s hall take office no later than July
1, 2015. The members representing the Veteran s of Foreign Wars and
the Military Order of the Purple Heart shall take office no later
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than July 1, 2016. The members representing the Disabled Amer ican
Veterans and the National Guard Association o f Oklahoma shall take
office no later than July 1, 2017. The Governor shall may also
appoint up to three members at large.
The In order to be eligible to submit a list of candidates for
the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to the Governor for consideration,
the executive officer of each veterans ’ organization operating
within this state shall, on or before January 1 of the each year in
which the organization ’s appointee’s term expires, submit to the
Secretary of State, the Governor, the President Pro Tempore o f the
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representa tives, the chair
of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, and the chair
of the House of Representatives Veterans and Military Affairs
Committee, a copy of the performance audit and the f inancial audit
of the his or her organization for the im mediately preceding fiscal
year of the organization. Such audits shall be conducted in
accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States and shall clearly show the total paid membe rship of the
organization and shall be certified t o by a certified public
accountant. Failure to comply with this section shall render the
organization ineligible to submit a nominee to the Governor. The
members of the Commission shall be appointed by th e Governor with
advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of
the Governor. When a vacancy on the Oklahoma Veterans Commission
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occurs, the organization organizations which is represented by the
vacant position shall are eligible as defined in this section may
submit a list of five up to three names to the Governor. The
Governor shall may choose a replacement from that list. No person
shall be appointed by the Governor who is related by affinity or
consanguinity within the third deg ree to any person employed by the
Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.
Before any member app ointed as provided herein shall enter upon
his or her duties as a member of the Commission, he or she shall
take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the
Constitution of this state.
Present members of the Commission shall continue in office u ntil
the expiration of their terms and until their successors are
appointed and enter upon the duties of their offices. Appointments
shall be made for a three -year period. Any vacancy on the
Commission resulting from any cause shall be filled by appointm ent
by the Governor for the remainder of the term as provided in this
section.
No member of the Oklahoma Veter ans Commission shall be employed
by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs during the time of
his or her service on the Oklahoma Veterans Com mission nor shall any
person who served as a member of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission be
employed by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs subsequent
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to his or her service on the Commission for a period of two (2)
years.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
59-1-130 KR 1/19/2023 1:06:14 PM