An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1273 By: Alvord of the Senate
and
Townley, Deck, and
Provenzano of the House
An Act relating to the Department of Environmental
Quality; creating the Blue River -Little Blue Creek
Stream Health Assessment Study Revolving Fund;
establishing fund source and purpose; establishing
Blue River-Little Blue Creek Stream Health Assessment
Study; requiring coordination with certain entity for
certain purposes; providing for coordination with
certain state and federal agencies; provi ding for
codification; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Environmental health study
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 2 -3-404 of Title 27A, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Department of Environmental Quality to be designated
the “Blue River-Little Blue Creek Stream Health Assessment Study
Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject
to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received
by the Department from appropriations, apportionments, donations,
and federal grants received for the purpose of completing the study
created pursuant to subsection B of this section . All monies
accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may
be budgeted and expended by the Department for t he purpose provided
ENR. S. B. NO. 1273 Page 2
for in this section. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
B. Pursuant to the requirements of Section 1 -3-101 of Title 27A
of the Oklahoma Statutes as it relates to waters emanating from a
sensitive sole source aquifer, the Department shall establish and
perform a Blue River-Little Blue Creek Stream Hea lth Assessment
Study. The Department shall coordinate with a research university
for the purpose of defining the study scope and conducting work
necessary to complete data collection and the development of the
Blue River-Little Blue Creek Stream Health As sessment Study. The
Department shall preference resources and partnerships within this
state during evaluation for the performance of conducting this
study. The Department may coordinate with other relevant state and
federal agencies to effectuate the pr ovisions of this section.
SECTION 2. There is hereby appropriated to the Department of
Environmental Quality from any monies not otherwise appropriated
from the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2023, the sum of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to perform
the duties imposed upon the Department by law.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
SECTION 4. 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 effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. S. B. NO. 1273 Page 3
Passed the Senate the 29th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 30th day of May, 2024.
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: _________________________________