Req. No. 2535 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 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) SENATE BILL 1312 By: Bullard AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to wildlife; authorizing the Department of Wildlife Conservation to implement certain program; requiring collaboration from other Oklahoma entities; providing for indemnity of the Department from damages resulting from implementation of this program; exempting indemnity from certain issues; providing for the promulgation of rules; allowing the Department to provide ex emptions from certain permitting; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A n ew section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statu tes as Section 7-707 of Title 29, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Department of Wildlife Conservation shall administer directly and through collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at Oklahoma State University to implement a program or programs for the distribution of traps for the capture or deterrence of invasive and nuisance species affecting Oklahoma landowners or land lessors. Req. No. 2535 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. The Department or any employee or agent of the Department shall not be liable for damages in any civil suit or subject to criminal prosecution for any injury re sulting from the program, unless the injury or dea th is a direct result of the gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional mis conduct of the Department or employee or agent of the Department. C. The Department of Wildlife Conservation shall promulgate the rules necessary for the implementation of this program along with any educational material necessary for the proper o peration of the traps leased to landowners and land le ssors through this program as not to violate the provisions of subsec tion B of this section. The Department may allow exemptions for landowners and land lessors participating in this program from the permits required to control nuisance and invasive species set for in Title 29 of the Oklahoma Statutes. SECTION 2. This act shall beco me effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-2535 MR 12/13/2023 11:33:27 AM