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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE BILL 1535 By: Burns
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy
Initiative; amending 17 O.S. 2021, Section s 802.2 and
802.3, as amended by Section s 1 and 2, Chapter 27,
O.S.L. 2022 (17 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section s 802.2 and
802.3), which relate to the duties of the Initiative
and the Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board
membership; modifying duties and membership of the
Board; requiring electronic reporting; updating
statutory reference; and providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 17 O.S. 2021, Section 802.2, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 27, O.S .L. 2022 (17 O.S. Supp. 2023,
Section 802.2), is amended to read as follows:
Section 802.2. A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Low
Carbon Energy Initiative, referred to in Section 802.1 et seq. of
this title as the Initiative, wh ich shall serve as a strategic
program designed to create, advance, and promote new and existing
energy research and development, use, supply chain activity, and
infrastructure related to Oklahoma’s core energy competencies by:
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1. Promoting research and develop ment in the areas of
conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas development and
production, hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, CO2
enhanced oil recovery, wind fo recasting, advanced b iofuels, energy
storage, water management, nuclear energy, energy policy and
economic analysis, energy system optimization, renewable energy
integration into the electrical grid, and similar en ergy
technologies;
2. Fostering communication and collaboration between state and
federal governmental agencies, institutions of higher education, and
private entities located throughout Oklahoma;
3. Advancing research an d development programs and growing
production, supply chain activity, and infrastructure that provide
benefits to all indust ries and regions of the state;
4. Streamlining research and development efforts between
private and public industry to create synergistic relationships that
coordinate, not duplicate, efforts;
5. Establishing Oklahoma as a regional resource and
clearinghouse for transformative energy technologies in the areas of
traditional energy, hydrogen production, storage, and distribution,
and renewable resourc e research and development;
6. Attracting best-in-class researchers to Oklahoma in
competency areas alig ned with Oklahoma’s natural resource base;
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7. Coordinating with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to
enhance venture capital investment in energy -related research and
business opportunities; and
8. Promoting seed funding that c an be leveraged against s tate,
federal, and private-source funding to establish sufficient startup
resources.
B. The Initiative may receive assistance from any state agency
or public entity to implement the provisions of the Oklahoma Energy
Initiative Act including, but not limi ted to, administrative
assistance, staffing or legal counsel and provision of office space
or equipment as necessary. A ssistance agreements may be mad e by
memorandums of understanding or as otherwise provided by law.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 17 O.S. 2021, Section 802.3, as
amended by Section 2, Chapter 27, O.S.L. 2022 (17 O.S. Supp. 2023,
Section 802.3), is amended to read as follows:
Section 802.3. A. The Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative
shall be administered and gove rned by the Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy
Initiative Board, made up of representatives of the contributing
institutions and entities of the Initiative which shall include but
not be limited to the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
University, and the University of Tulsa. Additional contributing
members may be added at the discretion of the Board, if they
contribute to the purpose, objectives, and research coordinated by
the Initiative.
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B. The Board shall consist of eleven (11) thirteen (13) members
as follows:
1. One member, who shall serve as the ch air of the Board, sha ll
be the Secretary of Energy and Environment or a me mber otherwise
appointed by the Governor;
2. One member shall be the Vice Presid ent for Research from the
University of Oklahoma or a member otherwise appoin ted by the
President of the University of Oklahoma;
3. One member shall be the Vice President for Research from
Oklahoma State University or a member otherwise appointed by the
President of Oklahoma State University;
4. One member shall be the Vice Pr esident for Research and
Economic Development from the University of Tulsa or a member
otherwise appointed by the President of the University of Tulsa;
5. One member who shall represent the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce, appointed by the Director of the Department of Commerce ;
6. One member who shall represent the Department of Labor,
appointed by the Commissioner of Labor;
7. One member who shall represent the Department of
Environmental Quality, appointed by the Executive Director of the
Department of Environmental Quality ;
8. One member who shall represent the Corporation Commission,
appointed by the Chair of the Commission;
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9. One member who shall represent the Department of
Transportation, appointed by the Director of the Department of
Transportation;
10. One member who shall represent the Oklahoma Water Resources
Board, appointed by the Executive Dire ctor of the Oklahoma Water
Resources Board; and
11. One member who shall represent the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology, appointed by the Executive
Director of the Center for the Advancement of Science and
Technology;
12. One member, who shall represent a n electric utility or
cooperative regulated by the Corporation Commission, appointed by
the President Pro Te mpore of the Senate; and
13. One member, who shall represent the nuclear energy
industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Repres entatives.
C. 1. The Board shall establish an Energy Industry Advi sory
Council, appointed by the chair, for the purposes of providing
industry expertise and knowledge, assisting the Board with annual
report requirements, providing general recommendations , and other
support as needed to advance the efforts of the Board.
2. Members appointed to the Council shall serve at the pleasure
of the chair of the Board.
D. Board members shall se rve for a term of four (4) years,
which shall begin on January 1 of t he first year of the appointment
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and end on December 31 of the fourth year. There shall be no limit
to the number of consecutive terms serv ed. If a vacancy should
occur during a member’s term, the appointing authority for the
vacant position shall appoin t a new member to fill the remainder of
the unexpired term. Board members shall serve without compensation
but may be eligible for necessary travel expenses pursuant to the
State Travel Reimbursement Act.
E. The Board shall be responsible for establishin g procedures
for the Initiative and operations of the Board and the Advisory
Council. The rules may provide for protection from public
disclosure of trade secrets and proprietary information of any kind
including, but not limited to, data, processes and technology, as
the Board determines necessary.
F. The Board shall undertake activities and commission
programs, through the contribu ting institutions and entities, to
achieve the purpose and satisfy the objectives of the Ini tiative as
provided in the Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act. The Board shall
have authority to distribute funding for such activities and
programs. The Board may employ staff as it deem s necessary.
G. The Board, in consultation with the Advisory Council and any
other party deemed necessary, shall prepare submit and publish
electronically an annual, written report to summarize t he annual
progress of the Initiative including summaries of its programs and
their progress and outcomes. The repo rt shall be made ava ilable to
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the public and shall be distributed electronically to the Governor,
the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
H. The provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act shall
not apply to any project, activity or contract of the Init iative or
the Board.
I. No Board member or any person acting on behalf of the Board ,
Advisory Council, or Initiative executing any contracts, commitments
or agreements issued by or on behalf of the Oklahoma Low Carbon
Energy Initiative shall be personally liable for the contracts,
commitments, or agreements or be subject to any personal liability
or accountability by reason thereof. No director or any person
acting on behalf of the Board or Initiative shall be personally
liable for damage or injury resulting from the performance of duties
hereunder.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
59-2-2660 RD 1/2/2024 4:23:02 PM