An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1592 By: Haste of the Senate
and
Moore of the House
An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S.
2021, Section 4663, which relates to the Board of
Trustees for Oklahoma State University/Tulsa;
requiring certain member to be appointed by certain
chair; allowing certain members to serve as voting,
ex officio members; removing language regarding the
appointment of members from the Board of Regents of
Rogers University; directing certain appointed member
to hold certain position; providing for term of
office of certain member; updating statutory
language; removing outdated language regarding the
policies of the Board of Regents of Rogers
University; removing authority for the Board of
Trustees of Oklahoma State Univer sity/Tulsa to set
certain compensation; providing an effective date;
and declaring an emergency .
SUBJECT: Oklahoma State University/Tulsa
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2 021, Section 4663, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 4663. A. On January 1, 1999, there shall be created
the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma State University/Tulsa which
shall consist of seven members who reside in Tulsa County or
contiguous counties and two members, one member of the Board of
Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges (A&M
ENR. S. B. NO. 1592 Page 2
Board) who shall serve as voting, ex officio members, one of whom
who shall reside in the First Congressional District . The second
member from the A&M Board, and one member who shall be appointed by
the chair of the A&M Board. The member of the A&M Board and the
member appointed by the chair of the A&M Board shall serve as
voting, ex officio members. For purposes of serving on the Board of
Trustees, the members member of the A&M Board and the member
appointed by the chair of the A&M Board who are appointed to the
Board of Trustees shall not be subject to the dual office holding
restrictions in Section 6 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Th e
Governor shall appoint the other members of the Board of Trustees
with the advice and consent of the Senate. The members shall be
appointed to numbered positions with staggered terms to expire as
provided in this section. Successors to the initial boar d members
shall serve seven-year terms that shall expire on June 30 of the
seventh year following appointment. Vacancies on the Board shall be
filled for the unexpired term by the Governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate. Four of the nine membe rs on the initial
Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate from the members of the Board of Regents
of Rogers University who are residents of Tulsa and are serving on
the effective date of this act. Th e four members appointed from the
Board of Regents of Rogers University shall be appointed to the
positions numbered one through four. The remaining three members
appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to positions five
through seven. The member of the A&M Board who resides in the First
Congressional District shall hold position number eight. The second
member appointed by the chair of the A&M Board shall hold position
number nine. The numbered positions and terms shall be as follows:
1. Position No. 1: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2000, and each seven (7) years
thereafter;
2. Position No. 2: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2001, and each seven (7) years
thereafter;
3. Position No. 3: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2002, and each seven (7) years
thereafter;
ENR. S. B. NO. 1592 Page 3
4. Position No. 4: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2003, and each seven (7 ) years
thereafter;
5. Position No. 5: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2004, and each seven (7) years
thereafter;
6. Position No. 6: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2005, a nd each seven (7) years
thereafter;
7. Position No. 7: The term of office of one member shall
expire on the 30th day of June, 2006, and each seven (7) years
thereafter;
8. Position No. 8: The term of office shall coincide with the
member’s term on the A&M Board; and
9. Position No. 9: The term of office shall coincide with the
member’s term on be at the direction of the chair of the A&M Board.
B. The Board of Trustees shall be a body corporate and shall
adopt and use an official seal. The Board shall elect a chair,
vice-chair vice chair, and secretary annually, each of whom shall
serve for a term of one fiscal year and until a successor is elected
and qualified, and who shall perform such duties as the Board
directs. The Board shall adopt rules which it deems necessary for
the operation of the Board and the discharge of its duties and shall
cause the minutes of all meetings to be kept. The Board shall
comply with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open
Records Act.
C. The Board of Trustees for Oklahoma State University/Tulsa
may be authorized by the A&M Board to supervise and manage the
campus of Oklahoma State University/Tulsa and perform other
functions as necessary. The Board of Trustees shall promulgate
rules and enact policies to govern the processes and procedures of
the Board. The policies of the Board of Regents of Rogers
University, including but not limited to policies on personnel and
student participation, that are in effect on the date that the Board
of Regents of Rogers University is dissolved shall be deemed adopted
ENR. S. B. NO. 1592 Page 4
by the Board of Trustees unless specifically amended or repealed by
the A&M Board. The A&M Board and the Board of Trustees shall
appoint a joint committee of at least two members from each board
and at least two members of the staff of each institution to develop
and propose mutually agreed upon rules and policies to formalize the
review and oversight procedures and the relationships between the
A&M Board, the Board of Trustees, Oklahoma State University i n
Stillwater, and Oklahoma State University/Tulsa. It is the intent
of the Legislature that in the interests of immediate responsiveness
to the needs of students, employees, and the business community that
the decision or approval process be expedited.
D. Subject to the oversight of the Board of Regents for the
Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Board of Trustees
of Oklahoma State University/Tulsa shall set the compensation of the
president of Oklahoma State University/Tulsa. On or after January
1, 1999, the A&M Board may assign and delineate roles and
responsibilities for the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma State
University/Tulsa. Such responsibilities may include, but are not
limited to, student services, facility operations, student fi nancial
services, budget preparations, endowed chairs at Oklahoma State
University/Tulsa, and administrative operations as specified by the
A&M Board.
E. The Board of Trustees shall establish the usual and
customary accounts established by higher educati on institutions
within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services necessary to
carry out its duties.
F. Until July 1, 2001, during the transition and development of
Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, acting on behalf of the Board of
Trustees for Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Oklahoma State
University is authorized and directed to negotiate contracts with
institutions for courses and degree programs of study approved by
the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, as necessary to
meet the higher education needs for the Tulsa metropolitan area.
The number of degree programs offered by Northeastern State
University and Langston University shall not be diminished or
duplicated.
G. The president of Oklahoma State University/Tulsa shall be
selected by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and
ENR. S. B. NO. 1592 Page 5
Mechanical Colleges after completion of a search process as set
forth in this subsection. The A&M Board shall appoint at least two
of its members, one of whom must reside in the First Congressiona l
District, and the Board of Trustees shall appoint at least two of
its members to a search committee. The president of Oklahoma State
University may appoint other representatives of faculty, staff, and
students to the search committee. The president of Oklahoma State
University shall recommend a candidate in consultation with the
search committee to the Board of Trustees and the A&M Board.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. 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. 1592 Page 6
Passed the Senate the 14th day of March, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 24th day of April, 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: _________________________________