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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE BILL 1707 By: Gollihare
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to State Veterans Homes; establishing
State Veterans Home at Sallisaw ; directing assumption
of certain operations; amending 72 O.S. 2021, Section
229, as amended by Section 16, Chapter 83, O .S.L.
2022 (72 O.S. Supp. 2023. Section 229), which relates
to State Veterans Home at Talihina; directing
transfer of operations upon certain date; removing
obsolete language; modifyi ng statutory reference;
amending 72 O.S. 2021, Section 229.1, as amended by
Section 17, Chapter 83, O.S.L. 2022 (72 O.S. Supp.
2023, Section 229.1) , which relates to authority to
plan, develop, and construct Oklahoma veterans
facilities; specifying facility to assume certain
operations; modifying requirements for location of
facilities; broadening allowed uses of certain
proceeds; providing for codification; and declaring
an emergency.
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 229.2 of Title 72, unless there
is created a duplicati on in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby established, in addition to the other State
Veterans Homes established under this title, the State Veterans Home
at Sallisaw, Oklahoma, on the site determined by the Oklahoma
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Veterans Commission under subsections C and D of Section 229.1 of
Title 72 of the Oklahoma Statutes .
B. The State Veterans Home at Sallisaw shall assume operations
of the State Veterans Home at Talihina, Oklahoma, established under
Section 229 of Title 72 of the Oklahoma Statutes , upon the date
determined by the Commission under such sec tion.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 72 O.S. 2021, Section 229, as
amended by Section 16, Chapter 83, O.S.L. 2022 (72 O.S. Supp. 2023,
Section 229), is amended to read as follows:
Section 229. A. Until operations are transferre d pursuant to
subsection B of this section, there is hereby established, in
addition to the other State Veterans Homes established by Sections
221 and 226 of this title, the State Veterans Home at Talihina,
Oklahoma, on the site of the Oklahoma State Sanatorium, Talihina,
Oklahoma. All persons serving as employees of the Oklahoma State
Sanatorium under the provisions of the State Merit System of
Personnel Administration shall continue to serve as employees o f the
State Veterans Home at Talihina, provided that such employees remain
in the classified service. All employe es hired by the State
Veterans Home at Talihina on or afte r July 1, 1975, shall be under
the Oklahoma Merit System of Personnel A dministration, except one
manager, one principal assistant or deputy, o ne private secretary,
part-time physicians and other professional personnel engaged in
clinical and consultant services. The average number of full -time-
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equivalent employees utilized i n the total operation of the State
Veterans Home, Talihina, shall not exceed one hundred fifty-three
(153) during the fiscal yea r ending June 30, 1976. The buildings,
equipment and land under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State
Sanatorium, Talihina, are hereby transferred to the State Veterans
Home, Talihina.
B. Upon a date to be determined by the Oklahoma Veterans
Commission, operations of the State Veterans Home at Talihina
established under this section shall be transferred to the State
Veterans Home at Salli saw, Oklahoma, established under Section 1 of
this act.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 72 O.S. 2021, Section 229.1, as
amended by Section 17, Chapter 83, O.S. L. 2022 (72 O.S. Supp. 2023,
Section 229.1), is amended to read as follows:
Section 229.1. A. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
is authorized to plan, deve lop and construct two long-term care
facilities for the following purposes:
1. To assume the operations of the State Veterans Home
established in Talihina pursuant to Section 229 of this title. In
accordance with Section 229 of this titl e and Section 1 of this act,
the facility to assume operations of the State Vet erans Home at
Talihina shall be the State Veterans Home at Sallisaw, Oklahoma,
established under Section 1 of this act; and
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2. To replace the State Veterans Home established in Ardmore
pursuant to Section 221 of this title.
B. For the two long-term care facilities authorized in
subsection A of this section, the Department may construct new
facilities or refurbish any existing facili ties on property
currently owned by this state or on property purchased or donated
from other sources including but not limited to private owners,
tribal entities or other governmental or municipal entities.
C. 1. The location of the facility referenced in paragraph 1
of subsection A of this section shall be subject only to such
geographical constraints as are imposed by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs to preserve and continue recognition
and certification of the facility as a State Veterans Home located
within or near the corporate limits of the City of Sallisaw.
2. The facility referenced in paragraph 2 of subsection A o f
this section shall be located within the corporate limits of the
city City of Ardmore or within five (5) miles of the corporate
limits of the city City of Ardmore.
D. The locations and sites of the two facilities reference d in
subsection A of this section shall be determined by the Oklahom a
Veterans Commission, subject to such geographical constraints as are
imposed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for
certification as a State Veterans Home. The Oklahoma Veterans
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Commission may consider any and all criteria which, in its sole
discretion, further the interests of Oklahoma veterans.
E. The project constituting the construction of the
replacement, long-term care facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home
shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections 9030 through
9030.8 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma St atutes.
F. The proceeds received from the sale of the State Veterans
Home in Talihina, along with all associated real and personal
property, shall belong to th e Oklahoma Department of Veterans
Affairs and shall be used for any one or more of the following
purposes:
1. To purchase land upon which the replacement, long -term care
facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home will be located;
2. To purchase any other pers onal property needed for the
construction and furnishing o f the replacement, long-term care
facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home; and
3. To fund operations of the State Veterans Home at Sallisaw;
and
4. To complete the state match for a grant offered under the
State Veterans Home Construction Gran t Program of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservat ion
of the public peace, health or saf ety, an emergency is hereby
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declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
59-2-3415 DC 1/16/2024 4:55:46 PM