Oklahoma Senate Bill SB861

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Legislature; requiring certain statement from state agencies when requesting legislation. Effective date.

Impact

The implications of SB861 are significant in terms of regulatory transparency and inter-agency cooperation. By requiring agencies to provide a detailed request statement for proposed legislation, the bill seeks to facilitate better collaboration between legislative bodies and state agencies. This requirement is expected to foster a more organized response to legislative needs and promote clarity regarding the intentions behind agency requests. The introduction of this systematic approach could potentially minimize misunderstandings and disputes over the necessity and objectives of specific pieces of legislation.

Summary

Senate Bill 861 introduces amendments to Section 452.5 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enhancing the process for proposed legislation originating from state agencies. The bill mandates that any proposed legislation requested by a state agency must include a specific agency request statement. This statement is intended to document which agency has made the request, the primary contact person within the agency, and a succinct explanation of the legislative need as identified by the agency. This legislative requirement aims to streamline communication and ensure accountability when agencies seek legislative changes.

Contention

While the bill appears straightforward in its intentions, the requirement for an agency request statement could ignite discussions on the bureaucratic burden it may impose on agencies. Critics might argue that stipulating such conditions could hinder timely legislative proposals, particularly in urgent scenarios where swift legislative action is necessary. Additionally, there may be concerns over the adequacy of the descriptions provided by agencies, as they are tasked with justifying their legislative needs, which could lead to inconsistency in how agencies perceive and articulate their requirements.