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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1664 By: Cantrell of the House
and
Alvord of the Senate
An Act relating to county commissioners; amending 19
O.S. 2021, Section 326, which relates to meetings;
allowing county commissioners to participate in
conferences, trainings, and events under certain
circumstances; authorizing county commissioners to
participate in legislative meetings in certain
circumstances; authorizing county commissioners to
discuss budgetary matters in certain circumstances;
amending 56 O.S. 2021, Section 625.2, which relates
to the Statewide Independent Living Council; allowing
the Council to hold meetings via videoconferencing;
providing procedures; permitting the Council to
conduct executive sessions by videoconference under
certain circumstances; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 19 O.S. 2021, Section 326, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 326. A. In addition to the special sessi ons for
equalizing assessments, and all other special sessions now provided
by law, the county commissioners shall meet and hold sessions for
the transaction of business in the county courthouse, at the county
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seat, on or before the first Monday of each mo nth, and may remain in
session as long as the public business may require, and the passing
upon, allowing or rejecting of bills against the county shall be
taken up and passed upon by the board in the order in which the
claims have been filed, and in which order such claims must be
entered upon the calendar, except salary, wage and compensation
claims of officers and deputies and employees, which salary, wage
and compensation claims may be considered and paid, on or after the
termination of the service pay period; provided, that such claims by
subordinate deputies and employees be first approved by the officer
having charge of the office or department. The board of county
commissioners may recess or adjourn its meetings within the session,
either from time to time or from day to day, or on call of the
chairman; but, if such board does not sooner adjourn its session for
any month, such session shall terminate and be adjourned by
operation of law on the last business day of such month. If the
board shall have adjourned its session before the last business day
of any month, the county clerk shall have power to call special
sessions when the best interests of the county demand it, upon
giving five (5) days' notice of the time and object of calling the
commissioners together, by posting up notices in three public places
in the county, or by publication in some newspaper of general
circulation in the county; provided, that in the case of a vacancy
in the office of county clerk, the chairman chair of the board shall
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have power to call a special session f or the purpose of filling such
vacancy.
B. The board of county commissioners may meet at times and in
places within the county other than the county courthouse if it is
determined that such meetings are beneficial to the general public.
Such meetings shall be in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting
Act.
C. County commissioners may attend and participate in
conferences, trainings, and educational, press, and social events,
even if a quorum is present, provided t hat no official action is
taken and any discussion of the business of the board of county
commissioners is incidental to the event.
D. County commissioners may attend and participate in meetings
and proceedings of the Legislature, even if a quorum is pres ent,
provided that no official action is taken.
E. In budget board counties, county commissioners and other
county elected officers may discuss budgetary matters , provided that
a quorum of the county budget board is not present and no official
action is taken.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 56 O.S. 2021, Section 625.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 625.2. A. There is hereby created the Statewide
Independent Living Council which shall be established pursuant to
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the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93 -112, codified
at 29 U.S.C., Section 701 et seq., as amended.
B. The duties of the Council shall be those as set forth in the
federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
C. Subject to the availability of state funds other than those
appropriated to the D epartment of Rehabilitation Services for the
purpose of providing independent living services to its clients, and
in accordance with the State Plan for Independent Living, the
Department of Rehabilitation Services, in joint effort with the
Statewide Independent Living Council, may contract with independent
living centers for the purpose of providing independent living
services to individuals with disabilities and their families.
D. The Council shall be permitted to ho ld meetings through
videoconferencing, provided that:
1. Each member of the Council is audible or visible to each
other and the public;
2. The meeting notice and agenda prepared in advance of the
meeting, as required by the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, sha ll
indicate if the meeting will include videoconferencing and shall
also state:
a. each Council member appearing remotely, and
b. the identity of the Council member or members who will
be physically present at the meeting site, if any;
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3. After the meetin g notice and agenda are prepared and po sted
as required by law, Council members shall not be permitted to alter
their method of attendance; provided, however, those members who
were identified as appearing remotely may be permitted to physically
appear at the meeting site, if any, for the meeting;
4. The Council shall be permitted to participate and speak, as
allowed by rule or policy set by the Council, in a meeting which
utilizes teleconference or videoconference in the same manner and to
the same extent as the public is allowed to participat e or speak
during a meeting where all public body members are physically
present together at the meeting site;
5. Unless confidential or privileged by applicable law, any
documents or other materials provided to memb ers of the Council or
shared electronically between members of the Council during a
meeting utilizing teleconferencing or videoconferencing shall also
be immediately available to the public on the Council's website;
6. All votes occurring during any meeti ng utilizing
teleconference or videocon ference shall occur and be recorded by
roll call votes; and
7. The Council abides by all other requirements of the Oklahoma
Open Meeting Act.
E. The Council is permitted to conduct an executive session by
videoconference. For such executive sessions, no Council member is
required to be physically present so long as each Council member is
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audible or visible to each other. The meeting notice and agenda
prepared in advance of the meeting as required by law shall indic ate
if the executive session will inclu de videoconferencing and shall
also state the identity of each Council member appearing remotely,
and whether any member will be physically present at the meeting
site, if any, for the executive session.
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.
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate