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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2285 By: Hilbert, Burns, and
Cantrell of the House
and
Hall of the Senate
An Act relating to roads and bridges; creating the
Evacuation Vehicle Access Corridor Act; creating the
Evacuation Vehicle Access Corridor Revol ving Fund;
establishing fund at the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation; establishing revolving fund
characteristics; deeming funds appropriated;
requiring and limiting certain budgeting and
expenditure; creating the Evacuati on Vehicle Access
Corridor Grant Program; authorizing certain
references; declaring purpose; establishing
procedures and criteria for grant a wards; defining
terms; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF TH E STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 508 of Title 69, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. This act shall be known and m ay be cited as the Evacuati on
Vehicle Access Corridor Act.
B. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to be designated
the "Evacuation Vehicle Access Corridor Revolving Fund" or "EVAC
Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal
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year limitations, and shall consist of all monies directed for
deposit to the fund by law. All monies accruing to the credit of
said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expe nded
by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in accordance with the
provisions provided in Section C of this act. Expenditures from
said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer
against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the
Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and
payment.
C. 1. There is hereby established the Evacuati on Vehicle
Access Corridor Grant Program, which may also be cited as the "EVAC
Grant Program";
2. The Oklahoma Departme nt of Transportation shall establish
and administer the EVAC Grant Program to support the state purpose
of ensuring the health and safety of the residents of Oklahoma
living in geographically landlock ed basins by creating evacuation
corridors. Such progra m shall embody the following procedures and
criteria:
a. the Department shall create and make available to
counties of the state a standardized Evacuati on
Vehicle Access Corridor grant application;
b. to be eligible for a grant from the EVAC Grant
Program, a county must demonstrate a material need to
construct a county road in a qualified area;
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c. grant amounts awarded under the provisions of this act
shall not exceed the cumulative total of funds
directed for deposit to the EVAC Fund created in
subsection B of this act.
D. As used in the Evacuation Vehicle Access Corridor Act:
1. "Landlocked" means almost or entirely surrounded by land,
which lacks practical entry and egress by motor vehicles;
2. "Qualified area" means a landlocked basin in this state wi th
no fewer than two thousand (2,000) residents, and that has one or
fewer roads of entry or egress maintained by a state, county, town
or municipality road system or systems.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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 appr oval.
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Passed the House of Representatives the 13th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senat e