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ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 244 By: Daniels and Pugh of the
Senate
and
Lepak of the House
[ higher education - Program of American Civic
Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma
- intent - report - appropriation – codification -
effective date –
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 3319 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby established the Program of American Civic
Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma. It is the
intent of the Legislature that the purpose of the program shall be
to:
1. Educate students in the principles, ideals, and institutions
of the American political order including the character traits and
durable habits necessary to sustain that order;
2. Educate students in the philosophical foundations of
responsible leadership and informed citizenship ;
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3. Promote and provide programming related to civic education,
engagement, and discourse;
4. Enhance education in the fields of political thought and
science, American history and government, free market economics, and
other related fields as appropria te, with a focus on the foundations
of Western and American civilization including its great books, the
rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, fundamental
democratic principles and mores, and the ways in which those
principles and mores are e xpressed in and through mediating
institutions at the federal, state, and local levels;
5. Provide viewpoint and ideologically diverse resources to
students, faculty, state government agencies and actors, educators,
and the general public regarding civic affairs; and
6. Assist in ensuring that the University of Oklahoma serve as
a robust marketplace of ideas for all students and faculty.
B. To carry out the purposes set forth in subsection A of this
section, the program is authorized to:
1. Enroll students;
2. Hire tenure-track and non-tenured faculty and supporting
staff;
3. Develop and offer in -person courses and online instruction
in new graduate and undergraduate major and minor programs;
4. Develop an undergraduate American institutions and civic
knowledge course in an ticipation of a future mandate requiring all
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University of Oklahoma students to complete such a course to
graduate;
5. Offer general education and honors courses including courses
intended for incoming freshman students;
6. Offer concurrent enrollment;
7. Provide and facilitate internships and other relevant
experiences for students and the general public;
8. Hold events; and
9. Take other actions as appropriate subject to the supervision
of the director of the program and the ac ademic college at the
University of Oklahoma.
C. Upon its establishment, the Program of American Civic
Thought and Leadership may be physically housed on the University of
Oklahoma’s Norman campus as a stand -alone program.
D. The Program of American Civi c Thought and Leadership shall
operate as an academic unit within the University of Oklahoma.
E. The Program of American Civic Thought and Leadership and its
director shall be advised by an advisory board on matters related to
the program including, but n ot limited to, staffing , curriculum,
policy, and programming in accordance with the policies and
procedures of the University of Oklahoma. The advisory board shall
be comprised of six (6) members appointed by the Board of Regents of
the University of Okla homa. Members shall be appointed by December
31, 2025.
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F. By March 1, 2027, and by each March 1 thereafter, the
program director, in consultation with the academic college and
advisory board, shall develop and provide an annual strategic plan
for the program to the Board of Re gents of the University of
Oklahoma. Initial course offerings shall be available to students
in the fall semester of 2027.
G. Faculty of the program may be awarded tenure subject to the
tenure policies of the University of Oklahoma as adopted by the
Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma and shall not be
required to gain joint appointment in another division of the
University of Oklahoma. If a faculty member is awarded tenure and
the program later dissolves, the faculty mem ber shall be relocated
within another academic unit of the University of Oklahoma.
H. The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma may use
funds allocated to it by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education and charitable donations to fund the program. Allocated
and donated funds shall only be used for the direct operation of the
program.
I. By September 1, 2027, and by each September 1 thereafter,
the program director, in consultation with the the advisory board of
the program, shall electron ically submit a report to the Governor,
the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the chairs of the Senate Appropriations
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Committee and the House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget
Committee.
SECTION 2. There is hereby appropriated to the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education from any monies not otherwise
appropriated from the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the sum of Three Million
Dollars ($3,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary for
the purpose of implementing the provisions of Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. 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 Senate the 27t h day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives