Municipal ordinances; removing certain requirement for deposit of certain permanent volume in county law libraries. Effective date.
If enacted, SB485 would amend 11 O.S. 2021, Section 14-110, thereby impacting how municipalities publish and disseminate their penal ordinances. The current law necessitates a formal resolution to notify the public and impose requirements for the filing and deposit of these documents in county law facilities. By eliminating these deposit requirements, the bill is expected to ease operational loads for local jurisdictions, which consistently have to manage resources and budget constraints. The fiscal impact could potentially be minimal if the cost of compliance is significantly mitigated.
Senate Bill 485, introduced by Senator Daniels, proposes an amendment to modify the requirements concerning the handling of municipal penal ordinances in the state of Oklahoma. The primary change involves the removal of the existing mandate that requires municipalities to deposit copies of their permanent volumes or biennial supplements of penal ordinances in county law libraries. This adjustment is positioned to reduce administrative burdens on local governments, allowing them greater flexibility in managing their legal documentation processes.
While the bill appears to streamline the process for local governments, it is essential to note that there may be contention surrounding the reduction of public access to municipal ordinances. Some lawmakers and local government leaders may argue that fewer physical copies in law libraries could make it more difficult for the public to access important legal information. This debate highlights the balance that must be struck between operational efficiency and ensuring transparency and accessibility of municipal laws to constituents.