Req. No. 144 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) SENATE BILL 5 By: Bergstrom AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency; amending 62 O.S. 2021, Section 8012, which relates to duties of the Of fice; modifying duties; updating statutory references and language; establishing administrative rules division within the Office; stating purposes of division; directing oversight; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an e mergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 62 O.S. 2021, Section 8012, is amended to read as follows: Section 8012. A. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency shall: 1. Gather information regarding the proposed budgets of executive branch agencies each fiscal year; 2. Analyze the information and evaluate the extent to which the agency budget does or does not fulfill the agency ’s primary duties and responsibilities und er applicable provisions of federal, state , or other law; Req. No. 144 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Analyze and forecast all revenues available to the agency from appropriations, fees, dedicated revenue , or any other source; 4. Compare the agency budget information to the comparable information contained in that agency ’s budget requests from prior fiscal years; and 5. Conduct such investigations regarding the operations of the agency as required in order to fulfill the duties imposed upon the Office by law or as otherwise directed by the over sight committee; and 6. Analyze and conduct performance evaluations as it r elates to the administrative code of executive branch agencies, as outlined in Section 2 of this act . The oversight committee, subject to the direction of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall ensure that the functions performed by the Office pursuant to the provisions of this subsection do not duplicate those of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations and Budget and their respective staffs. B. The Office shall further conduct performance evaluations and may conduct independent comprehensive performance audits. The oversight committee created in Section 3 of this act 8013 of this title may periodically identify specific executive branch agencies, or programs, activities , or functions within executive branch Req. No. 144 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 agencies, for which the Office shall conduct a performance evaluation or independent comprehensive performance audit. C. As used in this act Section 8011 et seq. of this title , “performance evaluation ” means an examination of a program, activity, or function of an executive branch agency, conducted in accordance with applicable government auditing standards or auditing and evaluation standards of other appropriate authoritative bodies. The term includes, but is not limited to, an examination of issues related to: 1. Economy, efficiency , or effectiveness of the agency or program, including any revenue sources used to fund or support the agency or program; 2. Structure or design of the agency or program to a ccomplish its goals and objectives; 3. Adequacy of the agency or program to meet the needs or policy goals identified by the Legislature; 4. Alternative methods of providing agen cy or program services or products; 5. Goals, objectives , and performance measures used by the agency to monitor and report agency or program accomplishments; 6. The accuracy or adequacy of public documents, reports , or requests prepared by or in relatio n to the agency or program; 7. Compliance with appropriate policies, rules , or laws related to the agency or program; and Req. No. 144 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 8. Any other issues related to such agencies or programs as directed by the oversight committee. D. As used in this act Section 8011 et seq. of this title , “independent comprehensive performance audit (ICPA) ” includes, but is not limited to, a review and analysis of the economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance of the policies, management, fiscal affairs, and operations of st ate agencies, divisions, programs , and accounts. The results of an ICPA may be used by the Legislature to implement the best budgeting and policy -making practices for government services to run in the most cost -effective way. The Office may, at the direc tion of the oversight committee and subject to the approval of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, contract with a private company, nonprofit organization , or academic institution to assist with an independent comprehensive performance audit or for professional consulting and ad ministrative support services. The Office may, but shall not be required to, contract with the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector to conduct any ICPA. The Office shall develop the scope of services for a request for proposals issued, for professional services necessary to complete each ICPA. Prior to entering into any contract, the Office shall obtain no less than three separate bids for the auditing services, unless the Office determines that fewer than three entities meet the qualifications to bid to perform such services as set forth by the Req. No. 144 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Office. The cost of the contract shall be paid by the Legislative Services Service Bureau. An independent comprehensive performance audit shall address but not be limited to the following topics: 1. Policies which shall include constitutional mandates, if any, statutory mandates, statutory authorizations, administrative rules or policies of the affected agency reflected in internal agency documents, or agency practices; 2. All sources of funding received by the agency, inclusive of federal funds, state appropriations, state -dedicated revenues, fee revenue sources, the use of agency revolving funds , or any other fund or revenue source which is used to pay the expenses of the agency; 3. Management of the agency which shall include, but not be limited to, its governance, capacity, divisions, programs, accounts, information technology systems , and policies and agency operations which include objective analysis of the roles and functions of the department; and 4. A schedule for implementation of agency -specific recommendations. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Secti on 8016 of Title 62, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Req. No. 144 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency shall , within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act, establish a division within the Office for the pu rpose of reviewing the Oklahoma Administrative Code and proposed administrat ive rules of state agencies. The Office may employ no more than five full -time employees to service the division and carry out the functions outlined in this section. B. The administrative rules division of the Office shall evaluate the following: 1. Whether proposed permanent administrative rules align with the Oklahoma Constitution; 2. Whether proposed permanent rules fulfill the legislative intent of the statute that authoriz ed the permanent rulemaking; 3. Whether the proposed permanent rules will h ave a negative impact that is disproportionate to the intended effects of the rulemaking; and 4. Whether the agency has the statutory authority to promulgate the proposed permanen t rules. C. The division shall issue a report including the information provided in subsection B of this section, a summary statement of the legislative recommendation being made, and any other information deemed necessary by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Administrati ve Rules Committee chairs of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Req. No. 144 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D. The division shall also be responsible for regular evaluations of existing provisions of the administra tive code in coordination with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate , the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Administrative Rules Committee chairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives. SECTION 3. This act shall be come effective July 1, 2025. SECTION 4. It being immediatel y 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. 60-1-144 RD 11/26/2024 3:19:32 PM