Oklahoma 2025 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB770 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/15/2025

                     
 
 
Req. No. 470 	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 770 	By: Hines 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to rehabilitation services; amending 
74 O.S. 2021, Section 166.2, which relates to the 
Commission for Rehabilitation Servi ces; expanding 
membership of the Commission; removing obsolete 
language; specifying duration and dates of terms; 
stipulating process for appointment of additional 
members; updating statutory language; and declaring 
an emergency. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2021, Section 166.2, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 166.2. A.  Effective July 1, 1993, there is hereby 
created the Commission for Rehabilitation Servi ces, an agency of the 
State of Oklahoma this state, a body corporate and politic, with 
powers of government and with the authority to exercise the rights, 
privileges and functions as herein specified, with its lawful 
operations deemed to be an essential go vernmental function of the 
State of Oklahoma this state with all the attribute s thereof.   
 
 
Req. No. 470 	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 
  
B.  The Commission shall appoint and remove the Director of the 
State Department of Rehabilitation Services, approve programs, 
policy and budget, and perform the neces sary functions of a 
governing board for the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. 
C.  l.  The Commission shall consist of three (3) seven (7) 
members, to be appointed by June 15, 1993, as follows: 
a. one member two members shall be appointed by the 
President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate for 
a three-year term, 
b. one member two members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a 
three-year term, and 
c. one member three members shall be appointed by the 
Governor for a three-year term. 
2.  Thereafter, beginning with the expiration of the terms of 
the three members initially appointed, the Commission shall consist 
of three (3) members, appointed as follows: 
a. one member shall be appointed by the President Pro 
Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and shall serve a 
term of one (1) year, 
b. one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
Oklahoma House of Representatives and shall serve a 
term of two (2) years, and   
 
 
Req. No. 470 	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 
  
c. one member shall be appointed by the G overnor and 
shall serve a term of three (3) years. 
3.  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, members 
shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.  Each term shall 
begin on July 1 of the respective year and end on June 30 three (3) 
years later. 
3.  The current appointee of the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives shall serve until June 30, 2025.  The current 
appointee of the Governor shall serve until June 30, 2026.  The 
current appointee of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall 
serve until June 30, 2027. 
4.  For the purpose of expanding the Commission to seven (7) 
members, the following additional members shall be appointed: 
a. one member shall be appointed by the President Pro 
Tempore of the Senate for a term beginning on July 1, 
2025, and ending on June 30, 2027, 
b. two members shall be appointed by the Gov ernor, each 
for a term beginning on July 1, 2025 , and ending on 
June 30, 2026, and 
c. one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives for a term begi nning on July 
1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2028, in addition to 
the member the Speaker shall appoint to fill the seat   
 
 
Req. No. 470 	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 
  
of the current member whose term expires on June 30, 
2025. 
5. Thereafter, at the expiration of the term, or termination of 
the member’s service for any reason, the original appointing 
authority shall appoint a su ccessor for a term of three (3) years, 
or for the remainder of an unexpired term. 
D.  Members of the Commission shall be knowledgeable of and have 
concern for rehabilitation issu es and disability issues; provided, 
that such requirement shall not exclude participation of lay persons 
as Commission members.  All members shall be residents of the state 
and qualified electors at the time of their appointment.  Before 
entering upon the duties of their office, members of the Commission 
shall take the Constitutiona l oath of office and the same shall be 
filed with the Secretary of State.  A member of the Commission may 
be reappointed to succeed himself or herself.  Commission members 
shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance 
of their duties as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. 
E.  The original appointing authority may remove any 
commissioner for misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty, after 
giving such commissioner a written statement of charges, and 
opportunity for a heari ng. 
SECTION 2.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation 
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby   
 
 
Req. No. 470 	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 
  
declared to exist, by reason whe reof this act shall take effect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 
 
60-1-470 DC 1/15/2025 3:31:28 PM