Req. No. 1262 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 94 By: Nice AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to state government; creating the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality; providing for membership, appointment, terms, re moval, vacancies, and reimbursement; providing certain administrative support; establishing powers and duties; establishing the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality Revolving Fund; providing for codification; and providing an effective date . 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 13001 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follo ws: A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality. The Commission shall be appointed as follows: 1. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor; 2. Three members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; 3. Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and Req. No. 1262 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 4. Four members shall be appointed by the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. B. All members shall be appointed by the appropriate appointing authority for a term of three (3) years commencing upon the date that the previous appointee ’s term expired. Each member shall serve no more than three (3) terms. Each member shall only serve two (2) consecutive terms and shall be inactive for a period of one (1) year prior to serving the maximum three -term limit. C. In making such appointments, co nsideration shall be given to making the membership broadly representative of the geographic areas of this state and the racial and ethnic groups residing in this state. D. Each member shall hold office until the successor of the member is appointed and has qualified. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of a term of a member removed from the Commission for any cause shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the member whose office has been vacated. E. A member of the Commission may be removed by the appropriate appointing authority for cause. F. Members of the Commission shall receive no salary but shall be entitled to travel reimbursem ent as provided by the State Travel Reimbursement Act from funds available to the appropriate appointing authority. Req. No. 1262 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 G. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall provide staff support to the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality and make ar rangements for a suitable meeting space for the Commission as needed. H. The initial chair shall be appointed by the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, with the approval of the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. After the initial chair ’s first term ends, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall name the chair of the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall name the vice chair. Any other officers deemed necessary shall be elected from among the members at the first meeting of the Commission. Thereafter, at the first meeting of each fiscal year, the Commission shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and such other officers deemed necessary to con duct the business of the Commission from among its members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Commission. The Commission shall meet at least once every three (3) months and at such other times as called by the chair or by a majority of the Commission. I. The Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality shall have the power and duty to: 1. Advise on equality issues relating to racial discrimination and bias, state agencies and employees, com munities, organizations, Req. No. 1262 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 and businesses of this state which desire the service of the Commission; 2. Monitor legislation to determine whether legislation is discriminatory toward one race or ethnicity or whether the race or ethnicity of an individual woul d have an effect on the enforcement of the legislation; 3. Act as a resource and a clearinghouse for research on issues related to racial discrimination and bias; 4. Act as a resource in any state appointments to commissions and boards for diversity; 5. Conduct meetings and seminars within the state as appropriate to support the goals and duties of the Commission; and 6. Electronically submit an annual report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on its activities. The report may include recommendations concern ing needed legislation or regulatory change relating to racial discrimination and bias. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 13002 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to be designated the “Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a con tinuing fund, not subject to fiscal Req. No. 1262 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 year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from all gifts and donations provided for the purpose of supporting the work of the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services on behalf of the Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality for the purpose provided for in this section. Expenditures from the 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. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 60-1-1262 RD 12/20/2024 2:44:01 PM