STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 53rd Legislature (2011)

HOUSE BILL 1371	By:	Holland

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; creating the Task Force on After School Varsity Athletic Programs; stating duties; providing for membership, appointment, designation of officers, quorum, staff support, and travel reimbursement; requiring report of findings and recommendations by certain deadline; providing for noncodification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A.  There is hereby created until November 30, 2011, the Task Force on After School Varsity Athletic Programs.  The task force shall conduct a comprehensive review of high school varsity athletic programs in this state and make recommendations regarding necessary changes to ensure accountability for such programs in public schools.
B.  The task force shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:
1.  Four members shall be selected from among public school educators and administrators as follows:
a.	two members appointed by the Governor, 
b.	one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
c.	one member appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate;
2.  Two members shall be:
a.	the Chair of the House Common Education Committee or a designee, and 
b.	the Chair of the Senate Education Committee or a designee; and 
3.  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee. 
C.  The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives shall designate the chair of the task force.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate the vice-chair of the task force.  Appointments to the task force shall be made by August 31, 2011.  Meetings of the task force shall be held at the call of the chair of the task force.  Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.  A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the task force.  A vacancy on the task force shall be filled by the original appointing authority.  Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the staff of the State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
D.  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for serving on the task force, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:
1.  State employees who are members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by their respective agencies in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act;
2.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
3.  All other task force members shall be reimbursed by the appointing authority for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
E.  The task force shall submit a report by November 30, 2011, to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  The report shall include findings and recommendations for any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to move high school athletic programs to an after school basis.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2011.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 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.

53-1-5384	AM	01/04/11