ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1979	By:	Pittman and Shelton of the House

				and

		Eason McIntyre of the Senate

( tourism and recreation - Oklahoma Freedom Trail Act - stating purpose - codification – noncodification - 		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 2294 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma Freedom Trail Act”.
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2295 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is hereby designated as the entity responsible for planning and providing administration for the Oklahoma Freedom Trail.  The purpose of the Oklahoma Freedom Trail shall be to recognize, document and mark sites in this state that are associated with the history and movement towards freedom of its African-American citizens.
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2296 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department shall seek input and assistance from the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma Film and Music Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in selecting the most notable sites to feature and highlight as part of the Oklahoma Freedom Trail.  The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department shall be responsible for marketing and promoting the Oklahoma Freedom Trail through the use of links or postings on or the expansion of existing websites or through any other methods selected by the Department.
B.  Each site along the Oklahoma Freedom Trail may be designated with a marker selected by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, with a suitable permanent marker placed on a highway by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation or with adding site  information to an existing highway sign placed on a highway by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.  The Oklahoma Department of Transportation may place a suitable permanent marker or add site information to an existing highway sign while doing normal maintenance or replacement procedures.    
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2297 of Title 74, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The implementation of the provisions of the Oklahoma Freedom Trail Act shall be contingent upon the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department securing private donations, contributions, gifts, grants or any other monies for the purposes of planning, implementing and administering the Oklahoma Freedom Trail.
SECTION 5.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2011.
Passed the House of Representatives the 17th day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate