STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

HOUSE BILL 2901	By:	Morgan

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to the Legislature; amending 74 O.S. 2011, Section 450.1, which relates to the Legislative Service Bureau; expanding the duties of the Legislative Service Bureau; transferring certain duties, powers, responsibilities, assets, obligations, records, property, and personnel to the Legislative Service Bureau; providing for transfer of personnel without loss of leave, benefits, or salary; providing that there shall be no reduction-in-force as a result of the transfer; providing for organizational structure; providing for office space; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2011, Section 450.1, is amended to read as follows:
Section 450.1  A.  The Legislative Fiscal Office and Joint Bill Processing Department are hereby abolished.
B.  There is hereby created the Legislative Service Bureau which shall serve both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall employ a Director of the Legislative Service Bureau, who shall employ such personnel as necessary to implement the responsibilities imposed upon the Bureau by the Legislature by concurrent resolution.
B.  1.  Beginning July 1, 2012, the Legislative Service Bureau shall assume the duties of the Senate Committee Staff and Senate Fiscal Staff and the duties of the House of Representatives Committee Staff and House of Representatives Office of Budget and Performance Review.  The Bureau also shall assume the responsibilities for data processing services and bill processing services for both houses of the Legislature and such other duties as may be determined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.  All powers, duties, responsibilities, property, records, assets, obligations, and liabilities administered by either house of the Legislature for the functions provided for in this subsection shall be transferred to the Legislative Service Bureau.
2.  All Senate and House of Representatives personnel employed on July 1, 2012, and performing the duties and responsibilities provided for in this subsection shall be transferred to the Legislative Service Bureau and shall become employees of the Legislative Service Bureau.  The transferred employees shall retain any annual, sick and compensatory time earned and any retirement and longevity benefits which have accrued.  The salaries of the transferred employees shall not be reduced as a result of the transfer; however, salaries may be increased to provide for equalized pay for equivalent work and experience.  There shall be no reduction-in-force as a result of the transfer.
3.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall determine the organizational structure for the Legislative Service Bureau required to implement the provisions of this subsection.
4.  The Legislature shall provide adequate office space to the Legislative Service Bureau for the personnel transferred pursuant to this subsection.
C.  1.  The Legislative Service Bureau shall be responsible for such other services as directed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and any area of production of proposed legislation as directed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
2.  The Legislative Service Bureau shall be a clearinghouse for the Legislature for all budgetary forms, research reports and information.
3.  Any reference in the Oklahoma Statutes to the Legislative Fiscal Office or the Joint Bill Processing Department shall be a reference to the Legislative Service Bureau.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2012.
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.

53-2-8535	SD	12/14/11