STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

SENATE BILL 1411	By:	Brecheen

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board; amending 82 O.S. 2011, Section 1085.1, which relates to membership of the board; authorizing the Governor to make additional appointments of members by certain date; stating residency requirements and qualifications; providing for staggered terms; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     82 O.S. 2011, Section 1085.1, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1085.1.  A.  There is hereby created the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, consisting of nine (9) fifteen (15) members to be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.  The Board shall constitute a body corporate and politic and an instrumentality, agency and department of the State of Oklahoma, and exercise by the Board of the powers conferred by this act shall be deemed and shall be held to be an essential governmental function of the State of Oklahoma.  One  member shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year; one member shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; one member shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years; one member shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years; one member shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years; two members shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years; and two members shall be appointed for a term of seven (7) years.  Upon the expiration of said terms, their successors Members shall be appointed for terms of seven (7) years.  One member shall be appointed from each of the congressional districts of this state and the remaining members shall be appointed at-large and as otherwise directed by law.  However, when congressional districts are redrawn then each member appointed prior to July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall complete the current term of office and appointments made after July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall be based on the redrawn districts.  Appointments made after July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall be from any redrawn districts which are not represented by a board member until such time as each of the modified congressional districts are represented by a board member. Each member shall be a qualified elector of this state.  At all times the membership of the Board shall have represented on it at least one member well versed in each of the following major types of water use:  recreational, industrial, irrigational, municipal, rural residential, agricultural and soil conservation work.  Not more than two members may be selected representing any one of the major types of water use.  The Board shall meet at least once each month.  The members of the Board may be removed only for cause.  Whenever a vacancy shall occur, the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the unexpired term of the vacant office.  Each member of the Board upon entering upon his duties shall take and subscribe to the constitutional and statutory oath of office and file the same with the Secretary of State.
B.  The Board shall organize annually by electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary from the membership of the Board, who shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the Board.
C.  The Governor shall appoint with the advice and consent of the Senate, within sixty (60) days following the effective date of this act, six additional members to the Board for a total of fifteen (15) members.  The Governor shall appoint members for staggered terms and upon expiration of the initial terms their successors shall be appointed for a full term of seven (7) years.  Members appointed pursuant to this act may be eligible to serve one additional full term if so appointed.  Four (4) of the new members shall be residents, one each, of the four quadrants of the state as delineated as closely as possible by the intersections of Interstate 35 and Interstate 40 and two members shall be appointed at-large.  Members appointed pursuant to this act shall have the same qualifications as required by subsection A of this section and the Governor shall strive to represent all water interest groups in making appointments.
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.

53-2-2241	MJM	1/18/2012 11:10:50 AM