ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1497	By:	Holt of the Senate

			and

		Hall of the House

An Act relating to attorney fees; amending 25 O.S. 2011, Section 314, which relates to violations of the Open Meeting Act; authorizing suits for violations of the Open Meeting Act; directing award of attorney fees if suit found to be clearly frivolous; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT:  Attorney fees

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     25 O.S. 2011, Section 314, is amended to read as follows:

Section 314.  A.  Any person or persons willfully violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding one (1) year or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B.  Following a violation of this act, any person:

1.  May bring a civil suit for declarative or injunctive relief, or both; and

2.  If successful, shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees.

C.  If the public body successfully defends a civil suit and the court finds that the suit was clearly frivolous, the public body shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees.

SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

Passed the Senate the 7th day of May, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 3rd day of April, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

	_________________________________
	Governor of the State of Oklahoma

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________