ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1636	By:	Brooks of the Senate

			and

		Smalley of the House

An Act relating to soldiers and sailors; amending 72 O.S. 2011, Section 63.2, which relates to the War Veterans Commission; requiring submission of audit to certain persons; requiring certain auditing standards; providing for failure to comply; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT:  War Veterans Commission

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

SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     72 O.S. 2011, Section 63.2, is amended to read as follows:

Section 63.2.  The War Veterans Commission of Oklahoma shall consist of nine (9) members.  Members shall be honorably discharged veterans of any war or conflict in which the United States participated as a belligerent provided three of the members shall be veterans of the Vietnam Conflict.  The members shall be selected in the following manner:  The state executive board or committees of the veterans' organizations in Oklahoma who have had accredited representatives at the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Oklahoma for at least ten (10) previous consecutive years shall each submit to the Governor of Oklahoma a list of ten persons qualified to serve as members of the War Veterans Commission of Oklahoma.  Said The list shall be submitted to the Governor not later than one (1) month prior to the expiration of the terms of office of the members of the War Veterans Commission.  The Governor shall name four members of the War Veterans Commission from lists submitted by the American Legion, three members of the War Veterans Commission from the lists submitted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and two members of the War Veterans Commission from lists submitted by the Disabled American Veterans.  Provided, that only those veterans' organizations recognized to present claims before the Veterans Administration, or its successor, and maintaining a headquarters within the State of Oklahoma shall be eligible to submit a list of names to the Governor as provided above.

The executive officer of each veterans' organization operating within the State of Oklahoma shall, on or before January 1 of each year submit the year in which the organization's appointee's term expires, submit to the Secretary of State, the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a copy of the annual performance audit and the financial audit of the organization for the immediate immediately preceding fiscal year of the organization.  Such audit audits shall be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and shall clearly show the total paid membership of the organization and shall be certified to by a certified public accountant.  Failure to comply with this section shall render the organization ineligible to submit a nominee to the Governor.  The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate.  Each organization qualifying for membership on the Oklahoma State War Veterans Commission shall submit a list of ten names to the Governor to choose from when a vacancy on the War Veterans Commission occurs.

Before any member appointed as provided herein shall enter upon his or her duties as a member of the Commission, he or she shall take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the Constitution of this state.

Present members of the Commission shall continue in office until the expiration of their terms and until their successors are appointed and enter upon the duties of their offices.  Appointments shall be made for a three-year period.  Any vacancy on the Commission resulting from any cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the term as provided in this section.

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

Passed the Senate the 12th day of March, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 10th 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: _________________________________