ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1967 	By:	Rice of the Senate

			and

		McAffrey of the House

An Act relating to children; creating Task Force on Parental Responsibility for Runaway Youth; specifying duties; providing for membership, organization, staffing and travel reimbursement; requiring report; providing for noncodification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A.  There is hereby created until November 30, 2010, the Task Force on Parental Responsibility for Runaway Youth.  The task force shall study the issue of parental responsibility for damages caused by sixteen- or seventeen-year-old runaway youth and make a determination on the extent to which parents should have responsibility for actions of and damages caused by such youth.
B.  The task force shall consist of nine (9) members as follows:
1.  Three members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be members of the Senate.  The two members of the Senate shall not be members of the same political party;
2.  Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives.  The two members of the House of Representatives shall not be members of the same political party; and
3.  Three members shall be appointed by the Governor.
C.  Appointments to the task force shall be made by July 31, 2010, and its first meeting shall be convened no later than August 31, 2010.  Members shall elect a chair and vice-chair.  Meetings of the task force shall be held at the call of the chair.  Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.  A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the task force.  A vacancy on the task force shall be filled by the original appointing authority.  Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the staff of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
D.  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for serving on the task force, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:
1.  State employees who are members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by their respective agencies in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act;
2.  All other task force members shall be reimbursed by the appointing authority for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act; and
3.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
E.  The task force shall submit a report by November 30, 2010, to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The report shall include findings and recommendations for legislative and administrative action as may be necessary.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2010.
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.
Passed the Senate the 4th day of March, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives