STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 53rd Legislature (2011)

SENATE BILL 617	By:	Johnson (Constance)

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to the African American Heritage Plaza; amending Section 1, Chapter 241, O.S.L. 2006 (74 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 8403), which relates to the African American Heritage Plaza Design Committee; modifying language; deleting certain limitation; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     Section 1, Chapter 241, O.S.L. 2006 (74 O.S. Supp. 2010, Section 8403), is amended to read as follows:
Section 8403.  A.  There is hereby created the African-American Centennial Heritage Plaza Design Committee.  The purpose of the Committee shall be to recommend the design of the African-American Centennial Heritage Plaza and to provide oversight and advice to the Oklahoma Historical Society in the design, construction, and funding sources of the Plaza which shall be located in the median of Lincoln Boulevard between 18th Street and the State Capitol Building; provided, however, such construction shall begin only when the total amount of non-state-appropriated funds necessary to complete the Plaza has been raised or secured.  Should the total amount of non-state-appropriated funds not be raised or secured within two (2) years after the effective date of this act, the site referred to in this section shall no longer be reserved for the Plaza.
B.  The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:
1.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or a designee;
2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or a designee;
3.  The Governor, or a designee;
4.  The Lieutenant Governor, or a designee;
5.  The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, or a designee;
6.  The Director of the Department of Central Services, or a designee; and
7.  The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, or a designee.
C.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall annually appoint a chair and a vice-chair, respectively, from among the membership.  The Committee may elect other officers as deemed necessary.  Meetings of the Committee shall be subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.
D.  Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their service on the Committee, but may receive travel reimbursement as follows:
1.  Legislative members of the Committee may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
2.  Nonlegislative state agency members of the Committee may be reimbursed by their agencies pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act; and
3.  Other members of the Committee may be reimbursed by the Oklahoma Historical Society pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
E.  Staffing for the Committee shall be provided by the staffs of the:
1.  Oklahoma Historical Society;
2.  Oklahoma State Senate; and
3.  Oklahoma House of Representatives.
F.  The duties of the Committee shall be to:
1.  Develop criteria for and solicit public comment and input on the development and design of the Plaza;
2.  Develop and implement criteria for a design competition which shall include, but not be limited to, solicitation of designs from appropriate persons or entities, and incorporation of any work that may already have been initiated on the design of the Plaza.  The Committee shall select three designs as finalists from among the designs submitted through the competition and shall present the selected designs to the public for comment and input.  The Committee shall give due consideration to the comments received from the public in choosing the design that, in the opinion of a majority of the Committee members, is most appropriate to commemorate the unique history and contributions of African Americans in Oklahoma;
3.  From the three finalists, select the design winner and an alternate whose designs shall be forwarded to the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society; and
4.  Provide oversight and advice to the Oklahoma Historical Society during the design and construction of the Plaza.
G.  The Director of the Department of Central Services shall be responsible for awarding all contracts related to the construction of the Plaza.  The Director, in consultation with the Committee, may elect to use the alternate design or recommend the reopening of the award process if the winning design construction exceeds the anticipated budget for the Plaza.
H.  Upon completion of the Plaza, the Department of Central Services shall be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Plaza.

SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2011.

53-1-1158	JT	1/19/2011 3:37:15 PM