ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 772	By:	Jolley of the Senate

			and

		Murphey of the House

An Act relating to professional licenses; creating the Business and Professional License Facilitation Task Force; directing study of certain governmental models for certain purpose; requiring feasibility study; identifying certain areas of study; setting membership, appointing authorities, and term of task force; providing for appointment of chair and vice chair; establishing duties of chair and vice chair; allowing election of other officers; requiring compliance with Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; providing for travel reimbursement; setting primary staff support and duties; providing additional staff support; and directing certain report and distribution by certain time.

SUBJECT:  Business and Professional License Facilitation Task Force

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 December 1, 2011, the Business and Professional License Facilitation Task Force.  The task force shall study the existing governmental models of Florida, Ohio and other states that have established a central contact point or agency for the facilitation of the majority of business and professional licenses and applications.  The task force shall additionally evaluate the feasibility of establishing a similar governmental model in this state including, but not limited to:

1.  Identify the infrastructure design and key agency authority which would be required to establish a central point administration for the majority of business and professional licenses in this state;

2.  Identify potential areas of consolidation and modifications to existing agency authority which would be required to create a more centralized business and professional license contact point in this state;

3.  Analyze and identify the fiscal impact and any potential expense or cost savings which may be incurred should this state reconfigure agencies or their existing authority to create a centralized business and professional license contact point;

4.  Analyze the most business and citizen friendly manner, whether by phase in method or complete reconfiguration, which would be most beneficial to this state and its citizens in creating a more centralized business and professional license contact point;

5.  Specify the modifications and amendments to existing law and the agencies and governmental functions which would be necessary to implement a centralized governmental model in this state within the next two (2) years.

B.  The task force shall be composed of fifteen (15) members as follows:

1.  The Secretary of Commerce, or a designee;

2.  The State Chief Information Officer, or a designee;

3.  The Director of State Finance, or a designee;

4.  Three members of the State Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate of whom two shall represent the majority party and one shall represent the minority party;

5.  Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of whom two shall represent the majority party and one shall represent the minority party; and

6.  Six members appointed by the Governor each of whom shall represent a business or profession that has state-mandated licensing requirements.

C.  Seven members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting the official business of the task force.   Each member shall be a voting member with one vote.

D.  The Governor shall appoint the chair and vice chair of the task force not later than September 1, 2011.  The chair shall set the agendas, coordinate activities, and call the meetings of the task force.  The vice chair shall act is the absence of the chair and perform other duties designated by the task force.  At the first meeting of the task force the majority of the members may elect other officers to transact and record the business of the task force.

E.  All task force meetings shall comply with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.  The task force may meet as often as may be required to complete its duties and responsibilities.  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their service, but may receive travel reimbursement pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act in accordance with their appointing authority or employment.

F.  The Office of State Finance shall provide primary staff support and shall prepare and distribute the final report.  The Secretary of Commerce and the Commissioner of Labor may utilize their staffs for additional administrative support to the task force.  The Senate and House of Representatives staffs shall draft modifications to existing legislation as may be required to be included with the final report.

G.  The task force shall report its findings and make its recommendations, including any legislative recommendations to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor not later than December 1, 2011.

Passed the Senate the 18th day of May, 2011.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 19th day of May, 2011.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives