ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 89	By:	Jolley of the Senate

			and

		Murphey of the House

An Act relating to educational television; amending 70 O.S. 2001, Section 23-101, which relates to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority; directing development of Oklahoma Public Events Network; specifying certain requirements for public viewing; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2001, Section 23-101, is amended to read as follows:
Section 23-101.  A.  It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature and the purpose of this article to make educational television services available to all Oklahoma citizens on a coordinated statewide basis.  Said educational Educational television services shall be provided by and through the various educational and cultural agencies in the State of Oklahoma under the direction and supervision of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority hereinafter created.
B.  The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority is hereby authorized and empowered to plan, construct, repair, maintain and operate educational television facilities with channels assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to the State of Oklahoma for educational television purposes.  The purpose of said the Authority shall be to provide a statewide educational television system, including any arrangements for extension thereof and interchanges and rental as may be necessary in establishing such statewide facilities.
C.  The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority is hereby directed to develop the Oklahoma Public Events Network (OPEN), in order to increase public access to and awareness of the operations of the Oklahoma Legislature and state government.  The Oklahoma Public Events Network shall be operated by the Authority using its existing resources, in such a manner that citizens of this state  will be able to view daily sessions of the Legislature when it is in session, either on a television channel, on the Internet or by other means.  When the Legislature is not in session, the Oklahoma Public Events Network shall operate such resources in such a manner that citizens of this state will be able to view meetings of state agency governing boards and commissions, public hearings and other events of public interest.
D.  The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority is hereby authorized to issue revenue bonds of the Authority payable solely from dedicated revenues to pay the cost of providing educational television facilities as authorized in this article.  Such revenue bonds shall never become obligations of the State of Oklahoma, but shall be retired by the Authority as provided in this article.  Such revenue bonds shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that neither the state nor the Authority shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except from revenues dedicated by the Legislature, and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or any political subdivision thereof is pledged, or may hereafter be pledged, to the payment of the principal of, or the interest on, such bonds.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2011.
Passed the Senate the 14th day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives