STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 53rd Legislature (2011)

SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 1	By:	Wilson

AS INTRODUCED

A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State to refer to the people for their approval or rejection a proposed amendment to Section 23 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution; making the Office of the Insurance Commissioner appointive; specifying term of office; eliminating the limitation on the term of office; providing ballot title; and directing filing.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1.  The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law, the following proposed amendment to Section 23 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution to read as follows:
Section 23.  A.  There shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at the first general election, The Governor, by and with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint a chief officer of the Insurance Department, who shall be styled the "Insurance Commissioner", whose term of office shall be four years:  Provided, That the first term of the Insurance Commissioner so elected, shall expire at the time of the expiration of the term of office of the first Governor elected to run concurrently with the term of the Governor.  The first appointment of the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to this section shall be made by the Governor whose term begins on the second Monday of January 2015.  The Insurance Commissioner shall be at least twenty-five (25) years of age and well versed in insurance matters.
B.  No person shall be eligible to serve as Insurance Commissioner for a period of time in excess of eight (8) years.  Such years need not be consecutive.  Any years served by a person elected or appointed to serve less than a full term to fill a vacancy in such office shall not be included in the limitation set forth herein.  Any person serving in such position at the time of passage of this amendment shall be eligible to complete the term for which he or she has been elected and shall be eligible to serve an additional eight (8) years thereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of this amendment.  The Legislature is hereby authorized to enact laws to implement the provisions of this subsection.
SECTION 2.  The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____	State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution.  It amends Section 23 of Article 6.  At present, the Insurance Commissioner is an elected office.  This measure would make it an appointed office.  The Governor would appoint the Insurance Commissioner.  The appointment would be made by and with the consent of the Senate.  The appointed Insurance Commissioner would not be subject to limits on the term of their office.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES	_____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO 	_____________
SECTION 3.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall, immediately after the passage of this resolution, prepare and file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney General.

53-1-70	ARE	1/24/2004 1:31:43 AM