Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1688 By: Hicks
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Tourism and
7 Recreation Department; amending 74 O.S. 2021,
8 Sections 2203, 2204, and 2206, which relate to the
8 Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission; removing
9 function of Commission as an advisory body; providing
9 provision for removal of Commission members;
10 transferring powers from the Executive Director to
10 the Commission; modifying powers and duties of the
11 Commission; authorizing the Commission to appoint
11 Executive Director; allowing the Commission to
12 establish salary for the Executive Director; and
12 providing an effective date.
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15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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16 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 2203, is
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17 amended to read as follows:
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18 Section 2203. A. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation
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19 Commission shall be an advisory body to the Executive Director of
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20 the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and shall consist of
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21 eight (8) members who shall serve a term of six (6) years.
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22 Effective January 14, 2019, all duties and powers of the Commission
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23 shall be transferred to the Executive Director. Any provision in
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24 statute that provides to the Commission authority that is not
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Req. No. 2603 Page 1
1 advisory in nature shall be deemed to grant the duty or power to the
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2 Executive Director. No more than one Commission member shall be
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3 from any one county. The Lieutenant Governor shall serve as an ex
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4 officio voting member of the Commission.
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5 B. One member shall be appointed from each congressional
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6 district, who shall be a resident and a qualified elector in the
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7 district from which appointed, and the remaining members shall be
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8 appointed from the state at large. If congressional districts are
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9 redrawn each member appointed shall complete the current term of
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10 office at which time a new appointment shall be made in compliance
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11 with the redrawn congressional district.
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12 C. Commission members shall be appointed by the Governor, with
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13 the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve at the
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14 pleasure of the may be removed with cause by the Governor. Whenever
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15 a vacancy on the Commission occurs by death, resignation, or
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16 otherwise, the Governor shall fill the same by appointment, with the
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17 advice and consent of the Senate, and the appointee shall hold
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18 office during the unexpired term. Each member shall hold office
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19 until a successor has been appointed and qualified.
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20 D. With the exception of the ex officio, no member of the
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21 Commission shall seek election to a federal, state, or county office
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22 while serving on the Commission.
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23 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 2204, is
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24 amended to read as follows:
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Req. No. 2603 Page 2
1 Section 2204. There are hereby granted to and imposed in the
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2 Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Commission, and in any
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3 commission or body that may hereafter succeed to the powers, rights,
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4 and duties of the Commission, the following additional powers,
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5 rights and duties:
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6 1. Sue and be sued;
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7 2. Adopt, use, and alter an official seal;
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8 3. Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its
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9 affairs;
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10 4. Appoint, prescribe the duties, and fix the compensation for
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11 officers, agents, and employees;
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12 5. Make contracts and execute instruments as in the judgment of
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13 the Department Commission are necessary or convenient to the
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14 exercise of the powers conferred upon it by law; and
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15 6. Promulgate rules and policies necessary and convenient to
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16 the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by law.
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17 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 2206, is
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18 amended to read as follows:
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19 Section 2206. The chief executive officer of the Oklahoma
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20 Tourism and Recreation Department shall be the Executive Director,
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21 who shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent
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22 of the Senate, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and who
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23 shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and may be removed or
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24 replaced without cause Commission. The Executive Director shall be
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Req. No. 2603 Page 3
1 chosen with regard to knowledge, training, experience, and ability
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2 to administer the functions of the Department. Compensation for the
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3 The Commission shall establish the salary of the Executive Director
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4 shall be determined pursuant to Section 3601.2 of this title.
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5 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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7 60-2-2603 YG 1/14/2026 10:03:54 AM
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Req. No. 2603 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.