An act relating to the State Regents, the official text

1                   STATE OF OKLAHOMA

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2                  2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

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3 SENATE BILL 1843              By: Jett
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5                               AS INTRODUCED

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6   An Act relating to the State Regents; amending 70

6   O.S. 2021, Section 3204, which relates to officers;

7   providing immunity from personal liability for

7   members of the State Regents for certain acts or

8   omissions; providing exceptions; updating statutory

8   language; providing an effective date; and declaring

9   an emergency.

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11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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12  SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY  70 O.S. 2021, Section 3204, is

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13 amended to read as follows:
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14  Section 3204. (a) The State Regents shall be a body corporate,

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15 and shall adopt an official seal; and all contracts, official
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16 documents, awards, degrees or other papers or instruments issued by
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17 the State Regents and requiring the official signature of the State
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18 Regents shall have the impression of such seal.
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19  (b) The State Regents shall annually elect from its membership

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20 a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and assistant secretary, each
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21 of whom shall serve for a term of one (1) fiscal year. The chairman
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22 shall be the presiding officer of the State Regents. He The
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23 chairman shall, on behalf of the State Regents, subscribe the
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24 official name thereof, and the secretary shall affix the official
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    Req. No. 3253                                              Page 1
1 seal to all contracts, official documents, awards, degrees or other
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2 papers or instruments issued by the State Regents and requiring the
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3 official signature of the State Regents. In the absence,
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4 disqualification or disability of the chairman or secretary to act,
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5 the vice-chairman and assistant secretary shall perform the duties
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6 of such respective officers. The officers of the State Regents
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7 shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
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8 prescribed by the State Regents, which shall also adopt such rules
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9 and regulations as it deems necessary to govern its proceedings and
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10 the conduct of its business.
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11  (c) No member of the State Regents shall be held personally

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12 liable for damages resulting from any negligent or wrongful act of
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13 an employee of any institution within The Oklahoma State System of
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14 Higher Education or of another member of the State Regents. Such
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15 immunity shall not apply to intentional torts or grossly negligent
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16 acts or omissions of the member.
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17  SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.

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18  SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

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19 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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20 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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21 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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23  60-2-3253      TEK           1/14/2026 11:42:34 PM

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