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 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 330 By: Murdock
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma State University
7 Veterinary Medicine Authority; defining terms;
8 authorizing the Authority to conduct study on elk
8 populations in this state; requiring a plan to be
9 established by certain date; specifying parameters of
9 study; requiring a management plan to be created at
10 conclusion of study; allowing the Authority to
10 coordinate with other agencies and experts;
11 authorizing the Authority to make certain
11 expenditures; making an appropriation; stating
12 purpose; providing for codification; providing an
12 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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16 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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17 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 4024 of Title 2, unless there is
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18 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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19 A. For the purposes of this section:
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20 1. "Authority" means the Oklahoma State University Veterinary
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21 Medicine Authority;
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22 2. "Management plan" means a document developed by the Oklahoma
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23 State University Veterinary Medicine Authority based on the findings
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24 of the study pursuant to this section that outlines the recommended
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Req. No. 953 Page 1
1 actions for the conservation and management of elk populations in
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2 this state; and
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3 3. "Study zone" means the Special Northwest Zone that
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4 encompasses all private lands in Woodward, Dewey, and Ellis
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5 counties, and a portion of Roger Mills County north of State
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6 Highways 33 and 47 to the north county line and west to the state
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7 border and east to the county line.
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8 B. No later than November 1, 2025, the Oklahoma State
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9 University Veterinary Medicine Authority in cooperation with the
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10 Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine shall
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11 establish a plan and outline for a comprehensive study of the elk
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12 populations within the Special Northwest Zone. This study shall
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13 assess current population levels, trends, and habitat usage, and
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14 develop science-based management recommendations aimed at ensuring
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15 the long-term sustainability of elk populations and the health of
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16 the ecosystem. The study shall include, but not be limited to, the
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17 following program characteristics:
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18 1. The current elk population size, distribution, and density
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19 within the study zone;
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20 2. The health and genetic diversity of the elk population,
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21 including disease monitoring and signs of inbreeding, or other
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22 health concerns; and
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1 3. The effectiveness and impact of current elk population
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2 management strategies, including hunting, predation control, and
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3 habitat management.
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4 Recommendations from the study shall be assessed and compiled in
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5 a management plan for the conservation and management of elk
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6 populations within the study zone and shall be made available on the
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7 Authority's website.
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8 C. The Authority may coordinate with other relevant state and
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9 federal agencies to effectuate the provisions of this section. Such
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10 coordination may include requests for temporary suspension and
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11 restrictions on elk hunting and harvesting while the study is being
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12 conducted.
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13 D. The Authority shall maintain detailed accounting and
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14 financial records for appropriations received and expenditures made
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15 pursuant to this section. The Authority may engage external experts
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16 and scientists to plan and implement the study pursuant to
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17 subsection B of this section. The engagement of such external
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18 experts shall be implemented in accordance with the policies of the
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19 Authority. The Authority is authorized to carry forward to the next
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20 fiscal year and expend funds related to this section.
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21 SECTION 2. There is hereby appropriated to the Oklahoma State
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22 University Veterinary Medicine Authority from any monies not
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23 otherwise appropriated from the General Revenue Fund of the State
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24 Treasury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the sum of Two
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Req. No. 953 Page 3
1 Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) or so much thereof as may be
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2 necessary to conduct an elk study for the creation of a management
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3 plan for the conservation and management of elk populations in this
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4 state.
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5 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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6 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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7 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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8 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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9 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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11 60-1-953 MR 12/31/2024 2:20:19 PM
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Req. No. 953 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.