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
1
2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
2
3 SENATE BILL 405 By: Alvord
3
4
4
5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to county officers; amending 19 O.S.
7 2021, Section 339, as last amended by Section 4,
8 Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (19 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
8 339), which relates to the general powers of the
9 board of county commissioners; authorizing county
9 commissioners to work with ambulance service
10 districts for certain purpose; updating statutory
10 language; and providing an effective date.
11
11
12
12
13
13
1 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
14
15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 19 O.S. 2021, Section 339, as last
15
1 6 amended by Section 4, Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (19 O.S. Supp. 2024,
16
1 7 Section 339), is amended to read as follows:
17
18 Section 339. A. The board of county commissioners shall have
18
1 9 power:
19
20 1. To make all orders respecting the real property of the
20
2 1 county, to sell the public grounds of the county and to purchase
21
2 2 other grounds in lieu thereof; and for the purpose of carrying out
22
2 3 the provisions of this section it shall be sufficient to convey all
23
2 4 the interests of the county in those grounds when an order made for
24
Req. No. 951 Page 1
1 the sale and a deed is executed in the name of the county by the
1
2 chair of the board of county commissioners, reciting the order, and
2
3 signed by the chair and acknowledged by the county clerk for and on
3
4 behalf of the county;
4
5 2. To audit the accounts of all officers having the care,
5
6 management, collection or disbursement of any money belonging to the
6
7 county or appropriated for its benefit;
7
8 3. To construct and repair bridges and to open, lay out, and
8
9 vacate highways; provided, however, that when any state institution,
9
1 0 school, or department shall own, lease, or otherwise control land on
10
1 1 both sides of any established highway, the governing board or body
11
1 2 of the same shall have the power to vacate, alter, or relocate the
12
1 3 highway adjoining the property in the following manner:
13
14 If it should appear that it would be to the best use and
14
1 5 interest of the institution, school, or department to vacate, alter,
15
1 6 or relocate such highway, the governing board or body shall notify
16
1 7 the board of county commissioners, in writing, of their intention to
17
1 8 hold a public hearing and determine whether to vacate, alter, or
18
1 9 relocate the highway, setting forth the location and terminals of
19
2 0 the road, and all data concerning the proposed right-of-way if
20
2 1 changed or relocated, and shall give fifteen (15) days' notice of
21
2 2 the hearing by publication in some newspaper in the county or
22
2 3 counties in which the road is located, and the hearing shall be held
23
2 4 at the county seat of the county in which the road is located, and
24
Req. No. 951 Page 2
1 if a county line road, may be heard in either county. At the
1
2 hearing testimony may be taken, and any protests or suggestions
2
3 shall be received as to the proposed measure, and at the conclusion
3
4 thereof if the governing board or body shall find that it would be
4
5 to the best use and interest of the institution, school, or
5
6 department, and the public generally, they may make an appropriate
6
7 order either vacating, altering or relocating the highway, which
7
8 order shall be final if approved by the board of county
8
9 commissioners. The institution, school, or department may by
9
1 0 agreement share the cost of changing any such road. No property
10
1 1 owner shall be denied access to a public highway by the order;
11
12 4. To recommend or sponsor an employee or prospective employee
12
1 3 for job-related training and certification in an area that may
13
1 4 require training or certification to comply with state or federal
14
1 5 law as such training or certification is provided by the Department
15
1 6 of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, or any other
16
1 7 state agency, technology center school, or university;
17
18 5. To determine the years of service required for full-time
18
1 9 county employees to qualify for a continuing education program.
19
2 0 Such programs may consist of courses offered by colleges and
20
2 1 universities that are members of The Oklahoma State System of Higher
21
2 2 Education as well as any other in-state or out-of-state programs or
22
2 3 courses which are relevant to the employee's responsibilities as
23
2 4 approved by the county commissioners. Such programs shall require
24
Req. No. 951 Page 3
1 that employees maintain at least an A or B average in order to
1
2 qualify for one hundred percent (100%) reimbursement. Employees who
2
3 maintain passing or satisfactory grades shall qualify for seventy-
3
4 five percent (75%) reimbursement under such programs. Such programs
4
5 shall require that documentation from colleges and universities
5
6 regarding courses completed, credits earned, and tuition charged be
6
7 submitted to a board of county commissioners within ninety (90) days
7
8 after the completion of courses. General applications and request
8
9 forms for such programs shall be submitted to a board of county
9
1 0 commissioners or an appropriate human resources department prior to
10
1 1 the conclusion of a county's current fiscal year. Employees who
11
1 2 elect to participate in such programs shall continue to meet the
12
1 3 full responsibilities of their positions, and participation shall
13
1 4 not interfere with availability for scheduled work or negatively
14
1 5 affect work performance. In order to be eligible for participation
15
1 6 in such programs, employees shall not have been formally disciplined
16
1 7 within one (1) year prior to submitting their program application.
17
1 8 A board of county commissioners shall be authorized to establish a
18
1 9 program requiring a one-year commitment of service to the county
19
2 0 from individuals who participate in such programs. Under such
20
2 1 programs, employees shall only be eligible to receive tuition
21
2 2 reimbursements in exchange for employment with the county lasting at
22
2 3 least one (1) year;
23
24
24
Req. No. 951 Page 4
1 6. Until January 1, 1983, to furnish necessary blank books,
1
2 plats, blanks, and stationery for the clerk of the district court,
2
3 county clerk, register of deeds, county treasurer and, county judge,
3
4 sheriff, county surveyor and, county attorney, justices of the
4
5 peace, and constables, to be paid for out of the county treasury;
5
6 also a fireproof vault sufficient in which to keep all the books,
6
7 records, vouchers, and papers pertaining to the business of the
7
8 county;
8
9 7. To set off, organize, and change the boundaries of townships
9
1 0 and to designate and give names therefor; provided, that the
10
1 1 boundaries of no township shall be changed within six (6) months
11
1 2 next preceding a general election;
12
13 8. To lease tools, apparatus, machinery, or equipment of the
13
1 4 county to another political subdivision or a state agency. The
14
1 5 Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma
15
1 6 State University Center for Local Government Technology together
16
1 7 shall establish a system of uniform rates for the leasing of such
17
1 8 tools, apparatus, machinery, and equipment;
18
19 9. To jointly, with other counties, buy heavy equipment and to
19
2 0 loan or lease such equipment across county lines;
20
21 10. To develop personnel policies for the county with the
21
2 2 approval of a majority of all county elected officers, as evidenced
22
2 3 in the minutes of a meeting of the board of county commissioners or
23
2 4 the county budget board;
24
Req. No. 951 Page 5
1 11. To purchase, rent, or lease-purchase uniforms, safety
1
2 devices, and equipment for the officers and employees of the county.
2
3 The county commissioners may pay for any safety training or safety
3
4 devices and safety equipment out of the general county funds or any
4
5 county highway funds available to the county commissioners;
5
6 12. To provide incentive awards for safety-related job
6
7 performance. However, no employee shall be recognized more than
7
8 once per calendar year and the award shall not exceed the value of
8
9 Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00); further, no elected official
9
1 0 shall be eligible to receive a safety award;
10
11 13. To provide for payment of notary commissions, filing fees,
11
1 2 and the cost of notary seals and bonds;
12
13 14. To do and perform other duties and acts that the board of
13
1 4 county commissioners may be required by law to do and perform;
14
15 15. To make purchases at a public auction pursuant to the
15
1 6 county purchasing procedures in subsection D of Section 1505 of this
16
1 7 title;
17
18 16. To deposit interest income from highway funds in the
18
1 9 general fund of the county;
19
20 17. To submit sealed bids for the purchase of equipment from
20
2 1 this state, or any agency or political subdivision of this state;
21
22 18. To utilize county-owned equipment, labor, and supplies at
22
2 3 their disposal on property owned by the county, public schools, two-
23
2 4 year colleges, or technical branches of colleges that are members of
24
Req. No. 951 Page 6
1 The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the state and
1
2 municipalities according to the provisions of Section 36-113 of
2
3 Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Cooperative agreements may be
3
4 general in terms of routine maintenance or specific in terms of
4
5 construction and agreed to and renewed on an annual basis. Work
5
6 performed pursuant to Section 36-113 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma
6
7 Statutes shall comply with the provisions of this section;
7
8 19. To enter into intergovernmental cooperative agreements with
8
9 the federally recognized Indian tribes within this state to address
9
1 0 issues of construction and maintenance of streets, roads, bridges,
10
1 1 and highways exclusive of the provisions of Section 1221 of Title 74
11
1 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
12
13 20. To execute hold harmless agreements with the lessor in the
13
1 4 manner provided by subsection B of Section 636.5 of Title 69 of the
14
1 5 Oklahoma Statutes when leasing or lease-purchasing equipment;
15
16 21. To accept donations of right-of-way rights-of-way or right-
16
1 7 of-way easements pursuant to Section 381 et seq. of Title 60 of the
17
1 8 Oklahoma Statutes;
18
19 22. To establish by resolution the use of per diem for specific
19
2 0 purposes in accordance with the limitations provided by Sections
20
2 1 500.8 and 500.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
21
22 23. To apply to the Department of Environmental Quality for a
22
2 3 waste tire permit to bale waste tires for use in approved
23
2 4 engineering projects;
24
Req. No. 951 Page 7
1 24. To enter into the National Association of Counties (NACo)
1
2 Prescription Drug Discount Program Live Healthy Prescription, Health
2
3 and Dental Discount Program;
3
4 25. To work with federal, state, municipal, and public school
4
5 district properties in an effort to minimize cost to such entities;
5
6 26. To work with ambulance service districts established under
6
7 Section 9C of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution in an effort to
7
8 minimize cost to such entities;
8
9 27. To provide incentive awards to employees for participating
9
1 0 in voluntary wellness programs which result in improved health.
10
1 1 Incentive awards may be created by the Wellness Council set forth in
11
1 2 Section 1302 of this title;
12
13 27. 28. To establish a county employee benefit program to
13
1 4 encourage outstanding performance in the workplace. Monies may be
14
1 5 expended for the purchase of recognition awards for presentation to
15
1 6 an employee or members of a work unit. Recognition awards may be
16
1 7 presented at a formal or informal ceremony, banquet, reception, or
17
1 8 luncheon, the cost of which may be expended from monies available in
18
1 9 the county department's or division's operating fund;
19
20 28. 29. To trade in equipment to a vendor or on statewide
20
2 1 contract by acquiring used equipment values pursuant to subsection B
21
2 2 of Section 421.1 of this title;
22
23 29. 30. To expend federal funds made available to a county of
23
2 4 the state through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
24
Req. No. 951 Page 8
1 Security Act (CARES Act), Pub. L. 116�136, or similar relief funds
1
2 according to the permissible uses of the applicable federal
2
3 legislation or guidance issued by any federal agency thereof,
3
4 regardless of any lack of specific state statutory authorization to
4
5 perform the duties or functions for which the federal government has
5
6 provided the funds. The expenditure of the funds in accordance with
6
7 the federal legislation or guidance issued by any federal agency
7
8 thereof shall be at the discretion of the board of county
8
9 commissioners.
9
10 The receipt of funding through the CARES Act or similar relief
10
1 1 funds shall not be considered a supplemental appropriation and shall
11
1 2 be exempt from the requirements of Section 1420 of this title. In
12
1 3 the event the period allotted for expenditure of federal funds
13
1 4 crosses fiscal years, such funds shall not be considered revenue
14
1 5 when setting the county's budget for the next fiscal year; and
15
16 30. 31. To enter into intergovernmental cooperative agreements
16
1 7 which shall include shared services, with local governmental units
17
1 8 within this state pursuant to the provisions of the Interlocal
18
1 9 Cooperation Act, Section 1002 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma
19
2 0 Statutes.
20
21 B. The county commissioners of a county or, in counties where
21
2 2 there is a county budget board, the county budget board may
22
2 3 designate money from general county funds for the designated purpose
23
24
24
Req. No. 951 Page 9
1 of drug enforcement and drug abuse prevention programs within the
1
2 county.
2
3 C. When any lease or lease purchase is made on behalf of the
3
4 county by the board pursuant to the provisions of this section, the
4
5 county shall be allowed to have trade in values for transactions
5
6 involving the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act.
6
7 D. In order to timely comply with the Oklahoma Vehicle License
7
8 and Registration Act with regard to county vehicles, the board of
8
9 county commissioners may, by resolution, create a petty cash
9
1 0 account. The board of county commissioners may request a purchase
10
1 1 order for petty cash in an amount necessary to pay the expense of
11
1 2 license and registration fees for county motor vehicles. Any
12
1 3 balance in the petty cash account after the license and registration
13
1 4 fees have been paid shall be returned to the account or fund from
14
1 5 which the funds originated. The county purchasing agent shall be
15
1 6 the custodian of the petty cash account, and the petty cash account
16
1 7 shall be subject to audit.
17
18 E. When the board of county commissioners approves an express
18
1 9 trust, pursuant to Sections 176 through 180.4 of Title 60 of the
19
2 0 Oklahoma Statutes, for the purpose of operating a county jail, the
20
2 1 trustees of the public trust may appoint commissioned peace
21
2 2 officers, certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and
22
2 3 Training, to provide security for inmates that are required to be
23
2 4 transported outside of the detention facility, and investigate
24
Req. No. 951 Page 10
1 violations of law within the detention facility. Other personnel
1
2 necessary to operate the jail may be employed and trained or
2
3 certified as may be required by applicable state or federal law.
3
4 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
4
5
5
6 60-1-951 MSBB 1/14/2025 3:51:03 PM
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
19
19
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
Req. No. 951 Page 11Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.