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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 1270 By: Nice
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to state government; creating the
Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality; providing
for membership, appointment, terms, removal,
vacancies, and reimbursement; providing certain
administrative support; establishing powers and
duties; establishing the Oklahoma Commission on Race
and Equality Revolving Fund; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 13001 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Commission on Race and
Equality. The Commission shall be appointed as follows:
1. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor;
2. Three members shall be appointed by the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate;
3. Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives; and
4. Four members shall be appointed by the Oklahoma Legislative
Black Caucus.
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B. 1. The members appointed by the Governor shall serve an
initial term of one (1) year, and subsequently a term of three (3)
years, commencing upon the date that the previous appointee’s term
expired.
2. The members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve
an initial term of two (2) years, and subsequently a term of three
(3) years, commencing upon the date that the previous appointee’s
term expired.
3. The members appointed by the Oklahoma Legislative Black
Caucus shall serve for a term of three (3) years commencing upon the
date that the previous appointee’s term expired.
4. Each member shall serve no more than three terms. Each
member shall only serve two consecutive terms and shall be inactive
for a period of one (1) year prior to serving the maximum three-term
limit.
C. In making such appointments, consideration shall be given to
making the membership broadly representative of the geographic areas
of this state and the racial and ethnic groups residing in this
state.
D. Each member shall hold office until the successor of the
member is appointed and has qualified. A member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of a term of a member who
resigned or is removed from the Commission for cause shall be
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appointed for the remainder of the term of the member whose office
has been vacated.
E. A member of the Commission may be removed by the appropriate
appointing authority for cause.
F. Members of the Commission shall receive no salary but shall
be entitled to travel reimbursement as provided by the State Travel
Reimbursement Act from funds available to the appropriate appointing
authority.
G. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall
provide staff support to the Oklahoma Commission on Race and
Equality and make arrangements for a suitable meeting space for the
Commission as needed.
H. The initial chair shall be appointed by the Oklahoma
Legislative Black Caucus, with the approval of the Governor,
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of
Representatives. After the initial chair’s first term ends, the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall name the chair of the
Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality, and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall name the vice chair. Any other
officers deemed necessary shall be elected from among the members at
the first meeting of the Commission. Thereafter, at the first
meeting of each fiscal year, the Commission shall elect a chair, a
vice chair, and such other officers deemed necessary to conduct the
business of the Commission from among its members. A majority of
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the members present shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of
conducting the business of the Commission. The Commission shall
meet at least once every three (3) months and at such other times as
called by the chair or by a majority of the Commission.
I. The Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality shall have the
power and duty to:
1. Advise on equality issues relating to racial discrimination
and bias, state agencies and employees, communities, organizations,
and businesses of this state which desire the service of the
Commission;
2. Monitor legislation to determine whether legislation is
discriminatory toward one race or ethnicity or whether the race or
ethnicity of an individual would have an effect on the enforcement
of the legislation;
3. Act as a resource and a clearinghouse for research on issues
related to racial discrimination and bias;
4. Act as a resource in any state appointments to commissions
and boards for diversity;
5. Conduct meetings and seminars within the state as
appropriate to support the goals and duties of the Commission; and
6. Electronically submit an annual report to the Governor, the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives on its activities. The report may include
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recommendations concerning needed legislation or regulatory change
relating to racial discrimination and bias.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 13002 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to be
designated the “Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality Revolving
Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal
year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the
Office of Management and Enterprise Services from all gifts and
donations provided for the purpose of supporting the work of the
Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality. All monies accruing to
the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted
and expended by the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services on behalf of the Oklahoma Commission on Race and
Equality for the purpose provided for in this section. Expenditures
from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State
Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
60-2-2686 MSBB 12/17/2025 2:47:17 PM