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An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1461 By: Bergstrom of the Senate
and
Kendrix of the House
An Act relating to education; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 23-105, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 296,
O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 23-105),
which relates to the Oklahoma Educational Television
Authority; extending sunset date; and updating
statutory language.
SUBJECT: Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 23-105, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 296, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025,
Section 23-105), is amended to read as follows:
Section 23-105. There is hereby re-created, to continue until
July 1, 2026 July 1, 2031, in accordance with the provisions of the
Oklahoma Sunset Law, Section 3901 et seq. of Title 74 of the
Oklahoma Statutes, a body corporate and politic to be known as the
“Oklahoma Educational Television Authority”, and by that name the
Authority may sue and be sued, and plead and be impleaded. The
Authority is hereby constituted an instrumentality of the state, and
the exercise by the Authority of the powers conferred by this
article section for the planning, construction, operation, and
maintenance of educational television facilities shall be deemed and
held to be an essential function of the state.
The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority shall consist of
thirteen (13) members, including the President of the University of
Oklahoma, the President of Oklahoma State University, the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chancellor of the The
ENR. S. B. NO. 1461 Page 2
Oklahoma State Regents for System of Higher Education, the president
of one of the state-supported four-year colleges to be chosen by the
presidents of this group of said institutions, the president of one
of the state-supported two-year colleges to be chosen by the
presidents of this group of said institutions, and seven additional
members to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent
of the Senate, to serve seven-year terms.
The appointed members shall have been residents of the state for
at least five (5) years preceding the date of their appointment.
The appointed members shall include one member from each of the
congressional districts, and any remaining members shall be
appointed from the state at large. However, when congressional
districts are redrawn each member appointed prior to July 1 of the
year in which such modification becomes effective shall complete the
current term of office, and appointments made after July 1 of the
year in which such modification becomes effective shall be based on
the redrawn districts. Appointments made after July 1 of the year
in which such modification becomes effective shall be from any
redrawn districts which are not represented by an authority member
until such time as each of the modified congressional districts are
represented by an authority member. A majority of the appointed
members shall be actively engaged in the profession of education.
Each appointed member of the Authority, before entering upon the
duties of the member, shall take the oath provided for by Section 1
of Article XV of the Oklahoma Constitution of the State of Oklahoma.
The seven original members appointed by the Governor shall
continue in office for terms expiring on June 30, 1954; June 30,
1955; June 30, 1956; June 30, 1957; June 30, 1958; June 30, 1959;
and June 30, 1960, respectively. The terms of each of the original
appointed members shall be designated by the Governor, and said such
members shall serve for their appointed terms and until their
respective successors shall be appointed and qualified. The
successor of each appointed member shall be appointed for a term of
seven (7) years, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy
shall be appointed to serve only for the unexpired term in said of
such vacancy.
The Authority shall elect from the its membership of the
Authority a chair, a vice-chair vice chair, and a secretary-
treasurer secretary treasurer. Any such officers elected by the
ENR. S. B. NO. 1461 Page 3
Authority on or after July 1, 1984, shall be appointed to serve a
term of one (1) year. Seven members of the Authority shall
constitute a quorum, and the vote of seven members shall be
necessary for any action taken by the Authority. No vacancy in the
membership of the Authority shall impair the right of a quorum to
exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Authority.
The Authority shall meet at least quarterly.
The members of the Authority shall not be entitled to
compensation for their services, but each member shall be reimbursed
for travel expenses incurred in performing official duties in
accordance with the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement
Act. No liability or obligation shall be incurred by the Authority
beyond the extent to which monies shall have been provided pursuant
to the authority of this article section.
ENR. S. B. NO. 1461 Page 4
Passed the Senate the 25th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 29th day of April, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________