Rehabilitation services; expanding membership of the Commission for Rehabilitation Services. Emergency.

An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 770 By: Hines of the Senate

and

Eaves of the House

An Act relating to rehabilitation services; amending
74 O.S. 2021, Section 166.2, which relates to the
Commission for Rehabilitation Services; expanding
membership of the Commission; removing obsolete
language; specifying duration and dates of terms;
stipulating process for appointment of additional
members; updating statutory language; and declaring
an emergency.

SUBJECT: Commission for Rehabilitation Services

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 166.2, is
amended to read as follows:

Section 166.2. A. Effective July 1, 1993, there is hereby
created the Commission for Rehabilitation Services, an agency of the
State of Oklahoma this state, a body corporate and politic, with
powers of government and with the authority to exercise the rights,
privileges and functions as herein specified, with its lawful
operations deemed to be an essential governmental function of the
State of Oklahoma this state with all the attributes thereof.

B. The Commission shall appoint and remove the Director of the
State Department of Rehabilitation Services, approve programs,
policy and budget, and perform the necessary functions of a
governing board for the State Department of Rehabilitation Services.

ENR. S. B. NO. 770 Page 2
C. l. The Commission shall consist of three (3) seven (7)
members, to be appointed by June 15, 1993, as follows:

a. one member two members shall be appointed by the
President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate for
a three-year term,

b. one member two members shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a
three-year term, and

c. one member three members shall be appointed by the
Governor for a three-year term.

2. Thereafter, beginning with the expiration of the terms of
the three members initially appointed, the Commission shall consist
of three (3) members, appointed as follows:

a. one member shall be appointed by the President Pro
Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and shall serve a
term of one (1) year,

b. one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
Oklahoma House of Representatives and shall serve a
term of two (2) years, and

c. one member shall be appointed by the Governor and
shall serve a term of three (3) years.

3. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, members
shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years. Each term shall
begin on July 1 of the respective year and end on June 30 three (3)
years later.

3. The current appointee of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall serve until June 30, 2025. The current
appointee of the Governor shall serve until June 30, 2026. The
current appointee of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall
serve until June 30, 2027.

4. For the purpose of expanding the Commission to seven (7)
members, the following additional members shall be appointed:

ENR. S. B. NO. 770 Page 3

a. one member shall be appointed by the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate for a term beginning on July 1,
2025, and ending on June 30, 2027,

b. two members shall be appointed by the Governor, each
for a term beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending on
June 30, 2026, and

c. one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives for a term beginning on July
1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2028, in addition to
the member the Speaker shall appoint to fill the seat
of the current member whose term expires on June 30,
2025.

5. Thereafter, at the expiration of the term, or termination of
the member’s service for any reason, the original appointing
authority shall appoint a successor for a term of three (3) years,
or for the remainder of an unexpired term.

D. Members of the Commission shall be knowledgeable of and have
concern for rehabilitation issues and disability issues; provided,
that such requirement shall not exclude participation of lay persons
as Commission members. All members shall be residents of the state
and qualified electors at the time of their appointment. Before
entering upon the duties of their office, members of the Commission
shall take the Constitutional oath of office and the same shall be
filed with the Secretary of State. A member of the Commission may
be reappointed to succeed himself or herself. Commission members
shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E. The original appointing authority may remove any
commissioner for misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty, after
giving such commissioner a written statement of charges, and
opportunity for a hearing.

SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

ENR. S. B. NO. 770 Page 4

Passed the Senate the 26th day of March, 2025.

Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2025.

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: _________________________________