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 72 O.S. 2021, Section 63.2

The composition of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall comprise nine (9) members, all of whom must bear an honorable discharge status.  The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  All appointments shall be broadly representative of the veterans of this state in terms of age, gender, and race or ethnicity.

Except as provided by paragraph 3 of subsection C of this section, the Governor shall appoint six of the members from lists of names provided by the executive officer of each of the following veterans’ organizations in accordance with paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section:    a. the American Legion,  b. the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,  c. the Disabled American Veterans,  d. the Paralyzed Veterans of America,  e. the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and  f. the National Guard Association of Oklahoma. The Governor shall also appoint three members at large, at least one of whom shall have completed his or her military service on or after September 11, 2001. 

Appointments to the Commission for the six members representing veterans’ organizations shall be made as prescribed by this subsection. On or before March 1 of the year in which the term of the organization’s appointee expires, the executive officer of the organization shall submit to  the Governor  the following: 

a. a list of three persons qualified to serve as members of the Commission,  b. a certificate of good standing for the organization issued by the Secretary of State,  c. a copy of the organization’s state and federal tax returns for the immediately preceding tax year including but not limited to the federal Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), and  d. a statement that describes the mission of the organization and the services provided by the organization and estimates to the best of the executive officer’s knowledge the total number of veterans the organization served in the preceding calendar year. 

For each veterans’ organization that complies with paragraph 1 of this subsection, the Governor shall appoint a member to the Commission from the list of names provided by the organization. 

If the organization fails to comply with paragraph 1 of this subsection, the Governor may appoint a member at large in lieu of a member representing the particular organization for the duration of the term.  At the conclusion of the term, the appointment shall revert to an appointee representing the particular organization, subject to the requirements and process provided by this subsection.

Any vacancy on the Commission resulting from any cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the term as provided by this subsection. When a vacancy of one of the three at-large members on the Commission occurs, the Governor shall promptly appoint a member at large to fill the vacancy. When a vacancy of one of the six members representing veterans’ organizations on the Commission occurs, the executive officer of the organization represented by the vacant position shall, not later than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs, submit a list of  three names of qualified persons and all other information required by paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section to the Governor.

For each veterans’ organization that complies with paragraph 2 of this subsection, the Governor shall choose a replacement from the list provided by the organization.  If the organization fails to comply with paragraph 2 of this subsection, the Governor may appoint a member at large in lieu of a member representing the particular organization for the remainder of the unexpired term.  At the conclusion of the term, the appointment shall revert to an appointee representing the particular organization, subject to the requirements and process provided by subsection C of this section.

Current members of the Commission shall continue in office until the expiration of their terms and until their successors are appointed and enter upon the duties of their offices. Appointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years.  Terms shall begin and expire on July 1 of the respective years.  No member shall serve for more than two consecutive full terms. No person shall be appointed by the Governor who is related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree to any person employed by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Before any member appointed as provided herein shall enter upon his or her duties as a member of the Commission, he or she shall take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the Constitution of this state.

 No member of the Commission shall be employed by the Department during the time of his or her service on the Commission nor shall any person who served as a member of the Commission be employed by the Department subsequent to his or her service on the Commission for a period of two (2) years.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person whose nomination has been submitted to the Legislature to fill a vacancy on the Commission that existed as of the effective date of this act may be appointed to the Commission on an acting or interim basis, may assume the duties of the office, and may receive any compensation or travel reimbursement allowed by law for the position pending confirmation by the Senate if the term of the former member whose position is vacant has expired as of the effective date of this act and if the nominee meets the qualifications prescribed by this section.

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. 

Passed the Senate the 5th day of March, 2024.

Passed the House of Representatives the 15th day of April, 2024.

Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma the 18th day of April 2024.

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