§ 3A-201 — Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission - Creation - Membership -

Appointment - Term - Removal - Vacancies. A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, which shall consist of the following nine (9) members: 1. One member who shall be from the First Congressional District, one member who shall be from the Second Congressional District, one member who shall be from the Third Congressional District, one member who shall be from the Fourth Congressional District, and one member who shall be from the Fifth Congressional District appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; 2. One at large member who shall be experienced in the horse racing industry and from the state and one at large member who may be experienced in the horse racing industry and who shall be from the state appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; and 3. One at large member who shall be experienced in the horse racing industry and from the state and one at large member who shall be experienced in the horse racing industry and from the state appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. In the event of a vacancy that qualifies for an appointment under paragraph 2 or 3 of this subsection, the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore shall have alternating appointments; provided, however, the Speaker of the House shall make the initial appointment. When congressional districts are redrawn, each member appointed and confirmed by the Senate, if applicable, prior to July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall complete the current term of office, and appointments made and confirmed by the Senate, if applicable, 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 a board member until such time as each of the modified congressional districts is represented by a board member. B. To be eligible for appointment to the Commission, a person shall: 1. Be a citizen of the United States; 2. Have been a resident of this state for five (5) years immediately preceding the appointment; and 3. Not have been convicted of a felony pursuant to the laws of this state, the laws of any other state, or the laws of the United States as established by a national criminal history record check as defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. The term of office of a member of the Commission shall be for six (6) years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. D. Each appointing authority may remove any member he or she appointed to the Commission for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office upon first giving the member a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard. A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment made by the appropriate appointing authority. Added by State Question No. 553, Initiative Petition No. 315, adopted at election held Sept. 21, 1982.

Legislative History

Amended by Laws 1983, c. 11, § 3, emerg. eff. March 22, 1983; Laws 1992, c. 364, § 3, emerg. eff. June 4, 1992; Laws 2002, c. 375, § 2, eff. Nov. 5, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 204, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 217, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24, 2005; Laws 2006, c. 177, § 2, emerg. eff. May 23, 2006; Laws 2024, c. 362, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2024.