§ 59-545.10 — Oversight — Default and termination — Dispute

Oklahoma § 59-545.10

• Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
• Title 59: Professions And Occupations

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resolution — Enforcement. A. Oversight: 1. The executive and judicial branches of state government in each participating state shall enforce the Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement the Compact; 2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the selection or propriety of venue in any action against a licensee for professional malpractice, misconduct, or any such similar matter; and 3. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding regarding the enforcement or interpretation of the Compact or the Commission's rules and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide the Commission with service of process shall render a judgment or order in such proceeding void as to the Commission, the Compact, or Commission rules. B. Default, technical assistance, and termination: 1. If the Commission determines that a participating state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under the Compact or the Commission rules, the Commission shall provide written notice to the defaulting state and other participating states. The notice shall describe the default, the proposed means of curing the default, and any other action that the Commission may take and shall offer remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default; 2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates of the participating states, and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by the Compact upon such state may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default; 3. Termination of participation in the Compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the Commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and to the licensing boards of each of the participating states; 4. A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that extend beyond the effective date of termination; 5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or that has been terminated from the Compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the Commission and the defaulting state; 6. The defaulting state may appeal its termination from the Compact by the Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees; and 7. Upon the termination of a state's participation in the Compact, the state shall immediately provide notice to all licensees within that state of such termination: a. licensees who have been granted a Compact privilege in that state shall retain the Compact privilege for one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of such termination, and b. licensees who are licensed in that state who have been granted a Compact privilege in a participating state shall retain the Compact privilege for one hundred eighty (180) days unless the licensee also has a qualifying license in a participating state or obtains a qualifying license in a participating state before the one-hundred-eighty-day period ends, in which case the Compact privilege shall continue. C. Dispute resolution: 1. Upon request by a participating state, the Commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact that arise among participating states and between participating and nonparticipating states; and 2. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate. D. Enforcement: 1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions of the Compact and rules of the Commission; 2. If compliance is not secured after all means to secure compliance have been exhausted, by majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices against a participating state in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and the Commission's promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees; and 3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law. E. Legal action against the Commission: 1. A participating state may initiate legal action against the Commission in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees. 2. No person other than a participating state shall enforce the Compact against the Commission.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 2024, c. 22, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2024.