Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-51 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-51
Modification of United States Census Bureau terminology
Status: in_force

A. The Legislature finds that the United States Census Bureau

has initiated a number of reform efforts related to the means by

which information is compiled, analyzed and reported by the Bureau,

including changes in the terminology used by the Bureau to describe

the methods by which data is compiled, analyzed and reported. The

Legislature finds that numerous statutory provisions make direct or

indirect reference to the United States Census or to the United

States Census Bureau and to the information which is compiled and

reported by the Bureau. The Legislature finds that there is a need

to allow for flexible interpretation of statutory provisions based

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions Page 12

upon changes in terminology used by the United States Census Bureau.

Periodic changes in terminology or methodology with respect to

demographic and economic data gathered by the federal government

should not require frequent amendments to state statutory

provisions. The Legislature finds that it is desirable public

policy and in the interest of established principles of statutory

construction to enact the provisions of this section due to the need

for consistent interpretation of statutory provisions which rely for

operative effect upon specific information, such as population.

B. Unless a statutory provision relies for its operative effect

on a population count contained in a Federal Decennial Census or a

population count determined by using data from the United States

Census Bureau, a reference in the Oklahoma Statutes to the “census”,

the “Federal Decennial Census” or other similar reference shall

include any applicable means or method used by the United States

Census Bureau to report demographic or economic information.

C. Statutory provisions which contain a reference to a specific

population count or population range shall not be considered to have

been modified because of a change in terminology by the United

States Census Bureau or as a result of the provisions of this

section.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-90.1 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-90.1
Oklahoma Heritage Week
Status: in_force

The week in each year in which November 16 falls is hereby

declared to be "Oklahoma Heritage Week," beginning on a Sunday when

November 16 falls on such day or a following day of the week through

Saturday.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-19 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-19
Usage
Status: in_force

Usage is a reasonable and lawful public custom concerning

transactions of the same nature as those which are to be affected

thereby, existing at the place where the obligation is to be

performed, and either known to the parties, or so well established,

general and uniform, that they must be presumed to have acted with

reference thereto.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-1101 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-1101
Purposes - Construction
Status: in_force

A. This act provides for exclusive remedies within the state of

the policies for individuals alleging discrimination in employment

on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, creed,

age, disability or genetic information.

B. This act shall be construed according to the fair import of

its terms to further the general purposes stated in this section and

the special purposes of the particular provision involved.

C. Any policy, program, or statute that prohibits sex

discrimination shall be construed to forbid unfair treatment of

females or males in relation to similarly situated members of the

opposite sex. The state or its political subdivisions shall not be

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions Page 56

prohibited from establishing distinctions between sexes when such

distinctions are substantially related to an important government

objective, including, but not limited to, biology, privacy, safety,

or fairness.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-107 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-107
Honest Mistake Act - Papers within provisions
Status: in_force

Only such newspapers as are defined in Section 1 hereof shall

come within the provisions of Title 12, Section 1446a, O.S. 1951,

"The Honest Mistake Act".
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-305 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-305
Recording of votes
Status: in_force

In all meetings of public bodies, the vote of each member must

be publicly cast and recorded.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-112 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-112
Change in frequency of publication - Status as legal
Status: in_force

newspaper.

Any newspaper qualified to publish legal notices and

advertisements as a legal newspaper, as defined in 25 O.S.Supp.1967,

Section 106, may change its frequency of publication without losing

its status and qualifications as a legal newspaper to publish all

legal notices and advertisements so long as said newspaper complies

with the provisions of 25 O.S.Supp.1967, Section 106.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-2001 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-2001
Short title - Parents' Bill of Rights – Scope of rights
Status: in_force

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Parents'

Bill of Rights".

B. This state, any political subdivision of this state or any

other governmental entity shall not infringe on the fundamental

right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care

and mental health of their children without demonstrating that the

compelling governmental interest as applied to the child involved is

of the highest order, is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise

served by a less restrictive means.

C. As used in the Parents' Bill of Rights, "parent" means the

natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a minor child.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-98.3 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-98.3
State percussive musical instrument
Status: in_force

The drum is hereby designated and adopted as the percussive

musical instrument of the State of Oklahoma.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-90.12 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-90.12
Oklahoma Native American Day
Status: in_force

The second Monday in October of each year is designated as

"Oklahoma Native American Day" in Oklahoma. All citizens of this

state are requested to devote some portion of Oklahoma Native

American Day to commemorate the accomplishments of Oklahoma's Native

Americans. Teachers and students of the schools of this state are

requested to observe the day with appropriate activities.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-3 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-3
Degrees of care
Status: in_force

There are three degrees of care and of diligence, namely,

slight, ordinary and great. The latter includes the former.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-1502 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-1502
Proceedings after complaint
Status: in_force

A. A person claiming to be aggrieved by a discriminatory

practice, his or her attorney, or a nonprofit organization chartered

for the purpose of combatting discrimination may file with the

Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement a written

sworn complaint stating that a discriminatory practice has been

committed, and setting forth the facts upon which the complaint is

based, and setting forth facts sufficient to enable the Attorney

General to identify the person charged, hereinafter called the

respondent. The Attorney General shall promptly furnish the

respondent with a copy of the complaint and shall promptly

investigate the allegations of discriminatory practice set forth in

the complaint. The complaint must be filed within one hundred

eighty (180) days after the alleged discriminatory practice occurs.

B. If within sixty (60) days after the complaint is filed it is

determined by the Attorney General that there is no reasonable cause

to believe that the respondent has engaged in a discriminatory

practice, the Attorney General shall issue an order dismissing the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions Page 76

complaint and shall furnish a copy of the order to the complainant,

the respondent and such other public officers and persons as the

Attorney General deems proper.

C. The complainant, within thirty (30) days after receiving a

copy of an order dismissing the complaint, may file with the

Attorney General an application for reconsideration of the order.

Upon such application, the Attorney General shall make a new

determination whether there is a reasonable cause to believe that

the respondent has engaged in a discriminatory practice. If it is

determined within thirty (30) days after the application is filed

that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has

engaged in a discriminatory practice, the Attorney General shall

issue an order dismissing the complaint and furnish a copy of the

order to the complainant, the respondent and such other public

officers as the Attorney General deems proper.

D. The Attorney General shall:

1. Allow for electronic submission of the complaint form;

2. Make a good-faith effort to contact the complainant if the

complaint form is deemed insufficient or incomplete; and

3. Provide the two access numbers to the Office of Civil Rights

Enforcement for persons who need assistance in completing or filing

the complaint form.

E. This section shall not apply to persons claiming to be

aggrieved by a discriminatory housing practice to the extent that it

is inconsistent with specific provisions of Section 1101 et seq. of

this title relating to a discriminatory housing complaint.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-1502.15 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-1502.15
Civil action on behalf of aggrieved person - Venue -
Status: in_force

Intervention - Relief - Compliance with discovery orders.

A. The Attorney General may file a civil action on behalf of

the aggrieved person in a district court seeking relief pursuant to

this section.

B. Venue for an action pursuant to this section is in the

county in which the alleged discriminatory housing practice

occurred, or in a county where the respondent resides or transacts

business.

C. An aggrieved person may intervene in the action.

D. If the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice

has occurred or is about to occur, the court may grant as relief any

relief that a court may grant in a civil action pursuant to Section

1506.3 of this title.

E. If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved

person who does not intervene in the civil action, the court may not

award the monetary relief if that aggrieved person has not complied

with discovery orders entered by the court.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-90.2 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-90.2
Oklahoma Heritage Association - Duties
Status: in_force

The Oklahoma Heritage Association, aforementioned herein, is

hereby designated as the coordinating and planning agency for

statewide annual observance of "Oklahoma Heritage Week", and is

charged with the duty of creating observance thereof through pulpits

and mass communication media, through public and parochial schools,

through private and state institutions of higher learning and other

dignified noncommercial means, so that the patriotism and idealism

of our heritage be not forgotten but the lives of the citizens of

the state may be enriched by reminders from our history.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-7 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-7
Children
Status: in_force

The term children includes children by birth and by adoption.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-91a — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-91a
State agencies and boards of education - Display of state
Status: in_force

flag.

It shall be the duty of all state agencies and boards of

education of this state to display the state flag with the standard

design and colors as specified in Section 91 of Title 25 of the

Oklahoma Statutes.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-29 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-29
Liberal construction of statutes in derogation of common
Status: in_force

law.

The rule of the common law, that statutes in derogation thereof

are to be strictly construed, has no application to the laws of this

state, which are to be liberally construed with a view to effect

their objects and to promote justice.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-98.1 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-98.1
State rock
Status: in_force

The Barite Rose, commonly known and referred to as the "rose

rock", is hereby designated as the official rock of this state.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-40 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-40
References to persons with disabilities
Status: in_force

A. All new and revised statutes, administrative rules, local

laws, ordinances, charters, or regulations promulgated or any

publication published by the state or any political subdivision that

refers to persons with disabilities shall:

1. Avoid language that:

a. implies that a person as a whole is disabled, such as

the "mentally ill" or the "learning disabled", or

b. equates persons with their condition, such as

"epileptics", "autistics", or "quadriplegics"; and

2. Replace nonrespectful language by:

a. referring to persons with disabilities as persons

first; for example, persons with disabilities, persons

with developmental disabilities, persons with mental

illness, persons with autism, or persons with

intellectual disabilities, and

b. referring to terms such as "mental retardation" or

"mentally retarded" with terms such as "intellectual

disabilities" or "intellectually disabled".

B. Violation of this section shall not be grounds to invalidate

any new or revised statutes, administrative rules, local laws,

ordinances, charters, or regulations promulgated or any publication

published by the state or any political subdivision; provided,

however, such documents shall be changed to reflect the provisions

of this section in subsequent revisions.

C. Nothing in this section shall constitute a requirement to

change the name of any agency or program. Existing printed material

may be utilized until such time as supplies are required to be

replenished.
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-1309 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-1309
Seniority and merit systems - Compulsory retirement
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 1101 et seq. of

this title, it is not a discriminatory practice for an employer:

1. To apply different standards of compensation or different

terms, conditions, privileges, or responsibilities of employment

pursuant to a bona fide seniority or merit system, or a system which

measures earnings by quantity or quality of production or to

employees who work in different locations, if the differences are

not the result of an intention to discriminate because of race,

color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic

information; or

2. To give and to act upon the results of a professionally-

developed ability test if the test, its administration, or action

upon the results is not designed, intended, or used to discriminate

because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,

disability, or genetic information.

3. To require the compulsory retirement of any person who has

attained the age of sixty-five (65) and who, for the two-year period

immediately before retirement, is employed in a bona fide executive

or high policymaking position, if such person is entitled to an

immediate nonforfeitable annual retirement benefit from a pension,

profit-sharing, savings or deferred compensation plan, or any

combination of such plans, of the employer, which equals, in the

aggregate, at least Forty-four Thousand Dollars ($44,000.00).
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, § 25-1502.3 — OK Code / Title 25 / Section 25-1502.3
Answer to complaint - Amendment - Effect of
Status: in_force

investigation.

A. Not later than the 10th day after receipt of the notice and

copy pursuant to paragraph 3 of subsection F of Section 1502.2 of

this title, a respondent may file an answer to the complaint.

B. An answer must be:

1. In writing;

2. Under oath; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions Page 78

3. In the form prescribed by the Attorney General.

C. An answer may be amended at any time.

D. An answer does not inhibit the investigation of a complaint.