Source: https://www.ok.gov/conservation/Conservation_Districts/Conservation_District_Act/index.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 14:39:05+00:00

Document:
Title 27A. Chapter 3, of the Oklahoma State Statutes, the Conservation District Act.
3-1-102. Legislative determination--Declaration of policy.
3-2-102. Perpetuation of soil and water conservation districts.
3-2-103. Executive Director, technical experts and employees – Office space.
3-2-104. Chairman, quorum and expenses.
3-2-105. Bonds of employees and officers--Records--Annual audit.
3-2-106. Powers and duties of Commission.
3-2-106b.Conservation Commission Tar Creek Mine Reclamation Revolving Fund.
3-2-107. Establishment and maintenance–Reports–List of permit approvals.
3-2-108. Wetlands Management Strategy--Exclusive jurisdiction--Contents--Submission to Legislature and other officials.
3-2-109. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Revolving Fund.
3-2-110. Oklahoma Conservation Commission Infrastructure Revolving Fund.
3-3-102. Board of directors - Officers--Filing notice of organization--Quorum--Voting.
Copies of ordinances, rules and regulations, etc., to Commission.
3-3-106. Authority to obtain loan or grant.
3-3-107. District as local agency.
3-3-108. Long-range program and annual work plan - Annual report - Dissemination of works and activities information.
3-3-109. Status of district's conservation plan.
3-3-110. Repealed by Laws 2008, c. 110, § 14, emerg. eff. May 2, 2008.
3-3-117. Financial or general obligation of state–Construction of act.
3-3-301. Date of election--Eligible voters.
3-3-302. Notice of filing period.
3-3-303. Filing period, notification and declaration of candidacy.
3-3-402. Certificate of Secretary of State as evidence.
3-3-403. Filing, recording, certification--Fees and charges.
3-3-404. County funds may be appropriated.
3-3-408. Requirements for funds to be expended.
3-3-409. Restriction on use of funds.
3-3-412. Operation and maintenance of structures for flood control.
3-3-413. Directors' participation in health or dental insurance plans.
3-3-414. Transfer of employee service time.
3-3-501. Creation of program - Purpose.
3-4-101. Short title – Legislative findings and intent.
3-4-102. Oklahoma Conservation Commission - Duties.
3-4-103. Acceptance of public and private funds.
3-4-104. Carbon Sequestration Assessment Cash Fund.
3-4-105. Carbon sequestration certification program - Applications - Fees.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Conservation District Act".
In recognition of the ever‑increasing demands on the renewable natural resources of the state and of the need to preserve, protect and develop such resources at such a rate and at such levels of quality as will meet the needs of the people of the state, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State of Oklahoma to provide for the conservation of the renewable natural resources of this state, and for the control and prevention of soil erosion, and for the prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, and for furthering the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water, and thereby to preserve and develop natural resources, control floods, conserve and develop water resources and water quality, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, preserve wildlife, preserve natural beauty, promote recreational development, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of this state. It is further the policy of the Legislature to authorize conservation districts established under the Conservation District Act to serve as the primary local unit of government responsible for the conservation of the renewable natural resources of this state, and competent to administer, in close cooperation with landowners and occupiers, with local governmental units, and with agencies of the government of this state and of the United States, projects, programs and activities suitable for effectuating the policy of the Conservation District Act. Provided, however, in those areas included within the existing jurisdiction of planning commissions created pursuant to the provisions of Titles 11 and/or 19, of the Oklahoma Statutes or their successors, such districts shall serve as the collateral units of government so responsible.
b. has a specific and continuous record of related and verifiable soil science work experience for two (2) years. Publications in a soil science publication or prior qualifications as an expert witness in administrative or judicial proceeding, hearing or trial shall be prima facie verification of experience related to soil science.
B. The entire territory of this state shall be included within conservation districts.
C. The Governor shall appoint one member from each of the five state areas as herein created, and each such member so appointed shall be, at the time of his appointment a Conservation District Director. Each member of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission shall be a Conservation District Director during the entire term as a Commission member. No fewer than three members of said Board shall be actively engaged in the practice of farming and/or ranching or shall derive at least a majority of their income from farming and/or ranching. As a condition to their appointment, such members shall be residents of the state area from which they are appointed. Such appointments shall be made by the Governor and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate and such appointments shall be made by the Governor within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the terms of office of said members. Each member shall serve for a period of five (5) years, and shall be removed only for cause. In the event of a vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made and by the same appointing authority.
D. The Commission shall keep a record of its official actions, shall adopt a seal, which seal shall be judicially noticed, and may perform such acts, hold such public hearings and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the execution of its functions under the Conservation District Act.
§27A-3-2-102. Perpetuation of soil and water conservation districts.
All soil and water conservation districts organized on the date of the adoption of the Conservation District Act are perpetuated and shall continue to exist as conservation districts under the Conservation District Act.
§27A-3-2-103. Executive Director, technical experts and employees - Office space.
3. Shall have authority to delegate to its chairman, to one or more of its members, or to one or more agents or employees, any powers and duties as it may deem proper.
B. Offices shall be provided by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in Oklahoma City. Upon request of the Commission for the purpose of carrying out any of its functions, the supervising officer of any state agency, or of any state institution of learning, shall, insofar as may be possible under available appropriations and having due regard to the needs of the agency to which the request is directed, assign or detail to the Commission members of the staff or personnel of the agency or institution of learning, and make any special reports, surveys, or studies as the Commission may request.
§27A-3-2-104. Chairman, quorum and expenses.
The Commission shall reorganize annually and select a chairman from among its members who shall serve for one (1) year from the date of selection. A member of the Commission shall hold office so long as such member retains the office by virtue of which he shall be serving on the Commission. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority in any matter within their duties shall be required for its determination. The chairman and members of the Commission shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for traveling expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
§27A-3-2-105. Bonds of employees and officers - Records - Annual audit.
3. Provide for and submit to an annual audit of its records and accounts of receipts and disbursements.
§27A-3-2-106. Powers and duties of Commission.
b. shall promulgate all rules establishing fees in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, which fees shall be fair and equitable to all parties concerned.
B. Nothing in this act shall take away any of the present duties or responsibilities delegated by law or constitution to other environmental agencies.
§27A-3-2-106a. Conservation Commission Revolving Fund.
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be designated the "Conservation Commission Revolving Fund (#405)". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Conservation Commission from appropriations, fees, charges, penalties, and any other sources that are not designated for deposit to any other fund as authorized by law. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Conservation Commission to perform the duties imposed by the Commission by law. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
§27A-3-2-106b. Conservation Commission Tar Creek Mine Reclamation Revolving Fund.
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be designated the "Conservation Commission Tar Creek Mine Reclamation Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Conservation Commission from appropriations, fees, charges, penalties, federal grants and any other sources including interest earned from the income in the fund that are designated for deposit to such fund or designated for duties associated with the Tar Creek superfund project. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Conservation Commission to perform the duties imposed on the Commission by law. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
§27A-3-2-107. Establishment and maintenance - Reports - List of permit approvals.
A. The Conservation Commission may establish and maintain an environmental and natural resources geographic data base system. Such system shall include but not be limited to pollution complaints filed with the state environmental agencies and state agencies with limited environmental responsibilities, resolutions of complaints and such other data as funds become available and as may be desirable and necessary to provide public access to specific site information.
B. Not more than once each month, each state environmental agency and state agency with limited environmental responsibilities shall submit to the Conservation Commission a report listing the environmental pollution complaints received during the previous month. The report shall include the name of the complainant, if known, the address of the complainant, the location involved in the complaint, the name of the person or company and address thereof alleged to be responsible for the pollution and how the complaint was resolved. The report shall be in such form and made in such manner as is required by the Commission. The report shall be in writing or may be submitted in electronic data or machine-readable form at the discretion of the Commission.
C. The Commission shall annually submit a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Governor containing the total number of pollution complaints filed, the total number of complaints and type of complaints addressed by each state environmental agency, the total number of such complaints resolved, the total number of complaints remaining to be resolved, the average time frame for resolving such complaints, and the historical comparison of complaint resolution in previous years, and any other information which the Commission believes is pertinent in regard to pollution complaints.
D. The Conservation Commission may recover costs incurred in duplicating any reports made pursuant to the provisions of this section.
E. The Department of Environmental Quality shall routinely provide the Conservation Commission with a list of permit approvals for inclusion in the Commission's data base.
§27A-3-2-108. Wetlands Management Strategy - Exclusive jurisdiction - Contents - Submission to Legislature and other officials.
6. Define standards for critical wetlands and measures to ensure protection of property rights of landowners.
B. Upon completion, the Conservation Commission is to forward the Wetlands Management Strategy for the State of Oklahoma and to submit said Strategy to the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and to the Secretary of the Environment or successor secretary position.
§27A-3-2-109. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Revolving Fund.
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, to be designated the "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of cost-share monies received by the Commission from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Program. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Commission for the general operation of the Commission. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
§27A-3-2-110. Oklahoma Conservation Commission Infrastructure Revolving Fund.
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be designated the "Oklahoma Conservation Commission Infrastructure Revolving Fund".
B. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission from the apportionment of gross production tax revenues as prescribed by Section 1004 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for the purpose of the rehabilitation of watershed dams and, for the Conservation Cost Share Program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
D. Expenditures from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
E. No more than thirty percent (30%) of the monies in the fund shall be used for the payment of administrative expenses, salary or any other continuing obligation of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission; provided, however, such monies shall not be used for salary increases for employees.
F. The provisions of this section shall cease to have the force and effect of law on July 1, 2014. Any monies remaining in the fund created by this section on July 1, 2014, which have been encumbered, but not expended, may be expended according to the terms pursuant to which the monies were encumbered.
A district perpetuated by the provisions of the Conservation District Act shall constitute a governmental subdivision of this state, and a public body corporate and politic, exercising public powers.
§27A-3-3-102. Board of directors - Officers - Filing notice of organization - Quorum - Voting.
A. At the first meeting following each annual election, the board of directors shall organize and shall select and designate a chair, vice-chair and a treasurer. Notice of the new organization shall be filed with the Conservation Commission annually as prescribed by the Commission.
B. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of a majority in any matter within their duties shall be required for its determination.
§27A-3-3-103. Secretary, technical experts and other employees - Legal assistance – Delegation of powers - Copies of ordinances, rules and regulations, etc., to Commission.
A. The directors of a district may employ a secretary, technical experts and other employees as necessary and determine their duties and compensation. Employees of a conservation district are at-will employees.
B. The district attorney within whose jurisdiction a majority of the area of the district is situated shall act as legal advisor for the board of directors and shall afford the board like representation as is now provided for other county officers. The directors may call upon the Attorney General of the state for such legal services as they may require, or may employ their own counsel.
C. The directors may delegate, to their chair, to one or more directors, or to one or more agents or employees such powers and duties as they may deem proper.
D. The directors shall furnish to the commission copies of such ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, contracts, forms and other documents as they shall adopt or employ, and such other information concerning their activities as it may require in the performance of its duties under the Conservation District Act.
§27A-3-3-104. Bonds - Records - Audits.
3. An annual audit or, at the Commission's discretion, a review or compilation in compliance with standards promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, provided that a complete audit shall be conducted at least every three (3) years of the receipts and disbursements which shall be filed with the commission and with the county clerk of each county within the conservation district.
11. Carry workers' compensation insurance, in its discretion, on any or all its employees, regardless of the nature of the work in which such employee or employees are engaged, such insurance to be carried with the State Insurance Fund, and to be paid for by each district out of the funds of such district.
B. As a condition to the extending of any benefits under the Conservation District Act to or the performance of work upon any lands not owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, the directors may require contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise to any operations conferring such benefits and may require land occupiers to enter into and perform such agreements or covenants as to the use of such lands as may be consistent with the purposes of the Conservation District Act.
C. No provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to a district organized hereunder unless the Legislature shall specifically so state.
D. Soil and water conservation district directors have the authority to accept appointment to serve as members of local, municipal, county, regional and state planning agencies, boards, commissions and authorities and districts may participate in the funding thereof and performance of works and projects thereunder.
§27A-3-3-106. Authority to obtain loan or grant.
2. May enter into such contract, loan agreement or other administrative arrangement as may be lawfully required in connection with any such loan or grant; and in connection with any such loan or grant may pledge, encumber or obligate any property or income of the district.
§27A-3-3-107. District as local agency.
A. Any district organized under the Conservation District Act shall have power to serve as a local agency for operating and maintaining any project or program concerned with the conservation of renewable natural resources that is administered by any local, state, interstate or federal public agency, by entering into a contract or other appropriate administrative arrangement with the agency administering such project or program.
B. In serving as such local agency for any such project or program, the district may use any authority or funds available to it under the Conservation District Act which are required for such purposes.
C. 1. Any agency of the government of this state and any local political subdivision of this state is hereby authorized to make such arrangements with any district, through contract, regulation or other appropriate means, wherever it believes that such arrangements will promote administrative efficiency or economy.
2. In connection with any such arrangements, any state or local agency or political subdivision of this state is authorized, within the limits of funds available to it, to contribute funds, equipment, property or services to any district; and to collaborate with a district in jointly planning, constructing, financing or operating any work or activity provided for in such arrangements and in jointly acquiring, maintaining and operating equipment or facilities in connection therewith.
D. Any district may receive funds, property, equipment and services from any local, state, interstate or federal public agency, or from private donors, for use in serving as the local agency for operating and maintaining a program or project under any such contract or other arrangement.
§27A-3-3-108. Long-range program and annual work plan - Annual report - Dissemination of works and activities information.
A. 1. Each district organized under the Conservation District Act shall prepare and keep current a long-range program for the conservation of all the renewable natural resources of the district. The program shall be directed toward conservation of resources for their best uses and in a manner that will best meet the needs of the district and the state, and be consistent with the best uses of the renewable natural resources of the state.
f. provisions for coordination with other resource programs.
B. The district shall also prepare an annual work plan, that shall describe the action programs, services, facilities, materials, working arrangements and estimated funds needed to carry out the parts of the long-range program that are of the highest priorities.
C. 1. Every district shall publish an annual report of its plans, programs, activities, budget, receipts, and expenditures.
c. the status of all activities initiated under the program.
c. may publish additional information and reports as may be necessary and appropriate.
D. Every district shall, through public hearings, publications and other means, keep the general public, and all operators or occupiers of land within the district, informed of the works and activities planned and administered by the district, of the purposes these will serve, of the income and expenditures of the district, the purposes for which the funds are expended, and of the results achieved annually by the district.
E. Each district shall submit to the Commission its proposed long-range program and annual work plans for adoption, rejection, modification or revision.
§27A-3-3-109. Status of district's conservation plan.
A. The long-range resource conservation program, together with the supplemental annual work plans, developed by each district under the foregoing procedures shall have official status as the authorized program of the district, and it shall be published by the district as its "Resources Conservation Program". Copies shall be made available by the district to the appropriate counties, municipalities, special purpose districts and state agencies, and shall be made available in convenient places for examination by any public or private interest concerned. Summaries of the program and selected material therefrom shall be distributed as widely as feasible for public information.
B. Counties, municipalities and other public agencies of the state that are authorized by law to adopt zoning ordinances shall give the directors of the appropriate district opportunity to review and comment on proposed zoning ordinances and amendments affecting renewable natural resources and their uses directly affecting rural areas not within the jurisdictional area of any incorporated municipalities, metropolitan area, planning commission, or their successors.
C. The districts shall submit from time to time to any public agency authorized to adopt zoning ordinances applicable to any area within the district its recommended provisions for inclusion in zoning ordinances, where such provisions would help achieve the land use or other objectives of the district's Resources Conservation Program.
§27A-3-3-110. Repealed by Laws 2008, c. 110, § 14, emerg. eff. May 2, 2008.
It is policy of the Legislature to require mutual cooperation and assistance among the governing officers of the counties, cities, other municipalities, conservation districts, other special purpose districts and other political subdivisions of the state in all activities directly affecting the conservation of the renewable natural resources of this state, within the broad definition of these terms given in the Conservation District Act.
A. Any two or more districts organized under the provisions of the Conservation District Act may cooperate with one another in the exercise of any or all powers conferred in the Conservation District Act, and expend locally earned district funds in furtherance of such cooperation.
B. Any two or more districts may engage in joint activities by agreement between or among them in planning, financing, constructing, operating, maintaining and administering any program or project concerned with the conservation of renewable natural resources. The districts concerned may make available for purposes of the agreement any funds, property, personnel, equipment or services available to them under the Conservation District Act.
C. Any district may enter into such agreements with a district or districts in adjoining states to carry out such purposes if the law in such other states permits the districts in such states to enter into such agreements.
D. The Commission shall have authority to propose, guide and facilitate the establishment and carrying out of any such agreements.
A. The districts shall invite the appropriate counties, municipalities and special purpose districts or other governmental units to designate liaison representatives for consultation on each other's programs and plans for resource conservation. The counties, municipalities, special purpose districts and other governmental units are hereby authorized to appoint such liaison representatives and to participate in the preparation and coordination of local planning and programming for resource conservation. The districts shall designate liaison representatives to advise and consult with such other local agencies.
B. The districts shall consult and cooperate with state, regional, interstate and federal agencies to promote harmony and the avoidance of conflict in the programs and plans for resource conservation developed and carried out by any of them. The districts, other local agencies and the agencies of the government of this state shall provide for liaison and consultation among them for all programs that have direct impact on natural resources, including plans for public land acquisition and management, schools, dams and reservoirs, and other water management structures, highway locations, public utilities and subdivisions. Districts shall hold similar consultations with public and private agencies planning, constructing or operating transportation or communication facilities.
C. State agencies, the districts and other local agencies are authorized to make available to each other maps, reports and data in their possession that are useful in the preparation of their respective programs and plans for resource conservation. The districts shall keep the state and local agencies fully informed concerning the status and progress of the preparation of their resource conservation programs and plans.
D. The districts shall hold public hearings at appropriate times in connection with the preparation of programs and plans, shall give careful consideration to the views expressed and problems revealed in hearings, and shall keep the public informed concerning their programs, plans and activities. Agencies and individuals shall be invited to submit proposals for consideration at such hearings. The districts may supplement such hearings with meetings, referenda and other suitable means to determine the wishes of interested parties and the general public in regard to current and proposed plans and programs of a district. They shall confer with public and private agencies, individually and in groups, to give and obtain information and understanding of the impact of district operations upon agriculture, forestry, water supply and quality, flood control, particular industries, commercial concerns and other public and private interests, both rural and urban.
§27A-3-3-114. Purpose - Rules - Definition.
A. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to establish and administer a conservation cost-share program as funds become available. The conservation cost-share program shall provide monies to eligible persons for the purpose of implementing conservation or best management practices on such eligible land as described in conservation management plans according to rules promulgated by the Commission.
B. The Commission shall promulgate rules governing the cost-share program.
C. To implement the program, the Commission shall require conservation districts to enter into contracts for approved projects on eligible land detailing the eligible person's responsibilities.
b. reduce soil erosion, or both.
A. There is hereby created within the State Treasury a cost-share fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be designated the "Conservation Cost-Share Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Conservation Commission to implement and maintain the conservation cost-share program.
2. Interest attributable to investment of money in the Conservation Cost-Share Fund.
C. All donations or other proceeds received by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited with the State Treasurer to be credited to the Conservation Cost-Share Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
D. The monies deposited in the Conservation Cost-Share Fund shall at no time become part of the general budget of the Conservation Commission or any other state agency. Except for any administration costs incurred in development and implementation of the cost-share program, no monies from the fund shall be transferred for any purpose to any other state agency or any account of the Conservation Commission or be used for the purpose of contracting with any other state agency or reimbursing any other state agency for any expense.
A. The Conservation Commission shall require applicants to submit information, forms and reports as are necessary to properly and efficiently administer the conservation cost-share program.
2. Enter into a contract with a conservation district detailing the responsibilities of the person.
C. Applications for funds shall be approved or denied by the conservation district in accordance with criteria promulgated by the Commission.
§27A-3-3-117. Financial or general obligation of state - Construction of act.
Nothing in this act or in the contract executed pursuant to Section 3 of this act shall be interpreted or construed to constitute a financial or general obligation of the state. No state revenue shall be used to guarantee or pay for any damages to property or injury to persons as a result of the provisions of this act or the contract.
A. The governing body of the district shall consist of five (5) directors, elected or appointed as provided in the Conservation District Act.
B. 1. Three directors shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and shall be elected for staggered terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
2. The three elected directors' positions shall be designated as position number one, position number two and position number three by the Commission.
3. To be eligible for election as a director of a conservation district, a person must be a registered voter in the district, and must be a cooperator of the district.
C. Two directors for each district shall be appointed by the Commission to serve a term of two (2) years beginning July 1 and ending June 30. The Commission shall issue a certificate of appointment to all appointed directors. Initially one director shall serve for a period of one (1) year and one director for a period of two (2) years.
D. Any director may be removed from office by the Commission, upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or for malfeasance in office.
E. All vacancies in the office of an elected or appointed director shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Commission.
F. Directors shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the district for actual expenses incurred in the official performance of their duties.
G. District directors may be paid a per diem for attending monthly district board meetings not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per meeting as established by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.
H. If any director shall, during their term of office as director, be elected or appointed to any county or state elective office, or if they shall file as a candidate for the nomination to be elected to any such other office, their office as director shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Commission. Provided, that a district director may also serve on a board of education of a school district.
A. The board of directors shall appoint such advisory committees as may be needed to assure the availability of appropriate channels of communication to the board, to persons affected by district operations, and to local, regional, state and interstate special purpose districts and agencies responsible for community planning, zoning or other resource development activities.
B. The district shall keep such committees informed of its work, and such advisory committees shall submit recommendations from time to time to the board of directors.
§27A-3-3-301. Date of election - Eligible voters.
A. There shall be an election each year in every conservation district on the first Tuesday in June, which is hereby designated as Conservation District Day, to elect one director in each district.
B. All registered voters in a district shall be eligible to vote in the election.
§27A-3-3-302. Notice of filing period.
Each district shall give due notice of the filing period for election of district directors, during the first three (3) weeks in April, setting forth the period in which notifications and declarations of candidacy are to be filed.
Due notice shall be given in each district of the election. The last publication of the notice shall be not less than five (5) days before the date of the election. Said notice shall set forth the purpose, time, date, and polling places for the election.
§27A-3-3-303. Filing period, notification and declaration of candidacy.
Any person found eligible by the Commission to be elected a district director shall have their name placed on the official ballot, upon filing with the Commission a notification and declaration of candidacy, during the first two weeks in May. The notification and declaration shall be in the form prescribed by the Commission.
A. The Conservation Commission shall designate the polling places in the district.
B. The names of all candidates who have filed a proper notification and declaration and have been found eligible by the Commission within the time herein designated shall be printed on a ballot prescribed by the Commission.
C. The Commission shall declare the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast in an election, elected.
D. When two or more candidates receive the same number of votes cast, a runoff election shall be held within thirty (30) days from date of the first election in the manner prescribed above.
E. The Commission shall prescribe rules for holding elections pursuant to the provisions of this section, pay for the elections, supervise the conduct and shall publish the results.
F. When only one qualified candidate files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of director in a district as provided herein, no election shall be necessary and the Commission shall declare the person elected.
G. The Commission shall issue a certificate to all elected directors signifying their election to the office of director of their district.
The name of any district may be changed by resolution of the board of directors thereof. Said resolution shall be submitted to the Commission, which shall present same to the Secretary of State who shall, if the Secretary of State finds that such name is not identical or so nearly similar to the name of another conservation district as to lead to confusion or uncertainty, file the resolution and issue a new certificate to the district showing the new name.
§27A-3-3-402. Certificate of Secretary of State as evidence.
In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of, or relating to, any contract, proceeding or action of a district, the district shall be deemed to have been established in accordance with the provisions of the Conservation District Act upon proof of the issuance of a certificate of organization to a soil conservation district or a soil and water conservation district by the Secretary of State. A copy of such certificate duly certified by the Secretary of State shall be admissible in evidence in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall be proof of the filing and contents thereof.
§27A-3-3-403. Filing, recording, certification - Fees and charges.
A conservation district shall not be liable for any fees or charges in connection with the filing, recording or indexing, in the office of the county clerk of any county of this state, of any instrument in favor of such district, or in connection with the certification, by such county clerk, of any copy of any instrument on file or of record in the office of such county clerk, desired by such district, but all such instruments presented by such district or the directors thereof for filing or recording shall be filed, recorded and indexed without charge, and such copies of instruments necessary by such district or the directors thereof shall be certified free of charge.
§27A-3-3-404. County funds may be appropriated.
In those counties of the state which contain in whole or in part a conservation district, the county excise board may, at it discretion, upon request of the directors of such conservation district, appropriate money from the county general fund for use by the district or districts serving the particular county from which the appropriation is made.
There is hereby created a revolving fund to be known as the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund. Said fund shall consist of all monies appropriated to, deposited in or credited to said fund.
The Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund shall be under the control and supervision of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and shall be paid on its itemized form which shall be audited by the said board and, upon final approval, vouchers which are payable from said fund shall be forwarded to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, who shall audit the same and, upon approval thereof, warrants shall be issued according to law, and said warrants shall be paid by the State Treasurer from the said fund.
A. The Commission shall have authority to allocate to any conservation district in this state, from the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund, such sum or sums as in the judgment of the said Commission may be necessary to enable such district to acquire real property or easements needed by such district to permit such district to install upstream flood control structures on rivers and streams and the tributaries thereof, including cooperative projects between such district and the United States government.
B. Monies from the fund may also be used for costs associated with the rehabilitation of flood control structures, including, but not limited to, landrights.
§27A-3-3-408. Requirements for funds to be expended.
None of the funds in the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund shall be expended until eighty percent (80%) of the easements are obtained for the watershed project in which the money from the fund is to be used.
§27A-3-3-409. Restriction on use of funds.
No funds from the Small Watersheds Flood Control Fund shall be used to acquire, by condemnation, lands under and existing valid oil and gas mining lease from which oil and/or gas are being produced.
§27A-3-3-410. Payment of insurance premiums for employees.
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to equitably apportion and pay dependent health insurance premiums for local conservation district employees from funds appropriated for such purpose.
§27A-3-3-411. "Operation and maintenance" or "operate and maintain" - Interpretation.
A. Oklahoma has a large number of preventive and control measures and works of improvement that are operated and maintained by conservation districts and their assigns throughout the state. These preventive and control measures and works of improvement include, but are not limited to, flood control dams, erosion control practices, and channels constructed with the assistance of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through USDA’s watershed programs.
2. Benefit the state and conservation districts.
§27A-3-3-412. Operation and maintenance of structures for flood control.
Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, a conservation district’s responsibility for the operation and maintenance of any structure for the purpose of flood control pursuant to any contractual, statutory, regulatory or other legal authority or obligation, shall not be deemed to include maintaining, protecting or improving the quality of any soil, air, groundwater or surface water or biota affected by, near or comprising any part of the structure, including any water, soil or sediment pooled, impounded or diverted by the structure, including but not limited to, monitoring, limiting, or abating or otherwise controlling or eliminating any point source or nonpoint source pollution or any other biological, chemical, radiological or physical contamination by any source or mechanism.
§27A-3-3-413. Directors' participation in health or dental insurance plans.
Directors of a conservation district may elect to participate in the health or dental insurance plan offered by the conservation district to its employees as provided for in the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act. The conservation district director shall pay the full cost of the insurance premium for the coverage at the rate prescribed by and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the health or dental plan.
§27A-3-3-414. Transfer of employee service time.
A conservation district employee who transfers to a state agency shall not lose the service time the employee has accrued for the purposes of calculating longevity benefits and leave benefits.
§27A-3-3-501. Creation of program - Purpose.
A. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to establish and administer the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Program as funds become available and otherwise appropriated. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Program shall provide monies to eligible communities and rural water districts for the purpose of implementing conservation or best management practices on such eligible land pursuant to priority watershed work or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) work, or watershed rehabilitation or watershed operation and maintenance work in accordance to rules promulgated by the Commission.
B. The Commission shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be designated the "Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Revolving Fund".
B. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission in the form of gifts, grants, reimbursements, donations, industry contributions, state appropriations, funds allocated by federal agencies for cost-share programs and such other monies specifically designated for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Program. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Commission for the Municipal Infrastructure Conservation Cost-Share Program; and interest attributable to investment of money in the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Revolving Fund.
C. All donations or other proceeds received by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited with the State Treasurer to be credited to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Revolving Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
D. All monies accruing to the credit of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for the purpose of matching municipal or rural water district funds for the rehabilitation of watershed dams and for the Conservation Cost-Share Program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program pursuant to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Municipal Infrastructure Cost-Share Program.
E. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
F. No more than five percent (5%) of the monies in the fund shall be used for the payment of administrative expenses, salary or any other continuing obligation of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.
§27A-3-4-101. Short title – Legislative findings and intent.
A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Carbon Sequestration Enhancement Act".
3. It is in the interest of the citizens of this state that the Oklahoma Conservation Commission document and quantify carbon sequestration associated with carbon sequestration practices.
C. It is the intent of the Legislature that such efforts to document and quantify carbon sequestration associated with carbon sequestration practices will enhance the ability of the state's landowners, well owners and mineral owners to participate in any system of carbon dioxide emissions marketing or trading that may be developed in the future.
5. Other methods of sequestering, displacing or avoiding carbon dioxide emissions approved by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.
§27A-3-4-102. Oklahoma Conservation Commission - Duties.
2. Identify areas of research needed to better understand and quantify carbon sequestration and storage involved in carbon sequestration practices within the state.
§27A-3-4-103. Acceptance of public and private funds.
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission may apply for and accept grants, gifts, or other sources of public and private funds to carry out the purposes of the Oklahoma Carbon Sequestration Enhancement Act.
§27A-3-4-104. Carbon Sequestration Assessment Cash Fund.
The "Carbon Sequestration Assessment Cash Fund" is hereby created. The fund shall be used by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to carry out the Oklahoma Carbon Sequestration Enhancement Act. The State Treasurer shall credit to the fund any money appropriated to the fund by the Legislature and any money received as gifts, grants, or other contributions from public or private sources obtained for the purposes of the Oklahoma Carbon Sequestration Enhancement Act.
§27A-3-4-105. Carbon sequestration certification program - Applications - Fees.
A. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to establish and administer the carbon sequestration certification program. The purposes of the program are to provide a mechanism for creating and preserving carbon reserves in this state by encouraging voluntary practices that protect or improve natural resources, to enable Oklahomans to participate in market-based programs for natural resource protection, to provide a mechanism for Oklahomans to benefit from the ecosystem services they provide, to verify carbon sequestration or storage associated with carbon sequestration practices, and to issue carbon sequestration certificates associated with carbon sequestration practices that the Commission determines qualify for such certificates.
B. The Commission, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality and with the advice of the carbon sequestration stakeholder groups appointed by the Commission, shall develop and promulgate rules as necessary to administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this act, including, but not limited to, developing and implementing uniform standards and criteria for verifying carbon sequestration and storage associated with carbon sequestration practices and issuing carbon sequestration certificates associated with approved carbon sequestration practices. In promulgating the rules, the Commission shall develop the program to be as consistent as possible with other governmental programs designed to create carbon reserves for the purpose of voluntarily reducing greenhouse gases or designed to certify carbon sequestration practices.
C. In order for carbon sequestration to be verified and certified under this section, an applicant shall file an application with the Commission. Along with the application, the applicant shall submit a resource management plan, or a project plan as applicable, detailing activities that will increase or maintain existing trapped carbon including, but not limited to, improved forest management, alteration of or changes in silviculture practices, and growing of designated crops and any other such practices including, but not limited to, the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions through injection of carbon dioxide underground.
D. The Commission shall require applicants to submit such information, forms, and reports as are necessary to properly and efficiently administer the program.
E. Prior to granting a carbon sequestration certificate, the Commission shall adopt criteria associated with the approved carbon sequestration practice for which an application is submitted. In addition, the Commission shall determine, based upon compliance with the site criteria, the volume or numerical amount of credits or offsets achievable by the specific carbon sequestration practice.
F. Applications for a carbon sequestration certificate shall be approved or denied in accordance with criteria promulgated by the Commission.
G. The Commission is authorized to establish fees associated with the carbon sequestration certification program.
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§ 3-2-103. Executive Director, Technical Experts and Employees, Office Accommodations, Supplies and Equipment.
§ 3-2-107. Establishment and Maintenance of Environmental and Natural Resources Geographic Data Base System.
§ 3-3-103. Secretary, Technical Experts, and Employees - Legal Services - Delegation of Powers and Duties - Copies of Ordinances, Rules, Regulations, etc.
§ 3-3-411. Interpretation of "Operation and Maintenance"

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