2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 74. State Government › §74-9202. Broadband Governing Board.

A. 1. There is hereby created until June 30, 2028, the Broadband Governing Board. The Board shall oversee the Oklahoma Broadband Office. Effective June 30, 2028, the Board shall terminate. The Board shall utilize the year prior to the termination date for the purpose of ceasing the Board's affairs.
2. The Board shall receive regular reports from the Office's Executive Director and the Executive Director's staff on the status of the Statewide Broadband Plan, the State Broadband Grant Program, other developed grant programs, and other projects the Office is undertaking, during regularly scheduled meetings.
B. The Board shall consist of nine (9) members. Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, two members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, three members shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be the Lieutenant Governor, and one member shall be the State Treasurer. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, appointees shall serve until June 30, 2028. No individual with an official affiliation, paid or unpaid, with any potential recipient of a grant administered under the provisions of this act, shall be appointed to or serve on the Board.
C. Each appointee shall serve at the pleasure of his or her appointing authority and may be removed or replaced without cause.
D. 1. The Board shall hold an organizational meeting not later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of this act. At such meeting, the Board shall adopt qualifications and a salary range for an Executive Director for the Oklahoma Broadband Office based on the recommendations of the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, and provide for the process of filling the position in a reasonable time in accordance with the laws of this state.
2. The Board shall hold meetings as necessary at a place and time to be fixed by the Board. The Board shall elect, at its first meeting, one of its members to serve as chair and another of its members to serve as vice-chair. At the first meeting in each calendar year thereafter, the chair and vice-chair for the ensuing year shall be elected. Special meetings may be called by the chair or by five members of the Board by delivery of written notice to each member of the Board. A majority of members serving on the Board shall constitute a quorum of the Board.
E. If a Board member is unable to fulfill his or her term for any reason, the appointing authority of such member may appoint a replacement to complete the remainder of the term.
F. The Board shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.
G. The Board shall employ, evaluate, and maintain an Executive Director of the Office who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed or replaced without cause.
H. The Board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the provisions of the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act and for the governance and operation of the Oklahoma Broadband Office.
I. The Board shall approve or disapprove all grant and incentive programs created by the Office under the provisions of this act or under law.
J. The Board shall oversee the annual budget for the Office, which shall be funded from the allowed administrative expenses of applicable federal programs and funds available for expenditure from the State Broadband Grant Program Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 10 of this act.
K. The Board shall approve the Statewide Broadband Plan and updates to the Plan as necessary.
Added by Laws 2022, c. 229, § 3, emerg. eff. May 6, 2022.