reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-641. Bond of county treasurer.

Before receiving the aforesaid "Assessment Book" the treasurer of each county in which lands or other property of the district are located, shall execute to the board of directors of the district a bond with at least two good and sufficient sureties or a surety company, and which shall be paid for by the district in a sum not less than the probable amount of any annual levy of said assessment to be collected by him during any one (1) year, on condition that said treasurer shall pay over and account for all assessments so collected by him according to law. Said bond after approval by said board of directors shall be deposited with the secretary of the board of directors who shall produce same for inspection and use as evidence whenever and wherever lawfully requested so to do.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 191, § 52.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-642. Lien of assessments - Correcting irregular assessments - Deeds.

All conservancy assessments as provided for in this title, together with all costs in collecting the same, remaining unpaid after they become due and collectable, shall constitute a lien on the specific properties against which the said assessments have been levied, said lien to be coequal with the lien of ad valorem taxes and all other taxes and all special assessments and shall be prior and superior to all other liens upon all the lands and other property against which such assessments shall be levied as is provided in this title. Such assessments shall be collected in each county by the county treasurer of each county as and at the time ad valorem taxes are collected, and any tax sale shall include all charges, and such lien may be evidenced by any ad valorem tax sale certificate including said charge substantially in the form required by law.
If any assessment made pursuant to the provisions of this title shall prove invalid, the board of directors shall subsequently amend all acts or proceedings promptly, and without delay remedy all defects or irregularities as the case may require by making and providing for the collection of new assessments or otherwise.
Unless expressly declared to the contrary, no warranty deed or other deed made pursuant to a judicial sale shall warrant against any portion of any assessment or assessments levied hereunder except installments due before the date of such deed.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 191, § 53. Amended by Laws 1961, p. 629, § 15; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 13; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 15; Laws 1970, c. 328, § 3, emerg. eff. April 28, 1970.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-644. Duties of municipal officers as to assessments against municipality - Dissolution of district - Rights of bond holders.

Whenever assessments are made against a county, city, town or township, it shall be the duty of the governing or taxing body of said political subdivision, upon receipt of the order of the court which established the district, confirming the appraisal of benefits and assessments based thereon, to receive and file the said order, and to immediately take all the legal and necessary steps to collect the same. It shall be the duty of the said governing or taxing body or persons to levy and assess a tax by a uniform rate in addition to all other taxes authorized, or limitations fixed, upon all the taxable property within the political subdivision, to make out the proper estimate, and fix the proper rate, and certify the same to the county clerk and county treasurer of the county in which such subdivision is, whose duty it shall be to receive same, certify the same for collection to the treasurer of the county as other ad valorem taxes, and his duty it shall be to collect the same for the benefit of the conservancy district, all of said officers above named being authorized and directed to take all the necessary steps for the levying, collection and distribution of such tax.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the assessment of the real estate or other property of corporations or persons situated within such political subdivision, which may be subject to assessment for special benefits to be received.
In the event of any dissolution or disincorporation of any conservancy district organized pursuant to the provisions of this act, such dissolution or disincorporation shall not affect the lien of any assessment for benefits imposed pursuant to the provisions of this act, or the liability of any land or lands in such district to the levy of any future assessments for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of any bonds issued hereunder, and that in event of any failure on the part of the officers of any district to qualify and act or in the event of any resignations or vacancies in office, which shall prevent action by the said district or by its proper officers, it shall be the duty of the county clerk and of all officers charged in any manner with the duties of assessing, levying and collecting for public purposes in any county, municipality, political subdivision in which such lands shall be situated to do and perform all acts which may be necessary and requisite to the collection of any such assessment which may have been imposed and to the levying, imposing and collecting of any assessment which it may be necessary to make for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on said bond.
Any holder of any bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this act or any person or officers being a party in interest may either at law or in equity by suit, action or mandamus, enforce and compel performance of the duties required by this act of any of the officers or persons mentioned in this act.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 192, § 55.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-645. Use of surplus funds.

Any surplus funds in the treasury of the district may be used for retiring bonds, reducing loans or obligations, reducing the rate of assessments or for the accomplishing of any other of the legitimate objects of this district.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 193, § 56. Amended by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 16, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-646. Compensation of officials.

Each member of the board of directors and each appraiser shall receive compensation allowed by the court and his necessary expenses for the time actually employed in performing his duties. Before any duties devolve upon a county clerk or county treasurer under this act the board of directors of the district shall consult them and agree upon the salaries for the extra clerical force, if any, required in their respective offices to carry out the requirements of the law by reason of the establishment of said district, and the said board of directors shall provide for and pay said salaries to said clerk or clerks, while engaged on the work of the district, which clerk shall be selected and appointed by each of said county officers for their respective offices. In case of disagreement as to the compensation of such extra clerical force, the matter shall be referred to the court for its determination.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 193, § 57. Amended by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 17.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-647. Borrowing of money - Approval.

Conservancy districts may borrow money in any amount, which, exclusive of interest, does not exceed the assessments then levied but not collected, for any purpose incident to its powers and functions and for any purpose provided by law, and may evidence such debt by contract, agreement, notes or warrants payable within any term not to exceed forty (40) years, and to bear interest at not to exceed the market prime rate per year, provided that the interest rate not exceed twelve and one-half percent (12 1/2%) per year. To secure such loan or loans, the directors may pledge any assessment then levied but not collected by the district and may agree to such other terms and conditions, not incompatible with the provisions of this title. Before any such loan is entered into by the district, the board of directors shall make application to the district court having jurisdiction of said district for approval of such loan. The application shall set forth, the amount of the loan, the interest rate, the purpose for which the loan is needed and a plan of repayment. The application shall be set for hearing by the court and notice by publication given to all owners of land upon which assessment has been made by the district, without naming such owners individually. Upon said hearing, if the owners of land in the district upon which a majority of assessment has been made have not filed written protests before the date of the hearing, and if the court finds that such loan is necessary and in the best interests of the district, the court shall approve the application.
Amended by Laws 1987, c. 208, § 33, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1987, c. 236, § 62, emerg. eff. July 20, 1987.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-648. Necessity and amount of assessments in master conservancy districts.

The board of directors of any master conservancy district formed under the provisions of this act may determine, by resolution, the necessity and amount of assessments and the respective portions thereof to be paid by the component areas of said district, based upon the relative benefits anticipated for said component areas, and may be adjusted by said board, from time to time, as necessary to insure equitable allocation thereof. Funds secured in the manner herein provided shall be used to defray the expenses of initial organization, conducting project studies, investigations and payment of other expenses necessary to accomplish the objectives and purposes of the district. Such component areas through their governing bodies are hereby authorized to make the necessary contributions for defraying the expenses set forth above.
Added by Laws 1961, p. 629, § 14.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-649. Designation of fiscal year - Reports - Accounting.

The board of directors shall designate the fiscal year for the district, which fiscal year shall not be changed except with approval of the district court.
Annually, or more often if the court shall order, and within thirty (30) days of the ending of the fiscal year, the board of directors shall make and file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the district, a report of its proceedings and an accounting of the receipts and disbursements for such fiscal year, using forms approved by the State Auditor and Inspector. Any interested person may object to such report, in writing, within sixty (60) days of the ending of the fiscal year. When objections are filed, the Court may order the auditing of district accounts and may order a hearing on such objections, and after giving such notice as the court may direct.
Laws 1967, c. 382, § 20, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 1979, c. 30, § 158, emerg. eff. April 6, 1979.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-661. Lands in more than one district.

The same land, if conducive to public health, safety, convenience or welfare, may be included in more than one district and be subject to the provisions of this act for each and every district in which it may be included, provided, that no district shall be organized under this act, in whole or in part, within the territory of a district already organized under this act until the court or courts determine whether the public health, safety, convenience or welfare demand the organization of an additional district, or whether it demand that the territory proposed to be organized into an additional district shall be added to the existing district, and in case the proceedings concerning two or more such districts are before the district court of two or more counties, such determination shall be as provided in the next section.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 193, § 58.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-662. Jurisdiction of courts as to districts being organized in same territory.

In case any district or districts are being organized within or partly within and partly without, the same territory in which some other district or districts have been or are being organized, then one district judge of each judicial district in which said conservancy districts have been or are being organized shall confer at the earliest convenient moment after they ascertain the possibility of a conflict in jurisdiction, the sitting to be had in the county having the largest assessed valuation in the proposed district or districts.
At such conference the several judges shall determine to what extent the several districts should be consolidated or to what extent the boundaries should be adjusted in order to most fully carry out the purposes of this act, and they shall by suitable orders make such determination effective. In the event notices have been issued or jurisdiction acquired in any proceedings concerning territory which is transferred to the district court of another county, such notice shall not become void and jurisdiction so acquired shall not be lost, but in each case the court acquiring jurisdiction over such transferred territory shall hold the same without further notice, as if originally embraced in said district.
At such conferences the decision of the majority of the judges shall be necessary for the determination of any matter, and from such decision or from a failure to decide, appeal may be taken.
The provisions of this and the preceding section shall not operate to delay or to interrupt any proceedings under this act until the question of jurisdiction has been fully determined by the court or courts.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 193, § 59.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-663.1. Union or conversion of drainage districts.

The provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes, Section 663, relating to the union of conservancy districts shall apply equally to drainage districts organized under the provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes. Any drainage district so organized may unite with a conservancy district under those provisions, or any drainage district may become a conservancy district and henceforth be under and governed by the provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes, Sections 531-687 by following those provisions.
Said petition to unite or convert the form of organization and government need contain no other allegations than that the governing board or boards desire to accept the provisions of this act.
Laws 1955, p. 471, § 1.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-663.2. Order for union or conversion of drainage district - Rights, remedies, and obligations.

If such union or reorganization is ordered by the court, the order shall set out the fact that all pending litigation and claims, and outstanding bonds, refunding bonds, warrants, assessments, and obligations shall continue in their status quo, and that all rights, remedies, and obligations are preserved as under the former organization. Such order shall set the effective date of such change, and on such date all funds, levies, taxes, and assessments shall become operative under the newly formed or organized conservancy district.
Laws 1955, p. 471, § 2.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-664. Remedy for injury by district - Procedure.

Except as otherwise provided or authorized by the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, any person or public corporation injuriously affected in any manner whatsoever by an act performed by any official or agent of a district established pursuant to the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, or by the execution, maintenance or operation of the official plan, pursuant to the provisions of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, may seek relief for such injury. Any such remedy shall be subject to the provisions of the Governmental Tort Claims Act.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 195, § 61. Amended by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 18, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 2000, c. 59, § 3, emerg. eff. April 14, 2000.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-665. Subdistricts - Administration.

Whenever it is desired to construct improvements wholly within or partly within and partly without any district organized under this act, which improvements will affect only a part of said district, for the purpose of accomplishing such work, subdistricts may be organized upon petition of the owners of real property, within or partly within and partly without the district, which petition shall fulfill the same requirements concerning the subdistricts as the petition outlined in Section 4 of this act is required to fulfill concerning the organization of the main district, and shall be filed with the clerk of the same district court, and shall be accompanied by a bond as provided for in Section 5 of this act. All proceedings relating to such subdistricts shall conform in all things to the provisions of this act relating to the organization of districts. Whenever the court shall, by its order duly entered of record, declare and decree such subdistricts to be organized, the clerk of said court shall thereupon give notice of such order to the directors of the district, who shall thereupon act also as directors of the subdistricts. Thereafter, the proceedings in reference to the subdistricts shall in all matters conform to the provisions of this act; except that in appraisal of benefits and damages for the purposes of such subdistricts, in the issuance of bonds, in the levying of assessments or taxes, and in all other matters affecting only the subdistricts, the provisions of this act shall apply to this subdistrict as though it were an independent district, and it shall not, in these things be amalgamated with the main district.
The board of directors, board of appraisers, chief engineer, attorney, secretary and other agents and employees of the district shall, so far as it may be necessary, serve in the same capacities for such subdistrict, and contracts and agreements between the main district and the subdistrict may be made in the same manner as contracts and agreements between two districts. The distribution of administrative expense between the main district and subdistrict shall be in proportion to the interests involved and the amount of service rendered, such division to be made by the board of directors with an appeal to the court establishing the district. This section shall not be held to prevent the organization of independent districts for local improvements under other laws, within the limits of a district organized under this act, as provided in Sections 59 and 60 of this act.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 196, § 62.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-666. Other improvements may come under act - Procedure.

Any territory in which a proceeding has been instituted or is pending for construction of a single or joint or interstate, or county ditch, or township ditch, or underground drain, or levee, or county sewer, or for the cleaning of drains and water courses, or for the removal of drifts, or for the drainage of marshes; or for any sewer district outside of a municipality, or organized under any other law of this state, may become a district or subdistrict under this act, or may be absorbed in and amalgamated with any district organized under the terms of this act in the following manner:
When the officials in charge of any such improvement, or in the board of directors of any district organized under this act, which may desire to annex or absorb such territory, petition the court in which such district was organized under this act, or the court having jurisdiction over all or part of the territory affected by the proceedings which is desired to bring under this act, for an order making the territory affected by any of the improvements above noted a district or subdistrict under the terms of this act, or for amalgamating such territory with an existing district, organized under the terms of this act, the court clerk shall give notice of the pendency of said petition and of a hearing thereon in the same manner as herein provided for notice and hearing on a petition for the organization of a district under this act. At the time of such hearing the court shall hear the evidence and shall grant the petition or deny the same, as seems most advantageous to all the interests affected thereby.
The court, in its order shall specify whether such territory shall be organized into a district or subdistrict under the terms of this act, or whether it shall be absorbed in or amalgamated with an existing district, organized under this act. Thereafter the territory affected by said order and the improvements for which said territory was assessed, or for which contracts have been let therein, shall be subject to the terms of this act, and all such orders and procedure shall be had, as are necessary for fulfilling the requirements of this act; provided, that no order of the court shall be made under this section, which shall lessen the security of any issue of bonds or other obligations issued under the terms of this or any other statute.
If a proceeding sought to be joined to or amalgamated with a proceeding under this act is under the jurisdiction of a district court other than the one having jurisdiction of the district organized under this act, then at such hearing the district judge or judges of the county or counties in which such ditch or other improvements is located shall sit with the judge in whose county the district was established under this act, and a majority of those sitting shall be necessary to a decision; and from such decision or from a failure to decide appeal may be taken.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 196, § 63.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-668. Payment of monies due United States from master conservancy districts - Levies and assessments.

All payments to become due to the United States under any federal contract entered into between a master conservancy district and the United States may be paid from revenues or derived from assessments upon the real property of the district, as provided in the Conservancy Act. It shall be the duty of the board of directors of a contracting district, pursuant to the provisions of the Conservancy Act, to make and establish all levies, assessments, tolls or charges to meet each year the contract indebtedness and obligation as the same may be provided for in any federal contract heretofore or hereafter entered into by a contracting district and to do any and all acts necessary to carry out the provisions of any such federal contract.
Laws 1961, p. 626, § 10.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-669. Suits for or against district - Name - Service of process.

In all suits in any court for damages, condemnation or other proceedings, whether brought for or against such conservancy district, the same shall be brought in the name of the conservancy district as fixed and established by the decree of incorporation, and shall be under the direction of its board of directors and in all suits against such conservancy district service of summons shall be issued and served upon the president of the board of directors; or, if the president of said board of directors is not found in the county, then upon a member of the board of directors of said district, or if none of the aforesaid directors can be found, then by serving the secretary or treasurer and by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or usual place of business of said district, with the person having charge thereof.
Added by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 19, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-671. Directors may police district.

The board of directors shall have the right to police the works of the district, and in times of great emergency may compel assistance in the protection of such work, and shall, also, have the right to prevent persons, vehicles or live stock from passing over the works of the district in any manner which would result in damage thereto.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 197, § 64.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-672. Injury to survey marks prohibited - Penalty.

The willful destruction, injury or removal of any bench marks, witness marks, stakes or other reference marks, placed by surveyors or engineers of the district, or by contractors in constructing the works of the district, shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 197, § 65.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-673. Owners liable for damage to district - Repairs.

All persons and corporations shall be liable for damage done to works of the district by themselves, their agents, their employees, or by their livestock. All persons guilty of willful damage shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall on conviction be fined not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and costs, and shall be liable for all damages and costs. The board of directors shall have authority to repair such damage at the expense of the person or corporation committing it.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 198, § 66.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-674. Fraud or other illegal acts of officials - Fine.

The making of profit, directly or indirectly, by any officer of any district organized under this act, or by any public officer within the state, out of any contracts entered into by the district, or by use of any contracts entered into by the district, or by use of any money belonging to a district by lending it or otherwise using it, or by depositing the same in any manner, contrary to law, or by removal of any money by any such officer or by his consent and placing elsewhere than is prescribed either by law or by the official acts of the board of directors for the purpose of profit, or any person who shall misrepresent any material fact concerning the proposed project to any property owner when procuring signatures to a petition to inaugurate such project, shall constitute a felony, and on conviction thereof shall subject such officer to imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not exceeding two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment, and the officer offending shall be liable personally and upon his official bond for all losses to such district and for all profits realized by such unlawful use of monies.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 198, § 67. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 593, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 429, eff. July 1, 1999.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 593 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-676. Performance of duties enforced by mandamus.

The performance of all duties prescribed in this act concerning the organization and administration or operation of the district may be enforced against any officer or against any person or corporation refusing to comply with any order of the board by mandamus at the instance of the board or of any person or corporation interested in any way in such district or proposed district. And the board may institute such proceedings in the court in the first instance.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 198, § 69.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-681. Faulty notice - How corrected.

In any and every case where a notice is provided for in this act, if the court finds that due notice was not given, the court shall not thereby lose jurisdiction, and the proceedings in question shall not thereby be void; but the court shall in that case order due notice to be given, and shall continue the hearing until such time as such notice shall be properly given and thereupon shall proceed as though notice had been properly given in the first instance.
In case any individual appraisal or appraisals, assessment or assessments, or levy or levies, shall be held void for want of legal notice, or in case the board may determine that any notice with reference to any land or lands may be faulty, then the board may file a motion in the original cause asking that the court order notice to the owner of such land or lands given and set a time for hearing as provided in this act. And in case the original notice as a whole, was sufficient, and was faulty with reference to publication as to certain tracts, only the owners of and persons interested in those particular tracts need be notified by such subsequent notice, and if the publication of any notice in any county was defective or not made in time, republication of the defective notice need be had only in the county in which the defect occurred.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 199, § 71.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-682. Questions of validity of districts to be expedited in court.

All cases in which there arises a question of validity of the organization of conservancy districts shall be advanced as a matter of immediate public interest and concern, and heard in all courts at the earliest practicable moment.
The court shall be open at all times for the purpose of this act.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 199, § 72.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-683. Act to be liberally construed.

This act being necessary for securing the public health, safety, convenience or welfare, and being necessary for the prevention of great loss of life and for the security of public and private property from floods and other uncontrolled waters, it shall be liberally construed to effect the control and conservation and drainage of the waters of this state.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 199, § 73.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-685. Repeals - Certain laws not affected.

All acts or parts of acts conflicting in any way with any of the provisions of this act, in regard to improvements of this or a similar character, or otherwise interfering with the execution of this law according to its terms, are hereby declared inoperative and ineffective as to this act, as if they did not exist. But all such laws and parts of laws shall not be in any way affected by this law. This act shall not repeal Chapter 38 of the Oklahoma Compiled Statutes, 1921, or any amendment thereto, but it shall be an additional remedy.
Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 200, § 75.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-686. Short forms and abbreviations.

For the sake of convenience:
(a) In any orders of the court the words, "The court now here finds that it hath jurisdiction of the parties to and of the subject matter of this proceeding," shall be equivalent to a finding that each jurisdiction upon the court, beginning with the proper signing and filing of the initial petition to the date of the order containing such recital, have been scrutinized by the court and found to meet every legal requirement imposed by this act.
(b) No other or further evidence of the legal hypothecation of the special assessment to the payment of the bonds shall be required than the passage of a bonding resolution by the board of directors and the issuance of bonds in accordance therewith.
(c) In the preparation of any assessment or appraisal roll the usual abbreviations employed by engineers, surveyors and abstractors may be used.
(d) Where properly to describe any parcel of land it would be necessary to use a long description, the appraisers, after locating the land generally may refer to the book and page of the public record of any instrument in which the land is described, which reference shall suffice to identify for all the purposes of this act the land described in this public record referred to.
(e) It shall not be necessary in any notice required by this act to be published to specify the names of the owners of the lands or of the persons interested therein; but any such notice may be addressed, "To All Persons Interested," with like effect as though such notice named by name every owner, of any lands within the territory specified in the notice and every person interested therein, and every lienor, actual or inchoate, except that the notice of assessments or appraisals shall be as provided otherwise herein.
(f) Every district heretofore created or hereinafter declared upon hearing to be a conservancy district shall be an improvement district as provided in Article 16 of the Constitution of Oklahoma, and shall be invested with all the powers and privileges conferred upon such districts by the Constitution of Oklahoma and this act.
Added by Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 200, § 76. Amended by Laws 1959, p. 381, § 11.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-688. Exemption from taxation.

All properties owned by the district, both real and personal, and reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of district shall be exempt from taxation by the State of Oklahoma, or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision. All properties, products and benefits sold, leased or furnished by such districts shall be exempt from sales tax.
All bonds, notes and warrants and the interest thereon, issued pursuant to the provisions of this act, shall be exempt from taxation (except inheritance taxes) by the State of Oklahoma, or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision, or taxing district of the state.
Added by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 21, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-688.1. Exemption from payment of sales, use and vehicle excise taxes - Registration of vehicles.

Conservancy districts and master conservancy districts organized under the provisions of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma shall be exempt from the payment of sales and use taxes on purchases and use of tangible personal property in this state, from the payment of motor fuel taxes as provided in Section 500.10 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and from payment of the vehicle excise tax levied on the transfer or first registration of vehicles purchased and used in Oklahoma, and the vehicles of such districts shall be registered each year for a nominal fee of One Dollar ($1.00), after having obtained the proper Oklahoma certificate of title.
Added by Laws 1969, c. 64, § 1, emerg. eff. March 5, 1969. Amended by Laws 2009, c. 426, § 20, eff. July 1, 2009.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-861. District created and territory included - Governmental agency and body politic - Powers - Designation of land and water.

There is hereby created within the State of Oklahoma a conservation and reclamation district to be known as "Grand River Dam Authority", hereinafter called the district, and consisting of that part of the State of Oklahoma which is included within the boundaries of the Counties of Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Muskogee, Ottawa, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Tulsa, Wagoner, Sequoyah, Haskell, Latimer, Pittsburg, McIntosh, Creek, Okmulgee, Nowata, Washington and Rogers. Such district shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a governmental agency of the State of Oklahoma, body politic and corporate, with powers of government and with the authority to exercise the rights, privileges and functions hereinafter specified, including the control, storing, preservation and distribution of the waters of the Grand River and its tributaries, for irrigation, power and other useful purposes and reclamation and irrigation of arid, semiarid and other lands needing irrigation, and the conservation and development of the forests, minerals, land, water and other resources and the conservation and development of hydroelectric power and other electrical energy, from whatever source derived, of the State of Oklahoma.
Nothing in this act or in any other act or law contained, however, shall be construed as authorizing the district to levy or collect taxes or assessments, or to create any indebtedness payable out of the taxes or assessments, or in any manner to pledge the credit of the State of Oklahoma, or any subdivision thereof.
All that body of land and the water impounded above the Pensacola Dam, Pensacola Project, shall be hereafter designated and known as "Grand Lake O'The Cherokees". All that body of land and the water impounded above Robert S. Kerr Dam, Markham Ferry Project, shall be hereafter designated and known as "Lake Hudson". All that body of land and the water impounded above Chimney Rock Dam, Salina Pumped-Storage Project, shall be designated and known as "W. R. Holway Reservoir".
Laws 1935, p. 350, § 1; Laws 1937, p. 481, § 1; Laws 1941, p. 472, § 1; Laws 1941, p. 475, § 1; Laws 1949, p. 633, § 1; Laws 1957, p. 562, § 1; Laws 1978, c. 283, § 1, emerg. eff. May 10, 1978; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 9, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-862.1. Grand River Dam Authority - Exemptions.

In addition to the powers, rights and privileges enumerated in Section 862 of this title, the Grand River Dam Authority shall be exempt from the provisions of:
1. The Oklahoma Open Records Act, exclusively limited to:
a.
customer proprietary information the Authority is contractually obligated to keep confidential,
b.
security plans and procedures in its role as an electric utility regulated by the federal government,
c.
information related to the security of electrical or dam infrastructure and related information systems that, if misused, could interfere with, attack, compromise, or incapacitate the infrastructure or information systems including information related to the ability of the infrastructure or information systems to resist such interference, compromise, or incapacitation. Such information includes, but is not limited to, any planned or past assessment, projection, or estimate of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure or information system, security testing, risk evaluation, risk management plans, operational plans, structural schematics, recovery or response plans, or risk audits, and
d.
proprietary or commercial information received subject to a nondisclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement;
2. The Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, exclusively limited to authorizing the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors to confer on:
a.
coal or gas fuel supply and transportation contracts,
b.
power purchase agreements, and
c.
security plans and procedures in its role as an electric utility regulated by the federal government; and
3. Title 61 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
4. The Information Technology Consolidation and Coordination Act;
5. The State Travel Reimbursement Act; and
6. The Surplus Property Act; provided that, the district may, on a transactional basis, elect to make itself subject to the requirements of the Surplus Property Act.
Added by Laws 2001, c. 397, § 7, emerg. eff. June 4, 2001. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 461, § 18, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 524, § 2; Laws 2015, c. 325, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 507, § 3, eff. July 1, 2019; Laws 2022, c. 226, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2022.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-863.3. Joint Legislative Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority - Members - Travel reimbursements.

A. There is hereby created the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority for the purpose of studying the functions, activities, policies, procedures and expenditures performed by the district and any related issues the task force deems appropriate. Members of the task force shall be appointed in January of each year following a state general election by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Membership shall be made up of five members of the Senate and five members of the House of Representatives whose legislative districts include a portion of the Grand River Dam Authority district to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The President Pro Tempore and Speaker shall each designate one of their members to be cochairs of the task force. The task force shall be required to meet at least once biennially during the first session of each new legislature. Additional meetings may be called as the cochairs determine necessary. Meetings of the task force shall be called by the cochairs. A majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the task force. Staffing assistance shall be provided by the staff of the Senate and House of Representatives.
B. The members of the task force created herein shall continue to serve until new members are appointed pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section. The task force is authorized to adopt any recommendations or issue any report it deems necessary. Any recommendations or reports shall be approved by a majority of the appointed members. Copies of any recommendations or reports issued by the task force shall be distributed to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the members of the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Grand River Dam Authority.
C. The Grand River Dam Authority shall annually provide a copy of the district's most recent annual report to the members of the task force in addition to any information requested pursuant to the provisions of this section.
D. Members serving on the task force shall not be entitled to travel reimbursement.
Added by Laws 2007, c. 192, § 3. Amended by Laws 2011, c. 247, § 1; Laws 2019, c. 507, § 5, eff. July 1, 2019.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-864. Appointment of secretary and other officers - Compensation of officers, agents and employees.

A. 1. The Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority shall select a secretary who shall keep true and complete records of all proceedings of the Board. Until the appointment of a secretary, or in the event of absence or inability to act, a secretary pro tempore shall be selected by the Board.
2. The Board shall also select a chief executive officer of the district, and a treasurer, who may also hold the office of secretary.
3. All such officers shall have the powers and duties, and shall hold office for such term and be subject to removal in such manner as may be provided in the compensation of such officers. The Board may appoint such officers, fix their compensation and term of office and the method by which they may be removed and delegate to them such other powers and duties as it may deem appropriate.
4. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Board and its members shall deal with the operations of the district solely through the Chief Executive Officer. The Board and its members shall not:
a.
direct or request the Chief Executive Officer or other authority to appoint or remove officers or employees except as herein provided,
b.
participate in any manner in the appointment or removal of officers and employees of the district, except as provided by law, or
c.
give orders or ordinary administrative matters to any subordinate of the Chief Executive Officer either publicly or privately.
B. The Chief Executive Officer may appoint such other officers, agents, and employees, fix their compensation pursuant to the provisions of this section, and term of office and the method by which they may be removed, and delegate to them such of its power and duties as the Chief Executive Officer may deem proper.
Added by Laws 1935, p. 353, § 4. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 299, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1997, c. 240, § 2, emerg. eff. May 23, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 391, § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 459, § 4; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 1061; Laws 2015, c. 88, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 507, § 6, eff. July 1, 2019.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-864.1. Retired employees - Payment of health insurance premiums.

Except as otherwise provided for in this section, for the life of a retired employee, the Grand River Dam Authority shall pay not less than Sixty Dollars ($60.00) of its retired member’s, employee only, health insurance premiums as long as the retiree elects to continue participation in one of the plans offered by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board. Such payment made by the Grand River Dam Authority shall be in addition to any amount contributed by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 1316.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. At its discretion, the Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority may elect to pay more than Sixty Dollars ($60.00) toward the health insurance premium of a retired employee.
If the sum of the amount paid by the Grand River Dam Authority plus the medical supplement paid by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 1316.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes exceeds the amount of the retired member’s, employee only, health insurance premium, the Authority may reduce the amount it contributes.
Added by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 5. Amended by Laws 2004, c. 524, § 4; Laws 2005, c. 234, § 4, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-865. District funds - Deposit - Official bonds - Surety.

The funds of the district shall be deposited in accordance with Section 870 of this title and any bond resolutions or indentures issued thereunder. The Chief Executive Officer, the treasurer and all other officers, agents and employees of the district who shall be charged with the collection, custody or payment of any funds of the district shall give bond conditioned on the faithful performance of their duties and an accounting for all funds and property of the district coming into their respective hands, each of which bonds shall be in form and amount and with a surety, which shall be a surety company authorized to do business in the state, approved by the Board, and the premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the district and charged as an operating expense.
Added by Laws 1935, p. 353, § 5. Amended by Laws 1947, p. 624, § 2; Laws 1957, p. 565, § 2; Laws 1970, c. 263, § 3, emerg. eff. April 23, 1970; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 12, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 2019, c. 507, § 7, eff. July 1, 2019.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 82. Waters and Water Rights › §82-866. Domicile of district - Accounts and records - Contracts - Annual audit - Filing - Public inspection.

The domicile of the district shall be in the County of Mayes, where the district shall maintain its principal office in charge of its Chief Executive Officer, until otherwise designated by the affirmative vote of four directors. The district shall cause to be kept complete and accurate accounts conforming to any generally accepted accounting principles. The accounts and all contracts, documents and records of the district shall be kept at the principal office. The accounts and contracts shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The Board shall cause to be made and completed within ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year an audit of the books of account and financial records of the district for such calendar year, such audit to be made by an independent certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants. Electronic copies of the audit report, certified to by the accountant or accountants, shall be placed and kept on file with the Governor, the State Treasurer, Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the State Auditor and Inspector, and at the principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The audit shall also be filed with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, in accordance with the requirements set forth for financial statement audits in Section 212A of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 1935, p. 353, § 6. Amended by Laws 1939, p. 561, § 2, emerg. eff. April 8, 1939; Laws 1955, p. 475, § 2, emerg. eff. Feb. 14, 1955; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 13, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 1996, c. 290, § 20, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 1062; Laws 2019, c. 507, § 8, eff. July 1, 2019; Laws 2021, c. 282, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.