Okla. Stat. tit. 56, § 56-162.1b

- Disability issues - Administration.

A. There are hereby created four Department of Human Services

Citizens Advisory Panels to evaluate core program and administrative

areas of the Department and to develop recommendations to improve

the programs and administration of the Department. These Panels are

for Children and Family Issues, Aging Issues, Disability Issues and

Administration. Each Panel shall be composed of five (5) members.

Each appointee shall demonstrate an interest or expertise in the

area of responsibility of the Panel to which the member is

appointed. The Panels shall be established as follows:

1. The Citizens Advisory Panel for Children and Family Issues

shall be composed of:

a. one member to be appointed by the Governor,

b. one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 41

c. one member to be appointed by the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate,

d. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the House of Representatives, and

e. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the Senate;

2. The Citizens Advisory Panel for Aging Issues shall be

composed of:

a. one member to be appointed by the Governor,

b. one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House

of Representatives,

c. one member to be appointed by the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate,

d. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the House of Representatives, and

e. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the Senate;

3. The Citizens Advisory Panel for Disability Issues shall be

composed of:

a. one member to be appointed by the Governor,

b. one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House

of Representatives,

c. one member to be appointed by the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate,

d. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the House of Representatives, and

e. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the Senate; and

4. The Citizens Advisory Panel for Administration shall be

composed of:

a. one member to be appointed by the Governor,

b. one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House

of Representatives,

c. one member to be appointed by the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate,

d. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the House of Representatives, and

e. one member to be appointed by the minority leader of

the Senate.

B. Appointing authorities shall appoint members from diverse

backgrounds with specialized interests in public welfare, human

services and the specific area of expertise relevant to the Panel to

which the member is appointed. Appointees shall not be members of

the Oklahoma Legislature. Panels may meet at their discretion

anywhere in the state for the purposes of soliciting input from any

interested party including but not limited to employees of the

Department, persons receiving services from the Department and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 42

community stakeholders. Members shall be reimbursed for travel

expenses in accordance with the provisions of the State Travel

Reimbursement Act. Each respective panel shall also conduct

meetings open to the public at least four (4) times per year but not

more than six (6) times per year without prior approval from the

Director of Human Services. The dates, times and locations of

public meetings shall be filed with the Secretary of State on or

before December 15th of the preceding calendar year. An agenda for

each public meeting shall be posted in prominent public view at the

location at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance and identify all

items of business to be transacted. Before any Panel member or

members initiate efforts to informally solicit input on behalf of a

Panel, such action must first be listed on a public meeting agenda

and approved by a vote of the respective Panel. All Panels shall
public meeting shall be posted in prominent public view at the

location at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance and identify all

items of business to be transacted. Before any Panel member or

members initiate efforts to informally solicit input on behalf of a

Panel, such action must first be listed on a public meeting agenda

and approved by a vote of the respective Panel. All Panels shall

meet together at least one time per year in a Joint Citizens

Advisory Panel meeting open to the public to be called by the

Director of Human Services. The Governor shall appoint one of the

members of each Panel as Chair until each Panel has an

organizational meeting and elects a chair. Each Panel chair shall

be selected by a majority of each respective Panel to serve a one

(1) year term with no prohibition on serving consecutive terms.

C. The Department shall provide administrative support for the

Panels and the Attorney General shall provide the Panels with

general counsel. The Panels shall have reasonable access to

Department records and personnel necessary to examine Department

policies, practices and outcomes. The members shall operate under

the same confidentiality restrictions as any employee or agent of

the Department.

D. The Panels shall function as Advisory Panels to provide

advice, information and analysis to the Director on the programs and

services of the Department and their impact on outcomes. Each panel

shall identify programs and services which could be improved or

enhanced and report these recommendations in writing to the

Director. Recommendations made to the Director shall be discussed

and agreed upon by a vote of the respective Panel during a public

meeting. The appropriate Panels shall also offer recommendations

for the implementation of the Pinnacle Plan. Each Panel, including

the Joint Citizens Advisory Panel, shall make recommendations to

improve the services and efficiency of the Department in their

specific area and report on such recommendations to the Governor,

Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore

of the Senate and the Director by December 31 of each year.

E. The panels shall sunset July 1, 2016.