Okla. Stat. tit. 72, § 72-63.2

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A. The Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall consist of nine (9)

members, all of whom shall be honorably discharged veterans. The

members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor with

the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the pleasure

of the Governor. All appointments shall be broadly representative

of the veterans of this state in terms of age, gender, and race or

ethnicity.

B. 1. Except as provided by paragraph 3 of subsection C of

this section, the Governor shall appoint six of the members from

lists of names provided by the executive officer of each of the

following veterans’ organizations in accordance with paragraph 1 of

subsection C of this section:

a. the American Legion,

b. the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,

c. the Disabled American Veterans,

d. the Paralyzed Veterans of America,

e. the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and

f. the National Guard Association of Oklahoma.

2. The Governor shall also appoint three members at large, at

least one of whom shall have completed his or her military service

on or after September 11, 2001.

C. Appointments to the Commission for the six members

representing veterans’ organizations shall be made as prescribed by

this subsection.

1. On or before March 1 of the year in which the term of the

organization’s appointee expires, the executive officer of the

organization shall submit to the Governor the following:

a. a list of three persons qualified to serve as members

of the Commission,

b. a certificate of good standing for the organization

issued by the Secretary of State,

c. a copy of the organization’s state and federal tax

returns for the immediately preceding tax year

including but not limited to the federal Return of

Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), and

d. a statement that describes the mission of the

organization and the services provided by the

organization and estimates to the best of the

executive officer’s knowledge the total number of

veterans the organization served in the preceding

calendar year.

2. For each veterans’ organization that complies with paragraph

1 of this subsection, the Governor shall appoint a member to the

Commission from the list of names provided by the organization.

3. If the organization fails to comply with paragraph 1 of this

subsection, the Governor may appoint a member at large in lieu of a

member representing the particular organization for the duration of

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the term. At the conclusion of the term, the appointment shall

revert to an appointee representing the particular organization,

subject to the requirements and process provided by this subsection.

D. Any vacancy on the Commission resulting from any cause shall

be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the

term as provided by this subsection.

1. When a vacancy of one of the three at-large members on the

Commission occurs, the Governor shall promptly appoint a member at

large to fill the vacancy.

2. When a vacancy of one of the six members representing

veterans’ organizations on the Commission occurs, the executive

officer of the organization represented by the vacant position

shall, not later than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs,

submit a list of three names of qualified persons and all other

information required by paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section

to the Governor.

3. For each veterans’ organization that complies with paragraph

2 of this subsection, the Governor shall choose a replacement from

the list provided by the organization. If the organization fails to

comply with paragraph 2 of this subsection, the Governor may appoint

a member at large in lieu of a member representing the particular

organization for the remainder of the unexpired term. At the
3. For each veterans’ organization that complies with paragraph

2 of this subsection, the Governor shall choose a replacement from

the list provided by the organization. If the organization fails to

comply with paragraph 2 of this subsection, the Governor may appoint

a member at large in lieu of a member representing the particular

organization for the remainder of the unexpired term. At the

conclusion of the term, the appointment shall revert to an appointee

representing the particular organization, subject to the

requirements and process provided by subsection C of this section.

E. Current members of the Commission shall continue in office

until the expiration of their terms and until their successors are

appointed and enter upon the duties of their offices.

F. Appointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years.

Terms shall begin and expire on July 1 of the respective years. No

member shall serve for more than two consecutive full terms.

G. 1. No person shall be appointed by the Governor who is

related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree to any

person employed by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.

2. Before any member appointed as provided herein shall enter

upon his or her duties as a member of the Commission, he or she

shall take and subscribe to the oath of office as required by the

Constitution of this state.

3. No member of the Commission shall be employed by the

Department during the time of his or her service on the Commission

nor shall any person who served as a member of the Commission be

employed by the Department subsequent to his or her service on the

Commission for a period of two (2) years.

H. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person whose

nomination has been submitted to the Legislature to fill a vacancy

on the Commission that existed as of the effective date of this act

may be appointed to the Commission on an acting or interim basis,

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may assume the duties of the office, and may receive any

compensation or travel reimbursement allowed by law for the position

pending confirmation by the Senate if the term of the former member

whose position is vacant has expired as of the effective date of

this act and if the nominee meets the qualifications prescribed by

this section.