Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-8403

Creation - Membership - Compensation - Staffing.

A. There is hereby created the African-American Centennial

Plaza Design Committee. The purpose of the Committee shall be to

recommend the design of the African-American Centennial Plaza and to

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 1235

provide oversight and advice to the Oklahoma Historical Society in

the design, construction, and funding sources of the Plaza which

shall be located in the median of Lincoln Boulevard between 18th

Street and the State Capitol Building; provided, however, such

construction shall begin only when the total amount of non-state-

appropriated funds necessary to complete the Plaza has been raised

or secured. Should the total amount of non-state-appropriated funds

not be raised or secured within two (2) years after the effective

date of this act, the site referred to in this section shall no

longer be reserved for the Plaza.

B. The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:

1. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or a designee;

2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or a designee;

3. The Governor, or a designee;

4. The Lieutenant Governor, or a designee;

5. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society,

or a designee;

6. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise

Services, or a designee; and

7. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, or a

designee.

C. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of

the House of Representatives shall annually appoint a chair and a

vice-chair, respectively, from among the membership. The Committee

may elect other officers as deemed necessary. Meetings of the

Committee shall be subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Open

Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

D. Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for

their service on the Committee, but may receive travel reimbursement

as follows:

1. Legislative members of the Committee may be reimbursed for

necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their

duties in accordance with the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74

of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2. Nonlegislative state agency members of the Committee may be

reimbursed by their agencies pursuant to the provisions of the State

Travel Reimbursement Act; and

3. Other members of the Committee may be reimbursed by the

Oklahoma Historical Society pursuant to the provisions of the State

Travel Reimbursement Act.

E. Staffing for the Committee shall be provided by the staffs

of the:

1. Oklahoma Historical Society;

2. Oklahoma State Senate; and

3. Oklahoma House of Representatives.

F. The duties of the Committee shall be to:

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1. Develop criteria for and solicit public comment and input on

the development and design of the Plaza;

2. Develop and implement criteria for a design competition

which shall include, but not be limited to, solicitation of designs

from appropriate persons or entities, and incorporation of any work

that may already have been initiated on the design of the Plaza.

The Committee shall select three designs as finalists from among the

designs submitted through the competition and shall present the

selected designs to the public for comment and input. The Committee

shall give due consideration to the comments received from the

public in choosing the design that, in the opinion of a majority of

the Committee members, is most appropriate to commemorate the unique

history and contributions of African Americans in Oklahoma;

3. From the three finalists, select the design winner and an

alternate whose designs shall be forwarded to the Executive Director

of the Oklahoma Historical Society; and

4. Provide oversight and advice to the Oklahoma Historical

Society during the design and construction of the Plaza.

G. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
d contributions of African Americans in Oklahoma;

3. From the three finalists, select the design winner and an

alternate whose designs shall be forwarded to the Executive Director

of the Oklahoma Historical Society; and

4. Provide oversight and advice to the Oklahoma Historical

Society during the design and construction of the Plaza.

G. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise

Services shall be responsible for awarding all contracts related to

the construction of the Plaza. The Director, in consultation with

the Committee, may elect to use the alternate design or recommend

the reopening of the award process if the winning design

construction exceeds the anticipated budget for the Plaza.

H. Upon completion of the Plaza, the Office of Management and

Enterprise Services shall be responsible for the maintenance and

upkeep of the Plaza.