SB 29(1) (Herbert/Seikel): Modifies compensation levels for county equalization and excise board members in counties with an assessed valuation of $2 billion or more to $75 per day. Provides that counties not be civilly liable for environmental problems or conditions existing on property involuntarily owned by the county due to tax forfeitures or with regard to remedial actions taken to correct environmental problems or conditions. The bill also provides that amounts received in excess of taxes due in tax sales are paid to the resale property fund, rather than the county sinking fund, after two years. Effective 11-1-99
SB 71(1) (Shurden/Leist): This bill amends the Transient Merchant Licensing Act by making the violation a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000. Also, the bill enacts a new section of law which, except as otherwise provided in the county purchasing act, allows the county purchasing agent to develop, implement and promote policies and procedures that allow procurement of materials and equipment through contracts that are flexible, value based and are in the best interests of the state and its political subdivisions. Effective 6-10-99

SB 92(1) (Long/Thornbrugh): Authorizes the governing body of each county to establish a length of time for the county to keep departmental records. Authorizes the sheriff to properly dispose of or convert to microfilm all records not specifically addressed in other statutes. The records shall be kept for a minimum of seven years; however, if the sheriff is the sole source for the records, the records shall not be destroyed but kept in retrievable form. Effective 11-1-99

SB 336(1) (Fisher/Deutschendorf): Creates the Oklahoma Rural Housing Incentive District Act. The Act includes the following provisions:

• Authorizes governing body of county or municipality to designate rural housing districts, after housing needs analysis. A resolution must be approved by the governing body, published, and submitted to the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency for approval;
  
  
• Requires adoption of project plan for district (up to 15 years), and a public hearing on the plan;
  
  
• Specifies procedures for public hearing and provides for nullification of ordinance or resolution establishing the district if governing bodies of affected school districts, municipalities and counties determine that the housing district will have an adverse impact;
  
  
• Allows governing body establishing a district to acquire real property (other than by eminent domain) and allows sales of property to developers;
  
  
• Allows municipality or county which has established a district to issue special obligation bonds to finance the project plan implementation, upon voter approval. Bonds are payable from property tax increments, revenues derived from the project, private or governmental sources, developer sureties or guarantees, and/or local governmental revenues. Bonds are exempt from all state taxes other than estate taxes, and have a maturity of up to 15 years;
  
  
• Specifies allowable uses of proceeds from bonds;
  
  
• Provides for the levy of assessments on property in the district to pay project costs; and
  
  
• Requires the municipal or county clerk to transmit land descriptions and other documentation relating to the district to taxing subdivisions within the district.

  Effective 11-1-99

SB 356(1) (Long/Thornbrugh): Allows county sheriffs of this state to enter into mutual aid agreements pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, to assist or provide law enforcement services to any town, city, and county within this state. Effective 7-1-99

SB 365(1) (Henry/Askins): Makes leasing a county owned hospital to a private entity easier by eliminating popular vote requirements in favor of a vote by county commissioners and by specifying requirements for lessees and procedures for assignments. Effective 7-1-99

SB 548(1) (Morgan/Taylor): Prohibits political subdivisions from displacing or passing an ordinance to displace private solid waste collection service without holding at least one public hearing, providing at least 45 days' written notice of the hearing in writing to all private solid waste collection companies which provide service in the political subdivision, and providing public notice of the hearing. Effective 11-1-99

HB1436(1) (Taylor/Shurden): Changes county purchasing procedures by:

• Increasing the exemption amount counties or boards can purchase from $2,500 to $7,500, if the quotes are in writing or by facsimile from vendors on the qualified bidders list,
  
  
• Deleting an exception to the bidding procedure, and
  
  
• Adding a new exception to the bidding procedure that allows any item which has been competitively bid by a state government or political subdivision within the preceding 6 months to be purchased at bid price, after quotes are obtained from the vendors on the county list of qualified bidders who offer the items for sale and after the State Auditor and Inspector ensures that the items purchased have been competitively bid by or on behalf of a state government or a political subdivision of a state government.

  Effective 11-1-99

HB 1492(1) (Nations/Brown): Sets procedures for detachment of municipal territory. The procedures include:

• An unsigned copy of the petition shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality before it is circulated and signed by at least 3/4 of the registered voters and by the owners of at least 3/4 in value or the property to be detached;
  
  
• Signed copies of the petition requesting detachment shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality within 90 days after the initial filing of the unsigned copy with the clerk;
  
  
• Setting notice requirements; and
  
  
• When signed copies of the petition are filed with the clerk, the clerk shall determine the sufficiency of the signatures appearing on the petition. The clerk shall publish in one newspaper of general circulation in the municipality a notice of the filing and within 10 days following the publication, the governing body of the municipality shall hold a public hearing on the petition.

  Appeal to the district court concerning any action by the clerk of the municipality on a petition requesting detachment shall be in the same manner provided for petitions requesting annexation.

  The bill also addresses the condemnation of dilapidated buildings, which is determined by the municipal governing body to be:

• an unsecured building more than three times within any 12 month period,
  
  
• a structure which has been boarded and secured for more than 36 months, or
  
  
• a structure declared by the municipal governing body to constitute a public nuisance.

  Effective 11-1-99

HB 1669(1) (Roggow/Wilkerson): Requires all newly elected sheriffs to complete, within 12 months, a sheriff's administrative school developed by the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association and which has been approved by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. Effective 11-1-99

HB 1774(1) (Stites/Laughlin): Authorizes counties to establish a County Officer and Employee Deferred Savings Incentive Plan. Effective 7-1-99