2019 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74. State Government
§74-840-5.27. Agencies subject to the Merit System – Requests for authorization to add unclassified positions and employees or to reclassify positions or employees.

A. State agencies subject to the provisions of the Merit System of Personnel Administration shall submit requests to the subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee of the Oklahoma State Senate under whose jurisdiction the state agency resides for authorizations to add unclassified positions and employees to the state service that are in addition to unclassified positions already authorized by law. The Legislature may approve or disapprove the request by the proper passage of a concurrent resolution introduced by the chair or vice-chair of the subcommittee.

B. State agencies subject to the provisions of the Merit System of Personnel Administration shall submit requests to the subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee of the Oklahoma State Senate under whose jurisdiction the state agency resides for authorizations for reclassification of current positions and employees in the state service not already specified as classified or unclassified by law. The Legislature may approve or disapprove the request by the proper passage of a concurrent resolution introduced by the chair or vice-chair of the subcommittee.

C. Except as otherwise provided by this section:

1. If the requests are received on or before April 1, the Legislature shall have until the last day of the regular legislative session of that year to review the requests; and

2. If the requests are received after April 1, the Legislature shall have until the last day of the regular legislative session of the next year to review the requests.

D. Unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature, whenever a request is disapproved as provided in subsection A or B of this section, the agency submitting the request shall not have authority to resubmit an identical request, except during the first sixty (60) calendar days of the next regular legislative session.

E. Unless otherwise provided by specific vote of the Legislature, concurrent resolutions introduced for purposes of approving or disapproving a request or the omnibus concurrent resolution described in subsection F of this section shall not be subject to regular legislative cutoff dates, shall be limited to such provisions as may be necessary for disapproval or approval of a request, and any such other direction or mandate regarding the request deemed necessary by the Legislature. The resolution shall contain no other provisions.

F. The Legislature may have an omnibus concurrent resolution prepared for consideration each session. The concurrent resolution shall be substantially in the following form: "All requests for authorizations for adding unclassified positions and employees to the state service that are in addition to unclassified positions already authorized by law from Oklahoma state agencies filed on or before April 1 are hereby approved except for the following:" or "All requests for authorizations for reclassification of current positions and employees in the state service not already specified as classified or unclassified by law from Oklahoma state agencies filed on or before April 1 are hereby approved except for the following:". For the purpose of this section, a request may be disapproved, in whole or in part, in the omnibus concurrent resolution considered by the Legislature.

G. Upon proper passage of the concurrent resolution introduced for purposes of approving a request pursuant to subsection A or B of this section, the request shall be authorized to commence. No state agency subject to the provisions of the Merit System of Personnel Administration shall add an unclassified position or employee to the state service in addition to unclassified positions already authorized by law unless it has been approved pursuant to this section or other provision of law. No state agency subject to the provisions of the Merit System of Personnel Administration shall reclassify a current position or employee in the state service unless it has been approved pursuant to this section or other provision of law.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 118, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.