SB 159 — Veterans; establishing certain center; requiring collaborations. Effective date.

SENATE CHAMBERFLOOR STATEVERSION OFFebruary OKLAHOMA13, DISPOSITION2025 FLOOR3 AMENDMENTCOMMITTEE No.SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

________159 COMMITTEEBy: AMENDMENT (Date) I move to amend Senate Bill No.

159Mann as6 follows:[ veterans - headquarters and resource center - collaboration - portal - Commission - report - codification - effective date ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.

NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 461 of Title 72, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs shall establish its headquarters and a veterans resource center in a single location in Del City, Oklahoma, that provides information and referral services to connect veterans with available public and private services.

B.

Any state agency that provides any services to veterans shall collaborate with the Department to provide services through the veterans resource center established under this section.

C.

The Department shall establish a publicly available online interactive portal for the purpose of supporting public and private SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB159 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) veteran services.

The portal shall include all services available to veterans in this state.

SECTION 2.

NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 462 of Title 72, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.

There is hereby created the Oklahoma Unified Veteran Services Commission, which shall consist of eleven (11) members:

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OnOne Pagemember 1,of Linethe 16Senate throughappointed 17, by deleting after the wordMinority “location”Leader onof line 16, and before the wordSenate; “that” on Line 17, all language;

and 3.

ByOne amendingmember of the titleHouse toof conform.Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

Submitted4. by:

_______________________One Senatormember Mannof Mann-CAD-FA-SB159the 3/11/2025House 4:43of PMRepresentatives (Floorappointed Amendmentsby Only)the DateMinority andLeader Timeof Filed:the House of Representatives;

Untimely5. Amendment Cycle Extended Secondary Amendment

The Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs or successor cabinet position;

6.

The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs or designee;

7.

The Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or designee;

8.

The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or designee;

SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB159 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 9.

The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education or designee;

10.

The Chancellor of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education or designee;

and 11.

The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services or designee.

B.

1.

The Commission shall study, evaluate, and make recommendations for the resources needed and costs associated with the establishment of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters and a veterans resource center pursuant to Section 1 of this act.

2.