A. 1. The board of county commissioners in each county shall furnish quarters for the local units of the Department of Human Services. Such quarters shall be located in the county courthouse or other suitable building in the county seat and shall be furnished with light, heat and water and adequate toilet facilities. The county excise board shall provide adequate appropriations to enable the county commissioners to comply with the provisions of this subsection.

2. If no suitable quarters or adequate facilities are available in the county courthouse or in the county seat, facilities shall be furnished and supplied in the city or town in the county, but not the county seat thereof, having the greatest population.

3. The Department may enter into an agreement with the board of county commissioners for financial participation, by the Department, in the payment of rent on space leased for use by the Department, or in the cost of repairs of buildings or space used by the Department, or the cost of janitorial services and utility services, if the Commission for Human Services determines that such payment is necessary for adequate space for units of the Department and that monies for such purpose are available without detriment to programs administered by the Department.

B. 1. If the Commission for Human Services determines that adequate or suitable quarters, office space or facilities for the local units of the Department are not obtainable, the Department may enter into an agreement with the board of county commissioners of the county, or with any state agency or public trust, for the construction or renovation of a building or buildings where local units of the Department may have quarters, office space or facilities; or may enter into a lease agreement for the rental of space and facilities in a building or buildings constructed or renovated by the county, or a state agency, public trust or building authority, for the purpose of providing office space to the Department or any other public agency or agencies.

2. The Department shall not enter into any agreement under the provisions of this subsection unless federal financial participation is obtainable. All such agreements shall contain provisions as to financial participation therein by the parties to the agreement, payments to be made for the use or occupancy of the office space and facilities, and ownership of the building or buildings after payment of the cost of construction or renovation thereof has been completed, consistent with the requirements necessary for the Department to obtain or receive federal funds for such purpose.

C. If the Commission for Human Services determines that adequate or suitable quarters, office space or facilities for local units of the Department are not obtainable from the board of county commissioners of the county, or from any state agency or public trust or building authority pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section, the Commission may enter into a lease agreement for the rental of space and facilities in a building or buildings owned or operated by a private vendor for the purpose of providing such quarters, office space or facilities.

D. The Commission for Human Services is authorized to enter into agreements necessary to establish and determine the location of a North Tulsa field office if the Commission determines that state office space available through the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in Tulsa County is not appropriate and adequate to offer accessible and comprehensive services to clients of the Department of Human Services from North Tulsa County and Southern Osage County communities.

E. If the Commission for Human Services determines that adequate or suitable quarters, office space or facilities for local units of the Department are not obtainable by lease agreement from the board of county commissioners of the county, from any state agency or public trust or building authority, or from a private vendor, the Commission for Human Services may acquire real property for such local units by lease-purchase agreement. The Department is further authorized to enter into lease-purchase agreements to construct or renovate adequate or suitable quarters, office space or facilities needed by the Department. Local units of the Department shall be exempt from the provisions of the Oklahoma Art in Public Places Act.

Added by Laws 1939, p. 93, § 17, emerg. eff. May 9, 1939. Amended by Laws 1953, p. 230, § 1, emerg. eff. June 9, 1953; Laws 1967, c. 202, § 1, emerg. eff. May 1, 1967; Laws 1976, c. 290, § 2, emerg. eff. June 17, 1976; Laws 1980, c. 24, § 1, eff. July 1, 1980; Laws 1988, c. 326, § 13, emerg. eff. July 13, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 373, § 19, operative July 1, 1989; Laws 1993, c. 177, § 2, emerg. eff. May 13, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 278, § 2, emerg. eff. May 31, 2001; Laws 2005, c. 440, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 232.