A. There is hereby re-created until July 1, 2010, in accordance with the Oklahoma Sunset Law, a Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee which shall have oversight over implementation of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and shall advise the operation of such Center. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of nineteen (19) members. The presence of ten Advisory Committee members or their designees shall constitute a quorum. Appointments shall be made by July 1 with members serving a term of two (2) years unless no longer eligible. The Advisory Committee members shall be appointed as follows:

1. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint:

a.two members from the Oklahoma House of Representatives,

b.two members from an institution of higher education in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. One appointee shall be from a comprehensive university. One appointee shall be from a two-year college,

c.one member who is a public school teacher who is a minority,

d.one member who is a superintendent or designee of a public school district, and

e.two members representing a community with a high minority population. One appointee shall be African-American. One appointee shall be Hispanic;

2. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint:

a.two members from the Oklahoma State Senate,

b.two members from an institution of higher education in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education with a teacher preparation program. One appointee shall be from a regional university,

c.one member who is a public school teacher who is a minority,

d.one member who is a principal of a public high school, and

e.two members representing a community with a high minority population. One appointee shall be American Indian. One appointee shall be Asian-American;

3. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee;

4. The Chancellor of Higher Education or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee; and

5. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation or a designee shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee.

B. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed for attendance at the Advisory Committee meetings by the appointing agency pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act or Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Members of the Advisory Committee shall designate from among the members a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Staff assistance shall be provided by the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center.

C. Persons who are members on the effective date of this act shall retain their membership until their terms are completed.

D. The Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee shall:

1. Make recommendations on the annual operating budget of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and verify that the funds allocated to the Center through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are utilized exclusively by the Center by function;

2. Advise the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education of unmet needs within the state in the implementation of the Center's activities;

3. Annually comment publicly on the progress of the Center;

4. Assist the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in developing and reporting information about the Center when necessary;

5. Meet as often as necessary to conduct business; and

6. Keep official minutes of the Committee meetings which shall be made available to the public upon request.

E. As used in this section and Section 6-130 of this title, "minority" means a person who is a lawful resident of the State of Oklahoma and who is:

1. African-American, a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa;

2. Hispanic, a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American descent;

3. Asian-American, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands; or

4. American Indian and Alaskan Native, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 139, § 1, eff. July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2004, c. 24, § 1.