A. Effective July 1, 1993, there is hereby created the Commission for Rehabilitation Services, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, a body corporate and politic, with powers of government and with the authority to exercise the rights, privileges and functions as herein specified, with its lawful operations deemed to be an essential governmental function of the State of Oklahoma with all the attributes thereof.

B. The Commission shall appoint and remove the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, approve programs, policy and budget, and perform the necessary functions of a governing board for the State Department of Rehabilitation Services.

C. l. The Commission shall consist of three (3) members, to be appointed by June 15, 1993, as follows:

a.one member shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate for a three-year term,

b.one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a three-year term, and

c.one member shall be appointed by the Governor for a three-year term.

2. Thereafter, beginning with the expiration of the terms of the three members initially appointed, the Commission shall consist of three (3) members, appointed as follows:

a.one member shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and shall serve a term of one (1) year,

b.one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and shall serve a term of two (2) years, and

c.one member shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve a term of three (3) years.

3. Thereafter, at the expiration of the term, or termination of the member’s service for any reason, the original appointing authority shall appoint a successor for a term of three (3) years, or for the remainder of an unexpired term.

D. Members of the Commission shall be knowledgeable of and have concern for rehabilitation issues and disability issues; provided, that such requirement shall not exclude participation of lay persons as Commission members. All members shall be residents of the state and qualified electors at the time of their appointment. Before entering upon the duties of their office, members of the Commission shall take the Constitutional oath of office and the same shall be filed with the Secretary of State. A member of the Commission may be reappointed to succeed himself or herself. Commission members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E. The original appointing authority may remove any commissioner for misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty, after giving such commissioner a written statement of charges, and opportunity for a hearing.

Added by Laws 1993, c. 364, § 2, emerg. eff. June 11, 1993. Amended by Laws 2004, c. 543, § 2, eff. July 1, 2004.