A. 1. The boards of county commissioners and municipal governing bodies are authorized to establish floodplain boards, composed of membership as specified in Section 1605 of this title, for their respective area of jurisdiction.

2. If a board of county commissioners or municipal governing body dissolves its respective floodplain board that had been established prior to the effective date of this act, the floodplain management regulations adopted by such floodplain board shall continue in effect to be administered by the board of county commissioners or municipal governing body that assumes the role of the local floodplain board.

3. To participate in the program, floodplain boards shall adopt, administer and enforce floodplain management rules and regulations, for the purpose of:

a.delineation of floodplains and floodways,

b.preservation of the capacity of the floodplain to carry and discharge regional floods,

c.minimization of flood hazards,

d.establishment and charging of reasonable fees, not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), for services provided by the Board, county commissioners and municipalities in the administration of their responsibilities pursuant to the Oklahoma Floodplain Management Act,

e.regulation of the use of land in the floodplain,

f.protection of the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain, reducing damage to property from floods, reducing injury and loss of life from floods, and allowing communities to be eligible for flood insurance, and

g.hiring and employment of an accredited floodplain administrator.

B. The floodplain management regulations shall be based on adequate technical data and competent engineering advice and shall be consistent with local and regional comprehensive planning.

C. The floodplain management regulations adopted by each floodplain board shall be approved by the county or the municipality, as the case may be, by appropriate resolution or ordinance.

D. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall promulgate rules for the purposes specified in paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section.

E. Nothing contained within this section shall serve either to require any county or municipality to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program or to require any nonparticipating community to enforce regulations related to floodplain management.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 179, § 4, emerg. eff. May 13, 1980. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 37, § 1, emerg. eff. April 9, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 46, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2004, c. 95, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Laws 2011, c. 214, § 3.