1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
3 SENATE BILL 1231 By: Bergstrom
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 137, which relates to
8 the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners; extending
sunset date; updating statutory reference; providing
9 an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 137, is
14 amended to read as follows:
15 Section 137. A. A Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners is
16 hereby re-created, to continue until July 1, 2024 July 1, 2027, in
17 accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law. Said The
18 Board shall regulate the practice of podiatric medicine in this
19 state in accordance with the provisions of the Podiatric Medicine
20 Practice Act. The Board, appointed by the Governor, shall be
21 composed of five podiatric physicians licensed to practice podiatric
22 medicine in this state and one lay member representing the public.
23 B. Each podiatric physician member of the Board shall:
24 1. Be a legal resident of this state;
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1 2. Have practiced podiatric medicine continuously in this state
2 during the three (3) years immediately preceding appointment to the
3 Board;
4 3. Be free of pending disciplinary action or active
5 investigation by the Board; and
6 4. Be a member in good standing of the American Podiatric
7 Medical Association and of the Oklahoma Podiatric Medical
8 Association.
9 C. The lay member of the Board shall:
10 1. Be a legal resident of this state;
11 2. Not be a registered or licensed practitioner of any of the
12 healing arts or be related, within the third degree of consanguinity
13 or affinity, to any such person; and
14 3. Participate in Board proceedings only for the purposes of:
15 a. reviewing, investigating and disposing of written
16 complaints regarding the conduct of podiatric
17 physicians, and
18 b. formulating, adopting and promulgating rules pursuant
19 to Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act.
20 D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, the term
21 of office of each podiatric physician member of the Board shall be
22 five (5) years, with one such member being appointed to the Board
23 each year. The lay member of the Board shall serve a term
24 coterminous with that of the Governor. Each member shall hold
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1 office until the expiration of the term for which appointed or until
2 a qualified successor has been duly appointed. An appointment shall
3 be made by the Governor within ninety (90) days after the expiration
4 of the term of any member, or the occurrence of a vacancy on the
5 Board due to resignation, death, or any other cause resulting in an
6 unexpired term. The appointment of the podiatric physician members
7 shall be made from a list of not less than five persons submitted
8 annually to the Governor by the Oklahoma Podiatric Medical
9 Association.
10 E. Each of the three podiatric physician members of the Board,
11 serving on the effective date of this act September 1,1993, shall
12 complete the term of office for which he or she was appointed, and
13 the successor to each such member shall be appointed for a term of
14 five (5) years. Within sixty (60) days after the effective date of
15 this act September 1, 1993, the Governor shall appoint two new
16 podiatric physician members to the Board, one for a term expiring
17 July 1, 1997, and one for a term expiring on July 1, 1998. The
18 successor to each such new member shall be appointed for a term of
19 five (5) years.
20 F. Before assuming duties on the Board, each member shall take
21 and subscribe to the oath or affirmation provided in Article XV of
22 the Oklahoma Constitution, which oath or affirmation shall be
23 administered and filed as provided in said such article.
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1 G. A member may be removed from the Board by the Governor for
2 cause which shall include, but not be limited to:
3 1. Ceasing to be qualified;
4 2. Being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a
5 felony or of any offense involving moral turpitude;
6 3. Being found guilty, through due process, of malfeasance,
7 misfeasance or nonfeasance in relation to Board duties;
8 4. Being found mentally incompetent by a court of competent
9 jurisdiction;
10 5. Being found in violation of any provision of the Podiatric
11 Medicine Practice Act; or
12 6. Failing to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board
13 without just cause, as determined by the Board.
14 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
15 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
16 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
17 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
18 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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20 59-2-2306 RD 12/7/2023 9:24:51 AM
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