Oklahoma § 25-51 - Modification of United States Census Bureau terminology

§ 25-51. Modification of United States Census Bureau terminology

A. The Legislature finds that the United States Census Bureau

has initiated a number of reform efforts related to the means by

which information is compiled, analyzed and reported by the Bureau,

including changes in the terminology used by the Bureau to describe

the methods by which data is compiled, analyzed and reported. The

Legislature finds that numerous statutory provisions make direct or

indirect reference to the United States Census or to the United

States Census Bureau and to the information which is compiled and

reported by the Bureau. The Legislature finds that there is a need

to allow for flexible interpretation of statutory provisions based

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions

upon changes in terminology used by the United States Census Bureau.

Periodic changes in terminology or methodology with respect to

demographic and economic data gathered by the federal government

should not require frequent amendments to state statutory

provisions. The Legislature finds that it is desirable public

policy and in the interest of established principles of statutory

construction to enact the provisions of this section due to the need

for consistent interpretation of statutory provisions which rely for

operative effect upon specific information, such as population.

B. Unless a statutory provision relies for its operative effect

on a population count contained in a Federal Decennial Census or a

population count determined by using data from the United States

Census Bureau, a reference in the Oklahoma Statutes to the “census”,

the “Federal Decennial Census” or other similar reference shall

include any applicable means or method used by the United States

Census Bureau to report demographic or economic information.

C. Statutory provisions which contain a reference to a specific

population count or population range shall not be considered to have

been modified because of a change in terminology by the United

States Census Bureau or as a result of the provisions of this

section.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 138, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010.