Oklahoma § 82-1324.16 - Term of office - Annual meeting - Elections - Training

§ 82-1324.16. Term of office - Annual meeting - Elections - Training

workshops - Nepotism.

A. Except as otherwise provided by law:

1. The term of office of every member elected to an original

board shall be until the date of the annual meeting of the

participating members of either the first, second or third year

following the year of the incorporation of the district. Members

shall serve until their successors are elected and have qualified.

As nearly as possible, the terms of an equal number of directors on

any such board shall expire on each of the dates;

2. The bylaws of the district shall specify the length of the

term of office of its directors, which term shall not exceed six (6)

years. At the annual meeting of each year after the year of the

election of the original board members, elections shall be held to

elect directors to fill any position on the board, the term of

office of which has expired, and any director so elected shall hold

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights

office until a successor is elected and has qualified. A director

may be elected to succeeding terms without limitation; and

3. For the purpose of election of board members and for such

other purposes as the bylaws may prescribe, annual meetings of

participating members shall be held by each district each year

following the year of incorporation of such district. The board of

directors shall cause notice of the time and place of each annual

meeting and the purpose thereof to be given to each of its

participating members. Each participating member shall be entitled

to a single vote, regardless of the number of benefit units to which

the member has subscribed.

B. 1. A requirement for qualification to serve as a board

member for a rural water district or a nonprofit rural water

corporation shall be a written pledge that upon election such board

member shall attend a minimum of six (6) hours of workshop training

to be offered periodically on a regional basis within twelve (12)

months following election of such board member, and to be organized

by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in cooperation with the

Oklahoma Rural Water Association with the purpose of study and

instruction in areas of district financing, law, and the ethics,

duties and responsibilities of district board members. Beginning

July 1, 2001, all new and existing board members shall be required

to obtain continuing education by attending a minimum of six (6)

hours of workshop training every three (3) years.

2. The district or corporation shall reimburse all reasonable

expenses incurred by any board member for attending such training

workshop.

3. To avoid members having to interfere with their jobs or

employment, such training sessions may be divided into three-hour

segments, and insofar as possible be scheduled for evening sessions.

Technology center school facilities, college facilities or other

public facilities may be utilized in all parts of the state for

convenience of the members. Such workshops must be offered within

seventy-five (75) miles of the members' residences.

C. Should any pledging board member fail to attend the workshop

training as required in subsection B of this section, he or she

shall be deemed ineligible to serve as a board member commencing at

the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board following the

twelve-month period. The remaining board members shall select from

the membership, as provided by the district or corporation bylaws,

another qualified member to fill the vacancy and that person shall

pledge to attend the workshop training provided for in this section.

The appointed member shall only serve until the next regularly

scheduled election of board members and an election shall be held to

fill the unexpired term of the vacated position.

D. Upon the election of a board member, the provisions of

Sections 481 through 487 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights

relating to nepotism shall not prohibit any employee already in the

service of the district from continuing in such service or from

promotion therein. Provided, however, the board member related to

the employee shall be excused from the board meeting during any

discussion of or action taken on any matter that could affect the

employment or compensation for employment of such employee.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 254, § 16. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 16, § 1;

Laws 1994, c. 175, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 172, § 2,

emerg. eff. May 7, 1997; Laws 1997, c. 404, § 6, emerg. eff. June

10, 1997; Laws 2001, c. 160, § 2, emerg. eff. May 1, 2001; Laws

2001, c. 414, § 12, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2004, c. 221, § 1, eff.

Nov. 1, 2004.

NOTE: Laws 1997, c. 62, § 1 repealed by Laws 1997, c. 404, § 9,

emerg. eff. June 10, 1997. Laws 2001, c. 33, § 180 repealed by Laws

2001, c. 414, § 14, eff. July 1, 2001.