Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 12-1833: Options to operating a mediation program or referring

matters exclusively to mediators or programs qualified under the

Dispute Resolution Act.

Nothing in the Choice in Mediation Act shall require any such

county, municipality, accredited law school, school district, board,

commission, department, or agency of this state or its political

subdivisions to operate a mediation program under the auspices of

the Dispute Resolution Act or to refer matters for mediation

exclusively to mediators or programs qualified under the Dispute

Resolution Act. Instead, any such entity may elect to do one or

more of the following:

1. Utilize mediators certified under the Dispute Resolution Act

or qualified under the District Court Mediation Act;

2. Specify required training in addition to that required for

certification under the Dispute Resolution Act or qualification

under the District Court Mediation Act in order to receive referrals

or disputes for mediation;

3. Maintain a list of qualified mediators to whom it may refer

disputes for mediation;

4. Contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts to

provide training for a fee for mediators to whom it may refer

disputes for mediation;

5. Refer disputes to a center under the Dispute Resolution Act

to be mediated under the rules and procedures applicable to such

center;

6. Elect to be treated as a center for all purposes under the

Dispute Resolution Act and make appropriate application pursuant to

the Dispute Resolution Act;

7. Contract with another public agency providing mediation

services under the Choice in Mediation Act or with a private

individual, company, or organization, whether for-profit or not-for-

profit, to provide mediators or mediation training or both, so long

as the contracting entity requires certification of mediators under

the Dispute Resolution Act, or qualification of mediators under the

District Court Mediation Act, if applicable; or

8. Utilize a mediator of the parties’ choice.