Okla. Stat. tit. 20, § 20-91.7a: Task Force for the Study of Business Courts

A. There is hereby created the Task Force for the Study of

Business Courts.

B. The task force shall consist of eleven (11) members to be

appointed or selected as follows:

1. Five members to be appointed by the Governor, one of whom

shall be designated by the Governor as the chair of the task force;

2. Two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma

House of Representatives;

3. Two members to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of

the Oklahoma State Senate;

4. One member to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the

Oklahoma Supreme Court; and

5. One member to be appointed by the Administrative Director of

the Courts.

C. The task force shall conduct an organizational meeting no

later than September 30, 2024. A majority of the members present at

the organizational meeting, or any subsequent meeting, shall

constitute a quorum for the purpose of any action except the vote on

the final report. A majority of the total membership of the task

force shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of voting on the

final report required by subsection H of this section.

D. The task force shall be authorized to meet as necessary in

order to perform the duties imposed on it.

E. The task force shall conduct a study to analyze the

implementation, effect, and impact of creating a Business Court

System in the State of Oklahoma. The study shall include but shall

not be limited to:

1. The existing Oklahoma court structure;

2. The examination and study of business court structures in

other states; and

3. Such other matters related to business courts as the task

force deems relevant.

F. Staff assistance for the task force shall be provided by the

staff of the Secretary of State.

G. The task force shall produce a preliminary written report

and a final written report of its findings and any recommendations

regarding the creation of business courts in this state which shall

include but not be limited to recommendations to determine:

1. Matters that shall and shall not be heard in the business

court;

2. The manner in which a business court judge may be selected;

3. The qualifications, salary, and term limit of a business

court judge, and the manner in which a business court judge shall be

replaced if a vacancy occurs;

4. Whether an office for a secretary-bailiff shall be created

for business court judges and the compensation of a secretary-

bailiff;

5. How proper venue is to be determined for a case on the

business court docket;

6. A dollar amount to determine which district shall have

jurisdiction over a business court case;

7. Whether the business court shall exercise supplemental

jurisdiction;

8. Whether the business court judge may transfer a matter to a

civil docket;

9. The manner in which the transfer of qualified cases to the

business court shall occur, if at all;

10. If a business court judge should be disqualified from

hearing a case, or whether recusal should be required, and the

manner in which a business court judge shall be replaced;

11. The procedure governing an appeal from the business court;

12. Whether the business court may conduct remote proceedings;

13. Filing costs for actions filed in the business court; and

14. Such other recommendations as the task force deems

relevant.

H. The preliminary report shall be submitted to the Governor,

the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate not later than January 1, 2025. The final

report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate not

later than January 1, 2026.

I. Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for their

travel expenses from the resources of the appointing authority.

Members of the task force who are legislators shall not be eligible

to receive travel reimbursement.

final

report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate not

later than January 1, 2026.

I. Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for their

travel expenses from the resources of the appointing authority.

Members of the task force who are legislators shall not be eligible

to receive travel reimbursement.

J. The provisions of this section shall cease to have the force

and effect of law and the task force shall terminate effective

January 31, 2026.