Okla. Stat. tit. 72, § 72-229.1: Authority to plan, develop and construct Oklahoma

veterans facilities.

A. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized to

plan, develop and construct two long-term care facilities for the

following purposes:

1. To assume the operations of the State Veterans Home

established in Talihina pursuant to Section 229 of this title. In

accordance with Section 229 of this title and Section 1 of this act,

the facility to assume operations of the State Veterans Home at

Talihina shall be the State Veterans Home at Sallisaw, Oklahoma,

established under Section 1 of this act; and

2. To replace the State Veterans Home established in Ardmore

pursuant to Section 221 of this title.

B. For the two long-term care facilities authorized in

subsection A of this section, the Department may construct new

facilities or refurbish any existing facilities on property

currently owned by this state or on property purchased or donated

from other sources including but not limited to private owners,

tribal entities or other governmental or municipal entities.

C. 1. The facility referenced in paragraph 1 of subsection A

of this section shall be located within or near the corporate limits

of the City of Sallisaw.

2. The facility referenced in paragraph 2 of subsection A of

this section shall be located within the corporate limits of the

City of Ardmore or within five (5) miles of the corporate limits of

the City of Ardmore.

D. The locations and sites of the two facilities referenced in

subsection A of this section shall be determined by the Oklahoma

Veterans Commission, subject to such geographical constraints as are

imposed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for

certification as a State Veterans Home. The Oklahoma Veterans

Commission may consider any and all criteria which, in its sole

discretion, further the interests of Oklahoma veterans.

E. The project constituting the construction of the

replacement, long-term care facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home

shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections 9030 through

9030.8 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

F. The proceeds received from the sale of the State Veterans

Home in Talihina, along with all associated real and personal

property, shall belong to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans

Affairs and shall be used for any one or more of the following

purposes:

1. To purchase land upon which the replacement, long-term care

facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home will be located;

2. To purchase any other personal property needed for the

construction and furnishing of the replacement, long-term care

facility for the Ardmore Veterans Home;

3. To fund operations of the State Veterans Home at Sallisaw;

and

4. To complete the state match for a grant offered under the

State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program of the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs.