HB3070 Summary

• Creates the State Office of Administrative Hearings as an independent agency in Oklahoma's Executive Department to conduct administrative hearings and separate judicial functions from investigative/prosecutorial functions of state agencies.

• Establishes the Chief Administrative Law Judge position, appointed by the Governor with Senate consent for a 6-year term, to oversee the Office and manage full-time and part-time administrative law judges.

• Transfers administrative hearing functions from various state agencies to the new Office, effective January 1, 2013, including transfer of related personnel, equipment, records, and pending cases.

• Applies to most Executive Department agencies with exceptions for legislative/judicial branches, certain elected offices (Governor, Attorney General, etc.), and professional/occupational licensing hearings under Title 59.

• Establishes appeal procedures with administrative law judge panels reviewing initial decisions, and appeals from panel decisions going to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, replacing prior agency-based review systems.