SB 1608 - Oklahoma Water Center Act Summary

• Creates the Oklahoma Water Center as a water science and research advisory council to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to assist in implementing the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.

• Establishes an 8-member Board of the Center comprising representatives from five state agencies plus two legislative appointees serving four-year terms, with members exempt from dual office holding prohibitions.

• Authorizes the Center to develop a severance fee schedule for water transferred outside the state or between regional water planning districts, with fees collected for new permits only.

• Creates two revolving funds—the Out-of-State Water Transfer Revolving Fund and the In-State Water Transfer Revolving Fund—to distribute collected severance fees to public agencies for water infrastructure projects.

• Effective July 1, 2012, with emergency clause for immediate enactment.