OK SJR63

Proposes amending Section 40 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution to add a new authorized use for Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund earnings: programs to recruit physicians to practice in medically underserved areas of the state

Shifts appropriation authority for physician recruitment programs from the Board of Directors to the Legislature, allowing the Legislature to appropriate trust fund earnings that accrued during the preceding fiscal year for this specific purpose

Maintains the Board of Directors' authority to direct expenditures for all other existing authorized purposes (cancer research, tobacco prevention, health programs, children's programs, senior adult programs, administrative expenses) from amounts not appropriated by the Legislature

Requires the proposed constitutional amendment to be referred to Oklahoma voters as a legislative referendum for approval or rejection

Senate Rules Committee recommended passage as amended on February 17, 2016