Sen. Murdoch pushes SJR 49 to revoke wildlife department surety-bond rule, citing duplicate regulation

Sen. Murdoch presented Senate Joint Resolution 49 to the committee and said it would revoke a wildlife-department rule that requires oil-and-gas companies to post a surety bond with that department.

Murdoch told the committee the Corporation Commission already requires security bonds and described the wildlife rule as "double regulation" that "serves no purpose but to increase cost on oil and gas." She said the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma and the wildlife department had worked on the change and agreed to address surety-bond language.

A committee member moved an amendment to SJR 49 that replaces language referencing OAC 800:30-3-2; the motion was presented as "submitted by Senator Murdoch." After a second from Vice Chair Stewart, the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote.

Murdoch closed by urging adoption of the revised resolution. The clerk called the roll and the chair announced SJR 49 passed (6 ayes, 0 nays).

The resolution revokes the specified wildlife-department rule; the committee record indicates agencies and industry representatives discussed the overlap in bond requirements and that the department agreed to cooperate on related rules over the summer.

The committee moved on to additional bills; Murdoch thanked the chair and committee members before the gavel was passed to the vice chair.