1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) | | | 3|SENATE BILL 74 By: Dahm | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to displays; authorizing certain | | entities to display a nativity scene on certain | 8| property; defining term; authorizing Attorney General | | to defend certain actions; providing for | 9| codification; and declaring an emergency. | | | 10| | | | 11| | | | 12|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 13| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 14|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 82.5 of Title 25, unless there | | | 15|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 16| A. Every county, municipality, city, town, school, or any other | | | 17|political subdivision, or every person, individually or collectively | | | 18|as a group or organization, or every public or private business | | | 19|operating in the state, shall retain the authority to display, in | | | 20|its public or private buildings and on its grounds, a nativity | | | 21|scene. | | | 22| B. As used in this section, "nativity scene" is defined as a | | | 23|special exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season, of art | | | 24|objects representing the birth of Jesus. Such nativity scenes can | | | Req. No. 1002 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|include model figures or reenactments which may be called "living | | | 2|nativity scenes" in which real humans and animals participate. | | | 3| C. In the event that the legality or constitutionality of any | | | 4|such display is challenged in a court of law, the Attorney General | | | 5|is authorized to prepare and present a legal defense of the display. | | | 6| SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation | | | 7|of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby | | | 8|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and | | | 9|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. | | | 10| | | | 11| 59-1-1002 BG 12/22/2022 11:33:37 AM | | | 12| | | | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15| | | | 16| | | | 17| | | | 18| | | | 19| | | | 20| | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 1002 Page 2