A. The Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a member of the state or federal military forces designated by concurrent resolution of the Legislature who voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the person for gallantry and intrepidity above the person’s comrades. The medal shall be awarded based on the standard of extraordinary merit. The medal shall be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed. To be eligible for the Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor, a person shall:
1. Have been born in this state;
2. Reside in this state or have been a resident of this state on the person’s death; or
3. Have been a resident of this state when the person entered military service.
B. A person is not ineligible for the Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor because the person has received any other medal or award for military service, including a medal or award made by the United States.
C. To receive the Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor, a person shall be nominated during a regular session of the Legislature by majority vote of all the members of a nominating committee consisting of:
1. The Adjutant General or the Adjutant General’s designated representative;
2. The Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor’s designated representative;
3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Speaker’s designated representative;
4. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the President Pro Tempore’s designated representative;
5. The chair of the standing committee of each house of the Legislature with primary jurisdiction over military and veteran affairs; and
6. The Oklahoma Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
D. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall design the medallion and ribbon for the Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor.
E. The Legislature by concurrent resolution may direct the Governor to award the Oklahoma Legislative Medal of Honor to a person nominated by the nominating committee. The committee chairs serving on the nominating committee shall jointly prepare a concurrent resolution directing the Governor to award the medal to a person nominated. The Legislature shall direct the medal to be awarded only during a regular session and shall not direct the medal to be awarded to more than one person during a regular session.
Added by Laws 2008, c. 68, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.