Will Rogers Memorial Commission Transferred To Oklahoma Historical Society

Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 1570 into law Monday, moving the Will Rogers Memorial Commission under the control of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The law goes into effect immediately since it was passed with an emergency clause.

“This is the kind of state consolidation and efficiencies that make sense as Oklahoma struggles to cope with falling revenues,” said Fallin in a news release. “Moves like this are important as we work to control government spending.”

SB 1570 was the first bill passed by the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives in the current legislative session. It's the first bill of the 2016 legislative session signed by the governor.

Authored by Senator Clark Jolley and Representative Earl Sears, it makes the Will Rogers Memorial Commission a part of the Oklahoma Historical Society instead of a stand-alone entity.

The Commission overseas the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore and the Will Rogers Birthplace in Oologah.