§68-2816.

§68-2816.
   
   A. The Director of the Ad Valorem Division of the Oklahoma Tax
   Commission, the first deputy within such division, all field analysts
   or equalization and assessment analysts within such division, each
   elected county assessor assuming office on or after January 1, 1991,
   all first deputies within such assessors' offices and all personnel
   involved in the actual appraisal of real property shall be required to
   achieve educational accreditation as prescribed by this section. Such
   accreditation shall be achieved within the time prescribed. Failure to
   achieve such accreditation shall result in forfeiture of office or
   termination of employment. A vacancy in a public office created for
   failure to achieve such accreditation shall be filled in the manner
   provided by law.
   
   B. Accreditation for persons designated in subsection A of this
   section shall consist of initial accreditation and advanced
   accreditation as follows:
   
   1. Within one (1) year from the date an assessor is elected to office,
   the assessor shall be required to successfully complete initial
   accreditation. If the assessor does not successfully complete testing
   or some part of the requirement, initial accreditation shall be
   completed within eighteen (18) months from the date of the assessor's
   election to office. Initial accreditation shall consist of successful
   completion of two (2) academic units. The first academic unit shall
   consist of basic ad valorem taxation law, legal responsibilities of
   the assessor's office, the role of the county assessor, valuation
   requirements and assessment administration. The second academic unit
   shall consist of basic appraisal and assessment processes.
   
   2. Within one (1) year from the completion date of initial
   accreditation, the assessor shall be required to successfully complete
   advanced accreditation. If the assessor does not successfully complete
   advanced accreditation testing or some part of the requirement,
   advanced accreditation shall be completed by July 1, 1995, for persons
   holding office on May 27, 1993, or for persons assuming office after
   May 27, 1993, within eighteen (18) months from the date initial
   accreditation is completed. Advanced accreditation shall consist of
   successful completion of four (4) academic units. Each unit shall
   consist of one of the following topics:
   
   a. appraisal procedures,
   
   b. valuation of personal property,
   
   c. valuation of agricultural property, and
   
   d. mass appraisal procedures.
   
   3. A county assessor's deputy not previously accredited pursuant to
   paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection shall be subject to the same
   requirements as the county assessor. Failure to complete the
   accreditations within the times prescribed shall result in dismissal
   of the deputy.
   
   4. For any person required to achieve accreditation pursuant to this
   section and for whom the period of time to complete the accreditation
   is not otherwise prescribed, the accreditation shall be completed
   within eighteen (18) months of January 1, 1991 or within eighteen (18)
   months of the beginning date of employment if such person is initially
   employed after January 1, 1991.
   
   C. Each county assessor who has successfully completed advanced
   accreditation shall thereafter be required to complete a continuing
   education requirement of thirty (30) hours every three (3) years.
   Failure to complete the continuing education requirement shall result
   in forfeiture of any travel reimbursement until the requirement is
   completed. Continuing education shall consist of successful completion
   of academic units on changes in Oklahoma Statutes affecting ad valorem
   taxation, real estate or appraisal, valuation and appraisal methods,
   mass appraisal methods or other topics appropriate to the improvement
   of county assessor's offices. A deputy who has completed advanced
   accreditation as required by this section shall be subject to the
   continuing education requirement.
   
   D. The Oklahoma State University Center for Local Government
   Technology, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and the
   County Assessors' Association, shall develop educational requirements,
   curriculum materials, appropriate study resources and examinations for
   an education program for accreditation purposes established in this
   section. The Center for Local Government Technology shall provide
   necessary classes, seminars and materials in support of the
   accreditation requirements. Nothing in this section shall be construed
   to prohibit use of the International Association of Assessing
   Officers' course work, where applicable, or any of its professional
   designations, as a substitute for or supplement to the accreditation
   program requirements.
   
   E. For purposes of the administration of the accreditation
   requirements, the Oklahoma State University Center for Local
   Government Technology shall be responsible for keeping an official
   record as to the accreditation of individual county assessors and
   deputies and others who are required to achieve accreditation. Such
   record shall be the sole responsibility of Oklahoma State University
   and shall be defined as an open record under Section 24A.1 et seq. of
   Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Oklahoma State University
   Center for Local Government Technology shall be responsible for
   forwarding only the pass/fail results of individual testing to the
   Oklahoma Tax Commission. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall issue the
   accreditations to all persons who have so qualified. The university
   may charge a reasonable fee to defray the cost of sponsoring the
   educational accreditation academic units required by this section.