All institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education employing personnel who have earned Juris Doctorate or equivalent degrees, granted by institutions of higher learning with membership in a recognized accrediting association, shall be required to accord and grant to such degrees equal recognition with other doctorate degrees for salary purposes and other remunerative benefits. Hours taken to earn a Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree or an advanced academic degree in law shall be classified as graduate hours in the teaching field.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 3223