An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4362 By: Hill, Baker, McDugle,
Phillips, and Dollens of
the House
and
Garvin and Kidd of the
Senate
An Act relating to economic development ; defining
terms; creating the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology Intern
Partnership for STEM Workforce Pipeline Program;
authorizing Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of
Science and Technology to administer program ;
providing for competitive interns hip funding for
applicant organizations; requiring applicant
organizations to submit certain information;
requiring applicant organizations meet certain
requirements; requiring Board to make certain
findings before awarding funds; authorizing Oklahoma
Center for the Advancement of Scien ce and Technology
to promulgate rules; providing for codification;
providing an effective date ; and declaring an
emergency.
SUBJECT: Economic development
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5060.44 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this section :
1. "Applicant organization " means an Oklahoma-based entity that
is a nonprofit research foundation or private enterprise of special
importance to the Oklahoma economy ; and ENR. H. B. NO. 4362 Page 2
2. "Eligible student" means an individual currently enrolled in
an undergraduate or graduate program at an institution of higher
education who is majoring in a science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) based discipline including, but not limited to,
natural sciences, computer science, materials science, engineering,
biomedical, biotechnical, data analytics, finance, mathema tics, or a
support area related to building successful Oklahoma high-tech
companies.
B. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology Intern Partnership for STEM
Workforce Pipeline Program to be administered by the Oklahoma Center
for the Advancement of Science and Technology under the governance
of the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development
Board.
C. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and
Technology may award competitive internship funds, th rough
professional service contracts , to applicant organizations to hire
qualified student interns to participate in innovative industry
projects.
D. To qualify for program internship funds, the applicant
organization must provide :
1. Documentation verifying that not less than fifty percent
(50%) of the total direct cost of the proposed project will be
provided by sources other than the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology and other state-appropriated
money. Such sources may be in the form of salary, cash, nonstate
grant funds, and other sources of funding as defined by the Oklahoma
Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology ;
2. A description of the potential commercial application of and
the industrial sectors that will likely benefit from the project an d
the potential to enhance employme nt opportunities in Oklahoma;
3. An itemized research budget, time line, and research
methodology; and
4. Any other informati on that may be required by the B oard.
E. The Board shall award professional service contracts after
it determines the applicant o rganization: ENR. H. B. NO. 4362 Page 3
1. Provides a beneficial and meaningful intern experience which
includes exposure to real -world application of technology and
innovation activities;
2. Involves projects leading to innovation, new knowledge , or
technology that will benefit t he applicant organization;
3. Has a reasonable probability to enhance employment
opportunities within Oklahoma;
4. Is technically sound, will produce a measurable result, an d
provide a positive impact to the applicant organization ; and
5. Does not involve market surveys or research activities that
create fundamental or basic information which lack the potential for
reasonably short-term commercialization .
F. Based upon the information submitted by the applicant
organization, external peer review, and such additional
investigation as the staff of the Center shall make, t he Board may
approve such professional service contracts after the Board finds
that:
1. The proposed project is research that leads to innovation,
new knowledge, or technology and is not training or technical
assistance for business firms;
2. The project has a reasonable probability to enhance
employment opportunities within the state; and
3. The project is technically sound and will produce a
measurable result.
G. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and
Technology shall promulgate rules necessary to implement and
administer the program authorized in this section .
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take eff ect and
be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
ENR. H. B. NO. 4362 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 11th day of May, 2022.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2022.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State o f Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _ _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________