Req. No. 356 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 119 By: Bergstrom
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to economic development; creating the
Right-to-Start Act; providing short title; creating
the Office of Entrepreneursh ip; providing purpose of
Office; requiring submission of report to
Legislature; providing contents of report;
authorizing the Office to track certain metrics of
business development in state; requiring certain
percentage of contracts to go to ce rtain businesses;
encouraging the elimination of certain fees for new
businesses; providing for codification; and providing
an effective date.
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 5003.16 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Right-to-Start
Act”.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.1 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Req. No. 356 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
A. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce the Office of Entrepreneurship.
B. The Office of Entr epreneurship shall em ploy personnel to
strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth of
entrepreneurship in the s tate including, but not limited to, across
demographic segments and g eographic areas. The Off ice shall work
with stakeholders and organizations supporting entrepreneursh ip to
enhance learning and skills, provide technical support, and expand
access to resources for entrepreneurs ac ross this state. The Office
shall serve as a point of contact to assist businesses operating for
five (5) years or less in their interactions with state government.
C. No later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
Office shall prepare a n annual report detailing the extent to which
state legislation that ha s been signed by the Governor in the prior
legislative session or year supports, hinder s, or otherwise affects
businesses operating for five (5) years or less.
D. The Office shall support a nd advise the Executive Director
of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce with preparing the report
pursuant to Section 3 of this act.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.2 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Req. No. 356 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
A. No later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall file
a report with the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to:
1. The number and total dollar amou nt of state contracts
awarded to businesses t hat have been in operation for less than five
(5) years, including a breakdown by demographic segments and
geographic areas throughout the state;
2. The percentage of the number of state contracts awarded to
businesses that have been in operation for less than five (5) years
compared to the total number of contracts awarded; and
3. The percentage of the total dollar amount of state contracts
awarded to businesses that have been in operation for less t han five
(5) years compared to the total dollar amount of contracts awarded .
B. The Director shall produc e and file a report with the
Legislature making recommendations on improving access to state
contracts for businesses that have been in operation for less than
five (5) years, including those businesses in statistically
underrepresented demographic segments and geographic areas of the
state.
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.3 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
After the effective date of this act, the Legislature shall
encourage five percent (5%) of the total number of state contracts
Req. No. 356 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
to be awarded to businesses that have been in operation for less
than five (5) years and whose principal place of business is in the
state.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.4 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering , reads as follows:
No later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall file
a report with the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to:
1. The percentage of workforce developmen t funding, including
funding allocated by Workforce Development Boards across the state,
supporting organization or programs for individuals starting new
businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide
services to businesses established within the previous five (5)
years and whose principal place of business is in th is state; and
2. The total dollar amount of workforce development funding,
including funding allocated by Workforce Development Boards across
the state, supporting organizations a nd programs for individuals
starting new businesses, or to those organization or programs that
provide services to businesses established within the previous five
(5) years and whose principal place of business is in this sta te.
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.5 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, r eads as follows:
Req. No. 356 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
After the effective date of this act, the Legislature shall
encourage five percent ( 5%) of workforce development funding,
including funding allocate d by Workforce Development Boards across
the state, towards supp orting organizations and pr ograms for
individuals starting new businesses or to those or ganizations or
programs that provide services to businesses established within the
previous five (5) years and whose principal place of business is in
this state.
SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.6 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
No later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commer ce shall file
a report with the Legislature that includes , but is not limited to:
1. The percentage of economic development funding, including
Community Developmen t Block Grants, supporting organizations or
programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those
organizations or programs that provide services to businesses
established within the previous five (5) years and whose principal
place of business is in this state; and
2. The total dollar amount of economic development funding,
including Community Development Block Grants, supporting
organizations or programs for individuals starting new b usinesses or
to those organizations or programs that provide ser vices to
Req. No. 356 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
businesses established within the previous five (5) years and whose
principal place of busi ness is in this state.
SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.7 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
After the effective date of this act, the Legislature shall
encourage five percent ( 5%) of funding budgeted for economic
development programs, including Community Development Block Grants,
to be allocated to supporting organizations and p rograms for
individuals starting new busine sses or to those organizations or
programs that provide services to businesses established within the
previous five (5) years and whose principal place of business is in
this state.
SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5003.16.8 of Title 74, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
After the effective date of this act, the Legislature shall
encourage the elimination of all first-year business fees relating
to any license or registration, for any new business or a person
establishing a new business, including home-based businesses, whose
principal place of business is in this state.
SECTION 10. This act shall become effective Nove mber 1, 2023.
59-1-356 MR 1/3/2023 4:42:36 PM