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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
HOUSE BILL 3840 By: Pittman
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to mental health; establishing the
Governor's Office of Faith-based and Community
Initiatives; providing the purpo se of the office;
providing for nonprofit partnering; providing for
administration of the office; authorizing eligibility
for retirement participation; authorizing eligibility
for health benefits; requiring reports to the
Governor and Legislature; providing for codification;
and providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF T HE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-160 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby established a "Governor's Office of Faith-based
and Community Initiatives" (OFBCI), referred to as the "Office" in
this act.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new sect ion of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-161 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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In order to maximize the ef fectiveness of state government
through collaboration with faith -based and community initiatives to
serve Oklahomans with respect to public purposes, such as improving
public safety, overcoming addiction, strengthening families and
communities, and overcom ing poverty, the Office shall, to the extent
permitted by law:
1. Promote and foster the development of relationships and
coordination between state government and faith -based and community
initiatives and serve as a resource for and liaison between state
government and such initiatives ;
2. Coordinate activities designed to mobil ize public support
for faith-based and community initiatives through volunteerism,
special projects, and public -private partnerships ;
3. Raise ideas and policy options to the Governor that would
assist, strengthen, expand, or replicate successful faith -based and
community programs;
4. Ensure that state government decisions and programs are
consistent with the goal of partnering with faith -based and
community initiatives when doin g so is in the public interest , and
monitor how such decisions and programs a ffect faith-based and
community initiatives;
5. Work with state, local, and community policymakers,
volunteers, and public officials to facilitate coordination with and
empowerment of faith-based and other community organizations where
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doing so would improve such groups' service to the communities
involved; and
6. Showcase and herald successful and innovative faith -based
and community organizations and civic initiatives.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-162 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Office may partner with a nonprofit public benefit
corporation that is organized to maximize the effectiveness of
faith-based and community initiatives in serving Oklahomans with
respect to public purposes, in order to carry out the purposes of
the Office.
B. The Governor shall select the members of the bo ard of
directors of the nonprofit partner. The nonprofit partner 's board
may select its own chair. The nonprofit partner shall have an
executive director, who is selected by the Governor.
C. The nonprofit partner shall be properly incorporated under
the laws of the State of Oklahoma and approved by the Internal
Revenue Service as an organization that is exempt from federal
income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and
Title 26 U.S.C. Section 501(a), by virtue of being an organization
described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and
Title 26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3).
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D. The nonprofit partner may receive and solicit funds from the
general public.
E. A state employee shall not receive compensation from funds
received by the nonprofit partner .
F. The nonprofit partner may exercise all powers authorized by
the State of Oklahoma.
G. The nonprofit partner may receive staff and other assistance
from any department, agency, board or commission, or other division
of state government.
H. Subject to existing statutes, rules, and policies, the
nonprofit partner may enter into agre ements with state government
for procurement of office space, supplies, and other items, as
necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of this act.
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-163 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. For administrative purposes, the Office is attached to the
Oklahoma Finance Division.
B. Any department, agency, board or commission, or other
division of state government may provide staff and other assistance
to the Office, and all departments, agencies, boards and
commissions, and other divisions of state government shall ful ly
cooperate with the Office and shall provide staff support and other
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assistance as reasonably required, subject to existing statutes,
rules, and policies.
C. The Office may enter into such contractual and promotional
agreements necessary to maximize the effectiveness of state
government through collaboration with faith -based and community
initiatives to serve Oklahomans with respect to public purposes.
D. The Office may work with local governments, private
organizations, and citizens as it plans and eng ages in activities
related to the Office.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-164 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The nonprofit partner shall be eligible to be a
participating employer in the Oklahoma retirement system upon
passage of a resolution by the nonprofit 's board of directors
authorizing:
1. An actuarial study; and
2. Participation, and accepting the liability a s a result of
the participation, by its full -time employees.
B. The employees of the nonprofit partner shall make the same
contributions, participate in the same manner, and are eligible for
the same benefits as employees of local governments participatin g in
the retirement system.
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C. The employees of the nonprofit partner are entitled to
credit for prior service, as approved by the board of directors of
the nonprofit, under the same provisions that apply to employees of
local governments.
D. The retirement system is not liable for the payment of
retirement allowances or other payments on account of employees of
the nonprofit partner, or the beneficiaries of such employees, for
which reserves have not been previously created from funds
contributed by the nonprofit partner, its employees, or the
nonprofit partner and its employees.
E. In case of the withdrawal of the nonprofit partner as a
participating employer, the benefits of the members and
beneficiaries shall be determined in accordance with Section 910 of
Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes .
F. All costs associated with retirement coverage, including
administrative costs, are the responsibility of the nonprofit
partner.
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-165 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The nonprofit partner may participate, the same as an eligible
quasi-governmental organization, in the health insurance plan
authorized under Section 1301 et. seq. of Title 74 of the O klahoma
Statutes, to provide health insurance for its employees, as long as
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such nonprofit partner satisfies each of the requirements of Section
1301 et. seq. of Title 74 of the O klahoma Statutes.
SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-166 of Title 43A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The nonprofit partne r shall annually submit to the Governor,
the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Sen ate, and the Speaker of
the Oklahoma House of Representatives, within ninety (90) days after
the end of its fiscal year, a report setting forth its operation and
accomplishments.
B. The nonprofit partner i s subject to examination and audit by
the comptroller of the Treasury in the same manner as prescribed for
departments and agencies of the state.
SECTION 8. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
59-2-9645 TJ 01/11/24