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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 398 By: Pugh and Jett of the Senate
and
Duel of the House
An Act relating to veterans’ employment and training;
directing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
to serve as principal assistance organizatio n;
directing the establishment of certain workforce
training; directing certain education of available
opportunities; directi ng training matches; 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 63.23 of Title 72, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs shall serve as
the state’s principal assistance organization under the United
States Department of Defense ’s SkillBridge program for employers and
transitioning servicemembers.
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B. As the state’s principal assistance organization under the
United States Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program for
qualified businesses in this state and for transitioning
servicemembers who reside in, or who wish to resi de in, this state,
the Department shall:
1. Establish and maintain, as applicable, its ce rtification for
the SkillBridge program or any other similar workforce tr aining and
transition programs established b y the United States Department of
Defense;
2. Educate businesses, business associations, and transitioning
servicemembers on the SkillBrid ge program and its benefits, and
educate military command and personnel within the state on
opportunities available to transitionin g servicemembers through the
SkillBridge program;
3. Assist businesses in obtaining approval for skilled
workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge program,
including, but not limited to, app renticeships, internships, or
fellowships; and
4. Match transitioning servicemembers who a re deemed eligible
for SkillBridge participation by their mili tary command with
training opportunities offered by the corporation or participating
businesses, with the intent of having transitioning servicemembers
achieve gainful employment in this state u pon completion of th eir
SkillBridge training.
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SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS,
dated 04/04/2023 - DO PASS.