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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 532 By: Pugh
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to higher education; creating t he
Workforce Development Revolving Fund; specifying
source of fund; providing for expenditu res; providing
purpose of fund; directing appropriation to fund for
certain fiscal year; directing the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education to award funds to
certain institutions; defining term; providing method
for distribution of funds beginning in certain
academic year; directing certain biennial
calculation; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency .
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 3210.1 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to be
designated the "Workforce Development Revolving Fund". The fund
shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limita tions,
and shall consist of all monies received by the State Regents from
state appropriations . All monies accruing to the credit of the fund
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are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the
State Regents for the purpose of implementing the provisi ons of
subsection C of this section. Expenditures from the fund shall be
made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims
filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services for approval and paym ent.
B. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, the Legislature
shall appropriate Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) to the
Workforce Development Revolving Fund created pursuant to subsection
A of this section.
C. The Oklahoma State Regents for H igher Education shall award
funds from the Workforce Development Revolving Fund created pursuant
to subsection A of this section to institutions within The O klahoma
State System of Higher Education that increase the number of degrees
granted to fulfill wor kforce needs in critical occupation areas.
For the purposes of this section "critical occupation areas" are
those areas identified by the Executive Director of the O klahoma
Department of Commerce that are in high demand and are projected to
have positive future growth.
D. 1. One-third of the funds appropriated pursuant to
subsection B of this section shall be allocated to institutions
within The Oklahoma State System of H igher Education that increase
the number of degrees granted in the area of nursing . The increase
in the number of degrees shall be calculated based on the number of
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degrees granted in the area of nursing during the 2020-2021, 2021-
2022, and 2022-2023 academic years.
2. One-third of the funds appropriated pursuant to subs ection B
of this section shall be allocated to institutions within The
Oklahoma State System of H igher Education that increase the number
of degrees granted in the area of engineering. The increase in the
number of degrees shall be calculated based on the number of degrees
granted in the area of engineering during the 2020-2021, 2021-2022,
and 2022-2023 academic years.
3. One-third of the funds appropriated pursuant to subs ection B
of this section shall be allocated to institutions within The
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that increase the number
of degrees granted in the area of teaching. The increase in the
number of degrees shall be calculated based on the number of degrees
granted in the area of teaching during the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and
2022-2023 academic years.
E. 1. Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, the Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education shall award from the Wo rkforce
Development Revolving Fund created pursuant to subsection A of th is
section an amount equal to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for
each degree in the areas of nursing, engineering, and teaching
granted by an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher
Education above the average number of degrees granted by each
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institution in the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 academic
years.
2. Beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year and biennially
thereafter, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
recalculate the average number of degrees granted by each
institution in the areas of nursing, engineer ing, and teaching for
the previous three academic years, which shall be used as the basis
for the granting of awards.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for t he preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
59-1-577 EB 1/17/2023 5:14:04 PM