An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 621 By: Pugh of the Senate
and
Hill, Archer, and Lepak of
the House
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Workforce
Transformation Act; providing short title ; defining
terms; creating the Oklaho ma Workforce Commission;
providing purpose; requiring the Commission to
consult certain groups; providing for membership;
providing for qualifi cation of commissioners; stating
appointment terms; allowing for election of chair and
vice chair; requiring certain meeting; allowing
certain reimbursement; stating quorum; providing for
powers, duties, and responsibilities of the
Commission; and providing for codification.
SUBJECT: Workforce 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 900 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known an d may be cited as the “Oklahoma
Workforce Transformation Act”.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of la w to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 901 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
As used in this act:
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 2
1. “Commission” means the Oklahoma Workforce Commission;
2. “Person” means any individual, group of individuals, or any
partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, or employee
thereof, or any other legal entity; and
3. “Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Devel opment”
means the State’s Workforce Investment Board established under the
authority of Executive Order 2 005-27 and Section 5003.10d of Title
74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 902 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created the Oklahoma Workforce Commission. Th e
purpose of the Commission is to coordinate the development of the
workforce needed to grow Oklahoma ’s economy and Oklahomans ’
prosperity. To accomplish this purpose, the Commission is empowered
to the fullest extent permitted by law to coordinate the fundin g and
activities of each element of the state’s workforce development
programs, systems, and entities ; to achieve better alignment,
accountability, and results for the state’s workforce development
efforts; and to act as the principal point of contact regarding
workforce development for public officials, businesses, and the
public. In carrying out its work, the Commission shall consult
officials, leaders, and experts in workforce development including,
but not limited to, state and local agencies, departments,
educational institution s, boards, commissions, the private sector,
and other leaders and experts. The Commission shall conv ene
advisory committees consisting o f relevant state and local agencies,
departments, educational institution s, boards, commissions, the
private sector, and other officials a s the Commission deems
appropriate. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
Commission shall serve as a coordina ting body for workforce
development entities in the state and that workforce development
entities will fully participate in and cooperate with the
Commission’s activities, but the Commission sha ll not directly
exercise governing c ontrol of state and local agencies, depart ments,
educational institutions, boards, commissions, a nd other workforce
development entities except as otherwise pr escribed by law.
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 3
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 903 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
A. The Oklahoma Workforce Commission sh all consist of nine ( 9)
members. The nine me mbers shall be private sector leaders
conducting business in this state:
1. Three members to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore
of the Senate;
2. Three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; and
3. Three members to be appointed by the Governor , one of whom
shall be designated by the Governor t o serve as chair of the
Commission.
B. The members of the Commiss ion shall be qualified electors of
this state and shall not be employed by any government entity or
have been employed by a government entity within the preceding one-
year period.
C. For the initial appointments of Commissioners, each
appointing authority shall make one appointment for a one -year term,
one appointment for a two-year term, and one appointment for a
three-year term. Thereafter, the terms of the Commissioners shall
be for three (3) years. Commissioners may be appointed to
subsequent terms without limit as to number.
D. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled for the
unexpired term of office in the same manner as the original
appointment. The appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of
the appointing authorities.
E. In addition to the chair appointed by the Governor, the
Commission may establish and elect additional officers by a majority
vote of the Commissioners. The chair shall preside over meetings of
the Commission and officers shall perform duties as may be required
by the Commission. The first meeting of the Commission shall be
called by the chair no later than sixty (60) days after the
effective date of this act .
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 4
F. No member of the Commission shall receive a s alary for
duties performed as a member of the Commission; however, members are
eligible to receive reimbursement for expenses and travel
reimbursement as provided for in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
G. Members serving on the Commission shall be eligible to serve
on any other state board or commission if such member is othe rwise
qualified to hold such appointed office, notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 6 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
H. A quorum of five members shall be required to conduct
official business of the Commission.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 904 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Oklahoma Workforce Commission shall have the following
powers, duties, and responsibilities:
1. To administer the provisions of this act or an y duty as
directed by statute;
2. To establish an office for the Commission within this state;
3. To elect whatever other officers may be necessary to direct
operations of the Commission;
4. To employ or contract for p ersonnel and administrative
support as the Commission deems appropriate to carry out the purpose
and provisions of this act, including but not limited to a nonp rofit
corporation to carry out the Commission ’s objectives, an Executive
Director or other chief executive officer and any other employees or
contractors the Commiss ion deems appropriate, and to prescribe their
duties and fix their compensation;
5. To administer the Workforce Coordination Revolving Fund
created in Section 255.4 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
6. To approve or disapprove the budget of the C ommission;
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 5
7. To promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this act;
8. To enter into contracts or agreements for studies,
professional services, grant administration and procurement,
research projects, supplies, or any other services the Commission
deems necessary to carry out its purpose, and to incur those
expenses necessary to carry out those purposes;
9. To cooperate with any pr ivate, local, state, or national
commission, organizati on, agency, or group and to make contracts and
agreements for joint programs beneficial to Oklahoma ’s workforce
development efforts;
10. To accept donations, grants, contributions, and gifts from
any public or private so urce and deposit such in the Workforce
Coordination Revolving Fund, created in Section 255.4 of Title 62 of
the Oklahoma Statutes;
11. To oversee and direct to the extent permitted by law the
activities and administration of the Governor’s Council for
Workforce and Economic Development, including but not limite d to the
creation and submission of state plans to the federal government
pursuant to the provisions of the Workforce Innov ation and
Opportunity Act;
12. To collect data from federal, state , and local agencies,
departments, educational institutions, boar ds, commissions, or any
other entities including , but not limited to:
a. number of participants in workforce development
programming,
b. cost per participant,
c. wages before and after participation in programs,
d. degree or certificate conferred on ea ch participant,
e. number of jobs open needing degrees or certificates,
f. labor force and economic information, and
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 6
g. any other information the Commission deems appropriate
to guide funding decisions, facilitate its work or the
work of workforce development entities in the state,
or to understand the impact of the state ’s workforce
efforts and programming;
13. To create and maintain a publi c dashboard and create
reports with data concerning workforce development efforts in the
state. All state and local agencies, departments, educational
institutions, boards, commissions, and other public entities shall
cooperate with information and data r equests from the Commission or
its designees. It is the intent of the Legislatu re that the
Oklahoma Workforce C ommission serve as the centralized data and
information repository for workforce development activities for the
state; and
14. To make recommendations to the Legislature to improve
workforce developmen t programs in the state .
ENR. S. B. NO. 621 Page 7
Passed the Senate the 24th day of May, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 26th day of May, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
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 of 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'cl ock _______ M.
By: _________________________________