ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 662 By: Pugh of the Senate and Hill of the House An Act relating to workforce development; amending Section 5, Chapter 361, O.S.L. 2023 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 904), which relates to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission; expanding duties; authorizing the Commission to implement certain programs to address certain needs; allowing Commission to utilize certain funds; providing for promulgation of rules; updating statutory refer ences; updating statutory language; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 5, Chapter 361, O.S.L. 2023 (40 O.S. Supp. 2 024, Section 904), is amended to read as follows: Section 904. The Oklahoma Workforce Commission shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities: 1. To administer the provisions of this act the Oklahoma Workforce Transformation Act or any 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; ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 4. To employ or contract for personnel and administrative support as the Commission deems appropriate to carry out the purpose and provisions of this act the Oklahoma Workforce Transformation Act, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation to carry out the Commission’s objectives, an Executive Director executive director or other chief executive officer , and any other employees or contractors the Commissi on deems appropriate, and to prescribe their duties and fix their compensation; 5. To administer the Workforce Coordination Revolving Fund created in Section 2 55.4 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 6. To approve or disapprove the budget of the Commission; 7. To promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this act the Oklahoma Workforce Transformation Act ; 8. To enter into contracts or agreements for s tudies, 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 private, local, state, or national commission, organization, 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 source and deposit such in the Workforce ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 Coordination Revolvin g 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 administrati on of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development, including , but not limited to, the creation and submission of state plans to the federal government pursuant to the provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; 12. To collect data from federal, state, and local agencies, departments, educational institutions, boards , 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 each participant, e. number of jobs open needing degrees or certificates, f. labor force and economic information, and g. any other information the Commission deems app ropriate to guide funding decisions, facilitate its work or the work of workforce development en tities in the state, or to understand the impact of the state ’s workforce efforts and programming; ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 13. To create and maintain a public 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 requests from the Commissio n or its designees. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Oklahoma Workforce Commission 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 development programs in the state ; and 15. To implement programs designed to expand workforce development. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 905 of Titl e 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 904 of Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the Oklahoma Workforce Commission shall implement programs in this state to address the following: 1. High demand and critical occupation workforce development, which may: a. identify the needs of institutions of higher education suited for certain critical workforce areas, b. identify outcomes based on funding, ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 c. scholarship match, and d. improve program capacity development; 2. Work-based learning opportunities, which may include, but not be limited to, internships, apprenticeships, and other career exploration and exposure; and 3. K-12 district innovation for workforce success, which may: a. enhance pathway development, b. utilize development grants for basic skills development, c. utilize regulatory innovation grants, and d. develop career-connected high schools. B. The Commission may administer these programs through funds in the Workforce Coordination Revolving Fund created in Section 255.4 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. The Commission shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1 , 2025. ENGR. S. B. NO. 662 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 Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2025. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2025. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives