SB924 HFLR Page 1 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 924 By: Coleman of the Senate and Tedford of the House An Act relating to the Employment Security Act of 1980; amending 40 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -201, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1 -201), which relates to definitions; defining term; amending 40 O.S. 2021, Section 1-224, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1 -224), which relates to filing; authorizing the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to modify appeal filing requirements under certain circumstances; amending 40 O.S. 2021, Section 2 -610, which relates to judicial review; allowing certain case to be dismissed upon failure to provide certain information; amending 40 O.S. 2021, Section 4 -508, as amended by Section 22, Chapter 360, O.S.L. 2022 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 4 -508), which relates to information to be kep t confidential; removing reference to specific entities; updating statutory language; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 40 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -201, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1-201), is amended to read as follows: SB924 HFLR Page 2 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 1-201. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. As used in the Employment Security Act of 1980: 1. “Additional initial claim ” means a claim application which reactivates a claim during an existing benefit year and certifies to a period of employmen t which occurred subsequent to the date of the filing of the last initial, additional, or reopened claim; 2. “Alternative base period ” means the most recent four (4) completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual’s benefit year. In the event that an individual ’s claim uses an alternative base period to meet the wage requirement under Section 2-207 of this title, this a lternative base period shall be substituted for base period for all other purposes under the Employment Security Act of 1980; 3. “Assigned tax rate” means the tax rate assigned to an employer pursuant to Section 3 -110.1 of this title when the employer does not have sufficient experience history to meet the At -Risk Rule set out in paragraph 3 of Section 3 -110.1 of this title; 4. “Base period” means the first four (4) of the last five (5) completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual’s benefit year; 5. “Benefit year” with respect to any individual means the one - year period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which the individual first files a valid claim for benefits and thereafter the one -year period beginning with the first SB924 HFLR Page 3 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 day of the first week with respect to which the individual next files a valid claim for benefits after the termination of his or her last preceding benefit year. Any claim for benefits shall be deemed a valid claim for the p urpose of this section if the individual has been paid the wages for insured work required under the Empl oyment Security Act of 1980; 6. “Benefit wages” means the taxable wages earned by a claimant during the claimant’s base period which are not in excess of the current maximum weekly benefit amount, as determined under Section 2-104 of this title, multiplied by the maximum number of weeks for which benefits could be paid to any individual pursuant to Section 2-106 of this title, multiplied by three (3); p rovided, however, no wages shall be included as benefit wages unless and until the claimant has been paid benefits for five (5) weeks in one (1) benefit year; 7. “Benefits” means the money payments payable to an individual as provided in the Employment Se curity Act of 1980 with respect to his or her unemployment, including extended benefits. The federal share of such extended benefits shall not be construed as benefits for the purposes of computing contribution rates under the Employment Security Act of 1 980; 8. “Calendar quarter” means the period of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or SB924 HFLR Page 4 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 December 31, or the equivalent thereof as the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission may by regulation prescribe; 9. “Claimant” means an individual who has filed for unemployment benefits with the Commission; 9. 10. “Client” shall have the same meaning as provided in paragraph 1 of Section 600.2 of this title; 10. 11. “Coemployer” shall have the same meaning as provided in paragraph 2 of Section 600.2 of this title; 11. 12. “Coemployment relationship ” shall have the same mean ing as provided in paragraph 3 of Section 600.2 of this title; 12. 13. “Commission” means the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission; 13. 14. “Commissioner” means a member of the Commission; 14. 15. “Continued claim series ” means an uninterrupted series of weekly claims filed by a claimant during the benefit year; 15. 16. “Contributions” means the money payments, including taxes and reimbursements, required by the Employment Security Act of 1980 to be paid into the Unemployment Compensation Fund by an employer; 16. 17. “Covered employee” shall have the same meaning as provided in paragraph 5 of Section 600.2 of this title; 17. 18. “Digital portal filing” means electronic communication through the agency digital portal; SB924 HFLR Page 5 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 18. 19. “Earned tax rate” means the tax rate calculated for an employer with sufficient experience history to meet the At -Risk Rule set out in paragraph 3 of Section 3 -110.1 of this title, with the tax rate calculated pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 -101 et seq. of this title; 19. 20. “Electronic e-filing” means filing by email or fax to email; 20. 21. “Eligibility period” of an individual for extended benefits means the peri od consisting of the weeks in his or her benefit year, as defined by the Employment Security Act of 1980, which begin in an extended benefit period and, if his or her benefit year ends within such extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter which begin in such extended benefit period; 21. 22. “Employer” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 1-208 of this title; 22. 23. “Employing unit” means any individual or type of organization, including any partnership, association, trust, estate, joint stock company, insurance company, limited liability company or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee or successor thereof, or the legal representative of a deceased person, which has or subsequent to January 1, 1936, had in its employ one or more individuals performing services for it within this state; SB924 HFLR Page 6 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23. 24. “Employment” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 1-210 of this title; 24. 25. “Employment office” means a free public employment office or branch thereof operated by this or any other state as a part of a state-controlled system of public employment offices or by a federal agency charged with the administration of an unemployment compensation program or free public employment office s; 25. 26. “Employment Security Administration Fund ” means the fund established in Section 4 -602 of this title from which administration expenses under the Employment Security Act of 1980 shall be paid; 26. 27. “Exhaustee” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 2-712 of this title; 27. 28. “Experience period” means the most recent twelve (12) consecutive completed calendar quarters occurring before July 1 of the year immediately preceding the year for which the employer ’s contribution rate is being calculated; 28. 29. “Extended base period ” means the four (4) quarters prior to the claimant ’s base period. These four (4) quarters may be substituted for base period quarters on a quarter -by-quarter basis to establish a valid claim regardless of whether the wages have been used to establish a prior claim, except any wages earned that would render the Commission out of compliance with applicable federal law shall be excluded if used in a prior claim; SB924 HFLR Page 7 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 29. 30. “Extended benefit period ” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 2 -703 of this title; 30. 31. “File”, “files”, or “filed” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 1 -224 of this title; 31. 32. “Mail”, “mails”, “mailed”, or “mailing” means communication sent by a postal se rvice with sufficient postage; 32. 33. “Foreign limited liability company ” shall be defined by the provisions of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act; 33. 34. “Fund” means the Unemployment Compensation Fund established in Section 3 -601 of this title; 34. 35. “Hospital” means any hospital required to be licensed under the Oklahoma Public Health Code, Section 1-101 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and includes state mental hospitals and any other mental hospital or institution; 35. 36. “Initial claim” means a new claim application submitted by a claimant to establish a benefit year for unemployment insurance benefits; 36. 37. “Institution of higher education ” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 1 -214 of this title; 37. 38. “Insured work” means employment for employers as defined by the Employment Security Act of 1980; 38. 39. “Lessor employing unit ” means any independently established business entity which engages in the business of providing leased employees to any othe r employer, individual, SB924 HFLR Page 8 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 organization, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, referred to herein as a client lessee; 39. 40. “Limited liability company ” shall be defined by the provisions of the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act; 40. 41. “Probationary period” means a period of time set forth in an established probationary plan, which applies t o all employees or a specific group of employees, and does not exceed ninety (90) calendar days from the first day a new employee begins work; 41. 42. “Professional Employer Organization ” or “PEO” means an organization that is subject to the Oklahoma Professional Employer Organization Recognition and Registration Act and which meets the definition set out in paragraph 9 of Section 600.2 of this title; 42. 43. “Rate of insured employment ” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 2 -708 of this title; 43. 44. “Regular benefits” means benefits payable to an individual under the Employment Security Act of 1980, or under any other state law includi ng dependents’ allowances and benefits payable to federal civilian employees; 44. 45. “Reopened claim” means a claim application which reactivates a claim during an existing benefit year when a claimant stopped filing for benefits before his or her claim was exhausted, but in which there occurred no intervening employment from the date of the filing of the l ast initial, additional, or reopened claim; SB924 HFLR Page 9 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 45. 46. “State” includes, in addition to the states of the United States of America, the District of Colum bia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; 46. 47. “State law” means the unemployment insurance law of any state, approved by the Secretary of Labor of the United States under Section 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; 47. 48. “Supplemental unemployment benefit plan ” means a plan that provides for an employer to make payments to i ts employees during a permanent or temporary layoff that will supplement unemployment benefits received by the employees. The purpose of a supplemental unemployment benefit plan is to allow an employer to sustain the purchasing power of its employees or former employees during a layoff; 48. 49. “Taxable wages” means the wages paid to an individual with respect to employment during a calendar year for s ervices covered by the Employment Security Act of 1980 or other state unemployment compensation acts whic h shall equal the applicable percentage of the state ’s average annual wage for the second preceding calendar year as determined by the Commission, roun ded to the nearest multiple of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 49. 50. “Wages” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 1-218 of this title; 50. 51. “Wages paid” means wages actually paid to the worker; provided, however, that in the event of an y distribution of an SB924 HFLR Page 10 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 employer’s assets through insolvency, receivership, composition, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or termination of business, wages earned but not actually paid shall be considered as paid; and 51. 52. “Week” means such period of seven (7) consecutive days, as the Commission may by regulation prescribe. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 40 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -224, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1-224), is amended to read as follows: Section 1-224. FILE. A. For purposes of this section, “OESC 2020-21 business process transformation” means a change from paper process to integrated digital technology. Upon completion of the OESC 2020 -21 business process transformation, electronic e -filing will be the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s preferred filing method for tendering and receiving documents. All claimants and employers tendering documents to the Commission will be expected to tender the documents electronically. If the claimant or employer has elected to utilize other means of transmittal, it will be t he responsibility of the claimant or employer to notify the Commission of this preference. B. When the provisions of the Employment Security Act of 19 80 or the rules promulgated under the authority of the act Employment Security Act of 1980 require any document to be filed with the SB924 HFLR Page 11 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or its affiliate entities, the term “file”, “files”, or “filed” shall mean: 1. Mailing by means calculated to ensure receipt by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission on or before th e date due. Timely mailing shall be determined by the United States Postal Service postmark. If there is no such legible postmark, the date of receipt by the Commission shall constitute the date of filing; 2. Electronic e-filing to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, as directed by the instructions on the determination letter, order or other document issued by the Commission, by midnight on or before the date due. Timely transmission shall be determined by the Commission ’s transmission log file ; or 3. Digital portal filing by midnight on or before the date due. Timely transmission shall be determined by the Commission ’s transmission log fil e; or 4. In significant economic situations, instances where evidence suggests potential fraudulent activity or for those who have not completed the claim filing process, the Commission shall have the discretion to modify the appeal filing requirements to respond to the situation. C. If the Employment Security Act of 1980 or the rules promulgated under the Employment Security Act of 1980 require that a document be filed with a court or any other agency of this state, SB924 HFLR Page 12 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the term “file”, “files” or “filed” shall be defined by the statutes, rules or practice governing that court or agency. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 40 O.S. 2021, Section 2 -610, is amended to read as follows: Section 2-610. JUDICIAL REVIEW. A. Within the thirty (30) days a fter the day a notice of decision of the Board of Review is mailed to the parties, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, or any party to the proceedings before the Board of Review, may obtain judicial review by filing in the district court of the co unty in which the claimant resides, or if the claimant is not a resident of the State of Oklahoma then in the District Court of Oklahoma County, a petition for review of the decision of the Board of Review. The petition for review shall set out the names of all codefendants in the style of the case, which shall include: 1. The Board of Review; 2. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission; and 3. All other parties to the proceeding before the Board of Review. Failure to properly name the codefendants a s stated in this section shall be deemed a jurisdictional defect and the case shall be dismissed. The petition for review need not be verified but shall state specifically the grounds upon which the review is sought. A copy of the petition for review sha ll be served upon the SB924 HFLR Page 13 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Board of Review at its official address and the petitioner shall also deliver to the Board of Review as many copies of the petition as there are defendants. The Board of Review shall issue to each party to the proceeding a copy of th e petition and the issuance shall be deemed to be service upon all the parties. In any proceeding under this section the findings of the Board of Review as to the facts, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive and the jurisdiction of the court shall be confined to questions of law. No additional evidence shall be received by the court, but the court may remand the case and order additional evidence to be taken by the Appeal Tribunal of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. B. Within sixty (60) days of the date of service of the petition on the Board of Review, the Board of Review shall file with the court a certified copy of the record of the case, including all documents and papers properly admitted into evidence and a transcript of all test imony taken in the matter, together with the Board of Review’s findings, conclusions and decision. C. The proceedings shall be heard in a summary manner and shall be given precedence over all other civil cases. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the district court to the Supreme Court of this state in the same manner as is provided in other civil cases. It shall not be necessary as a condition precedent to judicial review of any decision of the Board of Review to enter exceptions to the rulings of the Board, and no bond shall be SB924 HFLR Page 14 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 required as a condition of initiating a proceeding for judicial review or entering an appeal from the decision of the court. Upon the final termination of the judicial proceeding, the Board of Review shall enter an order in accordance with the mandate of the district or appellate court. SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 40 O.S. 2021, Section 4 -508, as amended by Section 22, Chapter 360, O.S.L. 2022 (40 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 4-508), is amended to read as f ollows: Section 4-508. INFORMATION TO BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL - DISCLOSURE. A. Except as otherwise provide d by law, information obtained from any employing unit or individual pursuant to the administration of the Employment Security Act of 1980, any workfor ce system program administered or monitored by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and determinations as to the benefit rights of any individual shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed or be open to public inspection in any manner re vealing the individual’s or employing unit’s identity. Any claimant, employer, or agent of either as aut horized in writing, shall be supplied with information from the records of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, to the extent necessary for the proper presentation of the claim or complaint in any proceeding under the Employment Security Act of 1980, with respect thereto. SB924 HFLR Page 15 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. Upon receipt of written request by any employer who maintains a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plan, the Commission or its designated representative may release to that employer information regarding weekly benefit amo unts paid its workers during a specified temporary layoff period, provided the Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plan requires benefit payment information before Supplemental Unemployment Benefits can be paid to the workers. Any information disclosed under this provision shall be utilized solely for the purpose outlined herein and shall be held strictly confidential by the employer. C. The provisions of this section shall not prevent the Commission from disclosing the following information and no liability whatsoever, civil or criminal, shall attach to any member of the Commission or any employee thereof for any error or omission in the disclosure of this information: 1. The delivery to taxpayer or claimant a copy of any report or other paper filed by the taxpayer or claimant pursuant to the Employment Security Act of 1980; 2. The disclosure of information to any person for a purpose as authorized by the taxpayer or claimant pursuant to a waiver of confidentiality. The waiver shall be in writing an d shall be notarized; 3. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce may have access to data obtained pursuant to the Employment Security Act of 1980 pursuant to SB924 HFLR Page 16 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rules promulgated by the Commission. The information obtained shall be held confidential by the Department and any of its agents and shall not be disclosed or be open to public inspection. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, however, may release agg regated data, either by industry or county, provided that the aggregation meets disclosure requirements o f the Commission; 4. The publication of statistics so classified as to prevent the identification of a particular report and the items thereof; 5. The disclosing of information or evidence to the Attorney General or any district attorney when the information or evidence is to be used by the officials or other parties to the proceedings to prosecute or defend allegations of violations of the Employment Security Act of 1980. The information disclosed to the Attorney General or any district attorney shall b e kept confidential by them and not be disclosed except when presented to a court in a prosecution of a violation of Section 1 -101 et seq. of this titl e, and a violation by the Attorney General or district attorney by otherwise releasing the information shall be a felony; 6. The furnishing, at the discretion of the Commission, of any information disclosed by the records or files to any official person or body of this state, any other state or of the United States who is concerned with the administration of assessment of any similar tax in this state, any other state or the United States; SB924 HFLR Page 17 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7. The furnishing of information to other state agencies for the limited purpose of aiding in the collection of debts owed by individuals to the requesting agencies or the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission; 8. The release of information to employees of the Department of Transportation required for use in federally mandated regional transportation planning, which is performed as a part of its official duties; 9. The release of information to employees of the State Treasurer’s office required to verify or evaluate the effectiveness of the Oklahoma Small Business Lin ked Deposit Program on job creation; 10. The release of information to employees of the Attorney General, the Department of Labor, the Workers ’ Compensation Commission and the Insurance Department for use in investigation of workers’ compensation fraud; 11. The release of information to employees of any state, county, municipal or tribal law enforcement agency for use in criminal investigations and the location of missing persons or fugitives from justice; 12. The release of information to employees of t he Center of International Trade, Oklahoma State University, required for the development of International Trade for employers doing business in this state; SB924 HFLR Page 18 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 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. The release of information to employees of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education req uired for use in the default prevention efforts and/or collection of defaulted student loans guaranteed by the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program. Any information disclosed under this provision shall be utilized solely for the purpose outlined herei n and shall be held strictly confidential by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; 14. The release of information to employees of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the C enter for Economic and Management Research of the University of Oklahoma, the Center for Economic and Business Development at Southwestern Oklahoma State University or a center of economic and business research or development at a comprehensive or regional higher education institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education required to identify economic trends or educational outcomes. The information obtained shall be kept confidential by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the higher education institution and shall not b e disclosed or be open to public inspection. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the higher education institution may release aggregated data, provided that the aggregation meets disclosure requirements of the Commission; SB924 HFLR Page 19 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15. The release of information to employees of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services required to identify economic trends. The information obtained shall be kept confidential by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and shall not be disclosed or be open to public inspection. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services may release ag gregate data, provided that the aggregation meets disclosure requirements of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission; 16. The release of information to employees of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services required to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse treatment and state or local programs utilized to dive rt persons from inpatient treatment. The information obtained shall be kept confidential by the Department and shall not be disclosed or be open to pu blic inspection. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, however, may release aggregated data, either by treatment facility, program or larger aggregate units, provided that the aggregation meets disclosure requirements of the Oklaho ma Employment Security Commission; 17. The release of information to employees of the Attorney General, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Insurance Department for use in the investigation of insurance fraud and health care fraud; SB924 HFLR Page 20 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 18. The release of information to employees of public housing agencies for purposes of determining eligibility pursuant to 42 U.S.C., Section 503(i); 19. The release of wage and benefit claim information, at the discretion of the Commission, to an agency of this state or its political subdivisions that operate a program or activity designated as a required partner in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act One-Stop delivery system pursuant to 29 U.S.C.A., Section 3151(b)(1), based on a showing of need made t o the Commission and after an agreement concerning the release of information is entered into with the entity receiving the information. For the limited purpose of completing performance accountability reports required by the Workforce Innovation and Oppo rtunity Act, only those designated required partners that meet the 20 CFR Section 603.2(d) definition of public official may contract with a private agent or contractor pursuant to 20 CFR Section 603.5(f) for the purpose of the private agent or contractor receiving confidential unemployment compensation information to the extent necessary to complete the performance accountability reports; 20. The release of information to the State Wage Interchange System, at the discretion of the Commission; 21. The release of information to the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Labor S tatistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, and its agents employed by the SB924 HFLR Page 21 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Oklahoma Department of Labor for the purpose of economic and statistical research; 22. The release of employer tax information and benefit claim information to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for use in determining eligibility for a program that will provide subsidies for health insurance premiums for qualified employers, emplo yees, self-employed persons and unemployed persons; 23. The release of employer tax information and bene fit claim information to the State Department of Rehabilitation Services for use in assessing results and outcomes of clients served; 24. The release of information to any state or federal law enforcement authority when necessary in the investigation of any crime in which the Commission is a victim. Information that is confidential under this section shall be held confidential by the law enforcement authority unless and until it is required for use in court in the prosecution of a defendant in a criminal prosecution; 25. The release of information to vendors that contract with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to provide for the issuance of debit cards, to conduct electronic fund transfers, to perform computer programming operations, or to perform computer maintenance or replacement operations; provided the vendor agrees to protect and safeguard the information it receives and to destroy the information when no longer needed for the purposes set out in the contract; SB924 HFLR Page 22 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26. The release of informatio n to employees of the Office of Juvenile Affairs for use in assessing results and outcomes of clients served as well as the effectiveness of state and local juvenile and justice programs including prevention and treatment programs. The information obtained shall be kept confidential by the Office of Juvenile Affairs and shall not be disclosed or be open to public inspection. The Office of Juvenile Affa irs may release aggregated data for programs or larger aggregate units, provided that the aggregation mee ts disclosure requirements of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission; 27. The release of information to vendors that contract with the State of Oklahoma for the purpose of providing a public electronic labor exchange system that will support the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission ’s operation of an employment service system to connect employers with job seekers and military veterans. This labor exchange system would enhance the stability and security of Oklahoma’s economy as well as support the p rovision of veterans ’ priority of service. The vendors may perform computer programming operations, perform computer maintenance or replacement operat ions, or host the electronic solution; provided, each vendor agrees to protect and safeguard all information received, that no information shall be disclosed to any third party, that the use of the information shall be restricted to the scope of the contra ct, and SB924 HFLR Page 23 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 that the vendor shall properly dispose of all information when no longer needed for the purposes set out in the contract; or 28. The release of employer tax information and benefit claim information to employees of a county public defender ’s office in this state and the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System for the purpose of determining financial eligibility for the services provided by such entities. D. Subpoenas to compel disclosure of information made confidential by this statute shall not be valid , except for administrative subpoenas issued by federal, state, or local governmental agencies that have been granted subpoena power by statute or ordinance. Confidential information maintained by the Commission can be obtained by order of a court of reco rd that authorizes the release of the records in writing. All administrative subpoenas or court orders for production of documents must provide a minimum of twenty (20) days from the date it is served for the Commission to produce the documents. If the d ate on which production of the documents is required is less than twenty (20) days from the date of servi ce, the subpoena or order shall be considered void on its face as an undue burden or hardship on the Commission. All administrative subpoenas, court o rders or notarized waivers of confidentiality authorized by paragraph 2 of subsection C of this section shall be presented with a request for records within SB924 HFLR Page 24 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendm ents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ninety (90) days of the date the document is issued or signed, and the document can only be used on e time to obtain records. E. Should any of the disclosures provided for in this section require more than casual or incidental staff time, the Commission shall charge the cost of the staff time to the party requesting the information. F. It is further pr ovided that the provisions of this section shall be strictly interpreted and shall not be construed as permitting the disclosure of any other information contained in the records and files of the Commission. SECTION 5. This act shall becom e effective November 1, 2025. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON COMMER CE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, dated - 04/17/2025 – DO PASS.