Text of OK SB 1304 (2024)
Higher education; creating the Oklahoma Workforce Education Revolving Fund; providing eligibility for institutions of higher education. Effective date. Emergency.
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As introduced
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Req. No. 2387
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE BILL 1304
By: Standridge
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to higher education; creating the
Oklahoma Workforce Education Revolving Fund;
specifying source of fund; providing for
expenditures; providing purpose of fund; directing
the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to award funds to
certain eligible institutions of higher education on
certain basis; providing purpose of funds; providing
eligibility criteria; allowing promulgation of rules;
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 2700 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to be designated the
“Oklahoma Workforce Education Revolving Fund”. The fund shall be a
continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall
consist of all monies received by the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce from legislative appropriations provided for the purpose of
implementing the provisions of this section. All monies accruing to
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the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted
and expended by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for the purpose
provided for in 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 payment.
B. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall award funds from
the Oklahoma Workforce Education Revolving Fund created in
subsection A of this section to eligible institutions of higher
education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education on a
pro rata basis according to the number of students enrolled in the
institution of higher education. The funds shall be used to provide
tuition assistance to students who enroll in or to expand
instructional course offerings in fields of study related to the
critical occupation areas identified by the Department.
C. To be eligible for funds pursuant to this section, an
institution of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of
Higher Education shall apply to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
in the manner and on a form prescribed by the Department. The
application form shall include an attestation that the institution
of higher education:
1. Has not, except as required by federal law:
a.
established or maintained a diversity, equity, and
inclusion office,
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b.
hired or assigned an employee of the institution or
contracted with a third party to perform the duties of
a diversity, equity, and inclusion office,
c.
compelled, required, induced, or solicited any person
to provide a diversity, equity, and inclusion
statement or given preferential consideration to any
person based on the provision of a diversity, equity,
and inclusion statement,
d.
given preference on the basis of race, sex, color,
ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant for
admission, an applicant for employment, an employee,
or a participant in any function of the institution,
or
e.
required as a condition of enrolling at the
institution or performing any institution function any
person to participate in diversity, equity, and
inclusion training, which:
(1) includes a training, program, or activity
designed or implemented in reference to race,
color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual
orientation, and
(2) does not include a training, program, or activity
developed by an attorney and approved in writing
by the institution’s general counsel and the
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Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for
the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with any
applicable court order or state or federal law;
and
2. Has adopted policies and procedures for appropriately
disciplining, including by termination, an employee or contractor of
the institution who engages in conduct in violation of paragraph 1
of this subsection.
D. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce may promulgate rules to
implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
59-2-2387
EB
12/13/2023 9:49:41 AM