A. The Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development established under the authority of Executive Order 2005-27 is hereby recognized by the Legislature as the State's Workforce Investment Board. The Council succeeded and was established in lieu of the Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board. Appointed members of the Council serving under the authority of Executive Order 2005-27 when this act becomes effective shall continue to serve until their terms have expired and their successors have been duly appointed.

Pursuant to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the purpose of the Council shall be to:

1. Guide the development of a comprehensive and coordinated workforce development system for the state and monitor its operation; and

2. Review and make recommendations that will align the workforce system, including education, with the economic development goals of the state for the purpose of creating workforce and economic development systems that are integrated and shall provide Oklahoma a competitive advantage in a global economy.

B. Membership of the Council shall include representatives of private employers who reflect Oklahoma's projected and desired business and industry base and public officials from agencies which provide programs and services related to workforce, education and economic development. All Council members shall be in positions to influence policy and hiring decisions within their organizations. Initial appointments to the Council shall conform to the following described schedule:

1. The membership of the Council shall comply with the federal requirements of the state investment board;

2. A majority of the Council shall come from described private sector employers, including owners of businesses, chief executives or operating officers of businesses or other business executives or employees with optimum policymaking or hiring authority, and who represent businesses, including small businesses, that provide employment opportunities that, at a minimum, include high-quality, work-relevant training and development in in-demand industry sectors or occupations in this state;

3. State officials shall include incumbents or designees of the following named offices, or their successors in office or function:

a.Governor,

b.two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore,

c.two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker,

d.Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and

e.Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission;

4. Additional members, at the discretion and pleasure of the Governor, may be appointed representing the needs or interests of the state economy or specific regional needs; and

5. Ex-officio members, at the discretion and pleasure of the Governor, may be included to provide expertise and agency information to the Council. These appointments may include, but not be limited to:

a.the Secretary of Education,

b.the Secretary of Health and Human Services,

c.the Secretary of Commerce,

d.the Chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,

e.the Director of Career and Technology Education,

f.the State Superintendent of Public Instruction,

g.the Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services,

h.the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections,

i.the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,

j.the Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and

k.the Native American Liaison.

C. Private sector members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2005, and may be reappointed. However, of the initial private sector members appointed, half shall be appointed for an initial term of one (1) year beginning October 1, 2005. Private members may be removed from office for failure to attend three consecutive Council meetings. The chair of the Council shall be from the private sector and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

D. The Council shall meet at such times and places as it deems appropriate. Members shall serve without compensation. Council members employed by a state agency shall be reimbursed travel expenses related to their service on the Council as authorized by state law by their respective state agency. Legislative members of the Council shall be reimbursed by their respective houses for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as authorized by state law. Remaining Council members shall also be reimbursed travel expenses related to their service on the Council by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce as authorized by state law. No member of the Council shall profit, directly or indirectly, from any transaction with the Council.

E. The duties and responsibilities of the Council in the development, monitoring and aligning of the workforce system with economic development shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Performing the duties required of the state governance board by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

2. Identifying the human resource investment needs of Oklahoma business and industry, together with those of the citizens of the state, so that each might respond to and meet the needs of the others and thus together build a robust, diversified economy;

3. Reviewing and evaluating workforce development programs within the state, formulate recommendations to increase their efficiency and effectiveness, eliminate duplication, and align with economic goals. Recommendations shall be communicated to the Governor, Legislature, state and federal government agencies and appropriate individuals and entities within the private sector;

4. Increasing academic capability and technical skills within the state workforce and foster lifelong learning among Oklahoma's citizens;

5. Strengthening collaboration among institutions which provide education and training services, government agencies which coordinate employment and other human resource investment activities, and Oklahoma business and industry to create a seamless system to nurture healthy economic development; and

6. Enhancing rural economic development capability and capacity, giving particular attention to regional collaboration and partnering.

F. Activities of the Council shall be coordinated by the Secretary of Commerce and directed by the Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Workforce Development, or their successors in office or function. Administrative and staffing support for the Council shall be coordinated by the Office of Workforce Solutions within the Department of Commerce.

G. The State Workforce Partners originally established under the authority of Executive Order 2005-27 as the Workforce Solutions Staff Team is hereby recognized by the Legislature. This interagency team shall be comprised of executive level staff from workforce, education and economic development agencies of the state for the purpose of providing staff support to the Council and to create efficiencies, eliminate duplication, and eliminate barriers to jointly providing a service delivery system. Other members may be included on this team as the Governor may deem necessary to accomplish this goal.

H. The Council shall be supported by funds available to state agencies pursuant to state and federal laws and regulations. Each member of the Council whose agency qualifies pursuant to state and federal law to receive and use such funds shall assist by providing support and funding of the Council in carrying out the responsibilities of the Council.

I. The Council shall form a subcommittee on health workforce whose purpose shall be to inform, coordinate, and facilitate statewide efforts to ensure that a well-trained, adequately distributed, and flexible health workforce is available to meet the needs of an efficient and effective health care system in Oklahoma. Duties of the Health Workforce Subcommittee shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Conducting data analysis and preparing reports on health workforce supply and demand;

2. Research and analysis of state health professional education and training capacity;

3. Recommend recruitment and retention strategies for areas determined by the Oklahoma Primary Care Office or the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health to be areas of high need; and

4. Assessment of health workforce policy, evaluation of impact on Oklahoma's health system and health outcomes, and developing health workforce policy recommendations.

Added by Laws 2006, c. 236, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2006. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 188, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.