Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-5003.10d

Purpose - Membership - Terms - Meetings - Duties and

Responsibilities - Funding.

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 Oklahoma Senate, appointed by the

President Pro Tempore,

c. two members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives,

appointed by the Speaker, and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 1025

d. 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
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 Employment Security Commission as authorized

by state law. No member of the Council shall profit, directly or

indirectly, from any transaction with the Council.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 1026

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 Workforce Development.

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
s, 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 1027

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.