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ENGR. H. B. NO. 3128 Page 1
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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3128 By: West (Kevin) of the House
and
Stewart of the Senate
An Act relating to labor; creating the Actionable
Response for Industry Skills and Excellence in
Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK); describing
legislative intent and purpose; defining terms;
providing for Task Force membership; creating
guidelines for Task Force members; creating
guidelines for appointed members; providing Task
Force duties; requiring reports; providing report
deadlines; providing guidelines for compensation and
reimbursement; requiring staffing and support;
establishing sunset date; providing for
noncodification; providing for codification; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A. The Legislature finds that Oklahoma's long-term economic
growth, business competitiveness, and workforce capacity depend upon
strategic coordination between employers, education providers,
workforce systems, and state agencies.
B. It is the intent of the Legislature to:
1. Identify barriers to workforce entry and participation;
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2. Strengthen workforce pipelines in key industries;
3. Align education and training systems with employer needs;
4. Support apprenticeships, technical training, and career
development;
5. Enhance Oklahoma's economic competitiveness through a
modernized, responsive workforce system; and
6. Ensure recommendations are industry-driven, data-informed,
and actionable.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 651 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Actionable Response for Industry
Skills and Excellence in Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK).
B. The purpose of ARISE-OK is to evaluate statewide workforce
readiness, identify barriers to employment, strengthen workforce
pipelines, and advance strategies that support business growth and
economic competitiveness.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 652 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
For purposes of this act:
1. "Industry representative" means an individual employed by or
affiliated with a private-sector business operating within the State
of Oklahoma;
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2. "Registered apprenticeship" means a program registered with
the United States Department of Labor or the Oklahoma Office of
Workforce Development;
3. "Task Force" or "ARISE-OK" means the Actionable Response for
Industry Skills and Excellence in Oklahoma Task Force created in
Section 2 of this act; and
4. "Workforce barriers" includes transportation, childcare,
credentialing, reentry, housing, and other obstacles preventing
workforce entry or retention.
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 653 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Actionable Response for Industry Skills and Excellence
in Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK) shall consist of the following
voting members:
1. The Commissioner of Labor, who shall serve as chair, or
designee;
2. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security
Commission, or designee;
3. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce, or designee;
4. The State Director of Career and Technology Education, or
designee;
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5. The Chancellor of The Oklahoma State System of Higher
Education, or designee; and
6. The Secretary of Agriculture, or designee.
B. The following shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members:
1. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission
(OWC), or designee;
2. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Space Industry
Development Authority (OSIDA), or designee;
3. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), or designee;
4. One representative of the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium
(OTFC); and
5. The Lieutenant Governor, or designee.
C. In addition, the Task Force shall include eleven (11)
appointed voting members as follows:
1. To be appointed by the Commissioner of Labor:
a. an apprenticeship or workforce training specialist,
b. a workforce training provider representative, and
c. a workforce barrier-reduction specialist;
2. To be appointed by the Governor:
a. an energy sector representative, and
b. a technology sector representative;
3. To be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
Representatives:
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a. a construction sector representative,
b. a manufacturing sector representative, and
c. a veteran or military transition representative; and
4. To be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma
State Senate:
a. an agriculture sector representative,
b. a health care sector representative, and
c. a statewide business or industry representative.
D. Members shall serve until the Task Force submits its final
report, unless replaced by the appointing authority. The appointing
authority has discretion to replace a member he or she appointed.
E. If any appointed member has not been selected by the
designated appointing authority within sixty (60) days of the
effective date of this act, the chair of the Task Force shall make
the appointment to fill the vacancy. Such appointment shall serve
until the appointing authority selects a member or until the Task
Force submits its final report, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 654 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Actionable Response for Industry Skills and Excellence in
Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK) shall:
1. Evaluate Oklahoma's workforce readiness and talent shortages
across all industry sectors;
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2. Identify regulatory, statutory, and practical barriers to
employment;
3. Recommend strategies to strengthen workforce training,
apprenticeships, career and technical education, education
alignment, and employer participation;
4. Study workforce challenges within agriculture,
manufacturing, energy, construction, health care, technology, and
veteran transition sectors;
5. Engage rural, urban, and veteran communities to ensure
statewide workforce responsiveness;
6. Coordinate studies and data requests within the Oklahoma
Workforce Commission to avoid duplication and ensure complementary
efforts;
7. Provide statutory and administrative recommendations to
improve workforce effectiveness and business competitiveness;
8. Address workforce challenges not explicitly within the
Commission's statutory mission, including cross-sector coordination,
long-term strategic workforce policy, and structural barriers; and
9. Leverage expertise from ex officio members for emerging
industries and workforce insights.
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 655 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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A. The Actionable Response for Industry Skills and Excellence
in Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK) shall submit the following written
reports of findings and legislative recommendations, as follows:
1. Interim report by December 1, 2027;
2. Second report by December 1, 2028; and
3. Final report by December 1, 2029.
B. Each report shall be submitted to:
1. The Governor;
2. The President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate;
3. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;
4. The Oklahoma Workforce Commission; and
5. The public via an online posting by the Department of Labor.
SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 656 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Members of the Actionable Response for Industry Skills and
Excellence in Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK) who are state employees
shall receive no additional compensation for duties performed under
this act.
B. Legislative or appointed members who are not state employees
may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses in accordance with
the State Travel Reimbursement Act, subject to available funds.
C. No member shall receive a stipend or per diem for service on
the Task Force.
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SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 657 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Department of Labor shall provide staff support, meeting
coordination, report posting, and administrative assistance to the
Actionable Response for Industry Skills and Excellence in Oklahoma
Task Force (ARISE-OK).
SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 658 of Title 40, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Actionable Response for Industry Skills and Excellence
in Oklahoma Task Force (ARISE-OK) shall terminate on December 31,
2029, unless continued by an act of the Legislature enacted no later
than the 2029 Regular Session.
B. Prior to termination, the Task Force shall submit its final
report, and the Legislature may extend, modify, or continue the Task
Force through subsequent legislation.
SECTION 10. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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Passed the House of Representatives the 12th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate