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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
HOUSE BILL 3379 By: Ranson
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to higher education; creating the
Higher Education Workforce Development and Fair
Admission Act; prohibiting state educational
institutions from inquiring about a prospective
student's criminal history on an application form;
permitting inquiry if criminal history includes
certain sex-related convictions; permitting inquiries
of a student's criminal conviction history after
acceptance for certain purposes; requiring
universities consider certain factors concerning a
student's criminal conviction history when making
certain decisions; permitting institutions with
teacher preparation programs to consider criminal
conviction history; limiting consideration to
offering of counseling; prohibiting institutions from
denying admission to an academic program based solely
on criminal conviction history; requiring institution
to offer counseling; permitting institutions to
consider criminal conviction history if information
is disclosed through certain applications; providing
for noncodification; 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 not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
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This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Higher
Education Workforce Development and Fair Admission Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3252 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. 1. Except as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection, a
state educational institution within The Oklahoma State System of
Higher Education shall not inquire about a prospective student's
criminal history on an initial application form or at any time
during the admissions process prior to the institution's decision
relative to the prospective student's acceptance for admission.
2. An institution may inquire on an initial application form
about a prospective student's criminal conviction history relative
to any conviction for a sex-related offense defined in Sections
843.5, 1111, 1111.1, 1114, 1116, 1123, and 1173 of Title 21 of the
Oklahoma Statutes or a sex-related offense under the laws of another
state or under any military, territorial, foreign, tribal, or
federal law that is equivalent to any of these offenses. If an
institution elects to deny admission based on any such conviction,
the institution shall notify the prospective student of the denial
based on any such conviction. The prospective student may appeal
the decision to the State Regents for Higher Education.
B. 1. After a student has been accepted for admission, an
institution may make inquiries relative to the student's criminal
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conviction history, which shall not be limited to the offenses
enumerated in paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section, for the
following purposes:
a. offering supportive counseling and services, and
b. making decisions relative to a student's participation
in campus life and determining if the institution will
limit such participation.
2. An institution may make such inquiries when obtaining
secondary information including, but not limited to, information
pertaining to immunizations, financial aid, or housing. If an
institution elects to make such inquiries, the institution shall
consider all of the following:
a. the nature and gravity of the criminal conduct and
whether it bears a direct relationship to a particular
aspect of a student's participation in campus life,
including, but not limited to, campus residency and
campus activities,
b. the time that has passed since the occurrence of the
criminal conduct,
c. the age of the student at the time of the conduct
underlying the criminal conviction, and
d. any evidence of rehabilitation or good conduct
produced by the student.
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3. After a student has been accepted for admission, an
institution offering a teacher preparation program may consider
criminal conviction history if information pertaining to such
history is provided on a professional conduct form for use in the
teacher certification process. The purpose of such consideration
shall be limited to the offering of counseling as provided for in
paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section.
C. 1. An institution shall not deny, based solely on criminal
conviction history, admission to or continuation in an academic
program designed to prepare a student for a career that requires an
occupational license or a teaching certificate. The institution
shall offer counseling relative to the licensing or certification
requirement in order to assist a student in making an informed
decision about pursuing such program.
2. A state educational institution may consider criminal
conviction history if information pertaining to such history is
provided on an application that is designed by a national
application service, tailored for admission to a specific degree
program, and used by postsecondary education institutions in
multiple states.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-2-15837 AQH 01/08/26