Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2023-21
Executive Order 2023-21
WHEREAS, the current structure of Oklahoma's workforce delivery system suffers from a fragmentation of responsibilities and funding between several state agencies, including but not limited to, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the State Regents for Higher Education and associated institutions of higher education, the State Department of Career and Technology Education, and the State Department of Education, as well as further fragmentation due to the involvement of various local governmental entities; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development ("OOWD") currently houses Oklahoma Works, the State's workforce development initiative, and administers the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ("WIOA") Title 1 financially-assisted programs and activities under the U.S. Department of Labor. OOWD is currently an operating division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC"); and
WHEREAS, federal funding received by the State pursuant to WIOA Titles I, II, III and IV are currently distributed to multiple state agencies, resulting in administrative duplication and a lack of coordination; and
WHEREAS, best practices as observed in other states includes designated a single point of funding and accountability to receive all federal WIOA funding; and
WHEREAS, in order to maximize our economic effectiveness, save taxpayer dollars, and assure that Oklahoma continues to be competitive with other states and countries, it is essential that Oklahoma's WIOA funding and programming be coordinated and administered in accordance with national best practices; and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma has the talent, employers, and conditions necessary to be a top performer in workforce development nationally and Oklahomans deserve a coordinated workforce system that enables jobseekers to find careers and employers to staff needed talent.
THEREFORE, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power and authority vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, and to the fullest extent permitted under Oklahoma and federal law, hereby order that the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development, its functions and employees, shall be transferred to and become an operating division housed under the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, effective immediately, except to the extent the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission determines otherwise.
It is further ordered that the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is hereby designated as the single point of funding and accountability for WIOA programming in Oklahoma, and that all State agencies, employees, boards, departments, councils, and any other State entity or actor involved in WIOA funding and programming take whatever administrative action necessary to ensure that all federal WIOA funding received from the federal government be received and administered by OESC.
It is further ordered that OESC coordinate the administration of all WIOA funding and programming with the Oklahoma Workforce Commission in order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the State's workforce development efforts.
As a result of the transfer ordered herein, pursuant to Rules 260:25-15-11 and 260:25-15-12 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code, all accrued annual and sick leave of employees of OOWD shall be transferred from ODC to OESC effective immediately, except to the extent the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission determines otherwise.
This Executive Order shall be distributed to the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Workforce, Executive Director of OESC, Executive Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Executive Director of ODOC, and the Executive Director of OOWD for immediate implementation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 11th day of August, 2023.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
J. Kevin Stitt
ATTEST:
Brian Bingman
Secretary of State
Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2023-21