Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2024-8

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 1:2024-8

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2024-8

WHEREAS, I recently signed House Bill 4156 into law as a direct result of the unprecedented border security crisis that has seen more than 52,000 Chinese Nationals along with terror organizations illegally infiltrate and wreak havoc on our great Nation and State due to the Biden administration's complete failure to offer even minimal protections;

WHEREAS, I have been clear that House Bill 4156 is not aimed at the honest, hardworking Hispanic or other international migrant populations here chasing the American dream, enhancing our communities, economies, and way of life, and otherwise significantly contributing to Oklahoma's tapestry;

WHEREAS, the current federal administration has refused to responsibly issue work permits or visas to thousands of immigrants who have long filled gaps in Oklahoma's workforce, and the Biden administration has instead chosen to altogether ignore any and all issues associated with the crisis at the southern border;

WHEREAS, unless and until the federal administration functions as designed, we must do our part to discover and provide pathways for migrant workers to legitimately contribute to our state without fear of being separated from their families and livelihoods and for Oklahoma businesses to hire and retain those valuable workers without unwarranted risk of deportation;

NOW 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, hereby order the creation of the Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visas (OSWPV) Task Force:

The Task Force shall study, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding policies and programs and propose legislation that will:

1. Allow for immigrants here to pursue the American dream and contribute to our workforce to secure work permits, work visas or similar documentation permitting them, to remain for established timeframes without threat of separation from their families and livelihood and

2. Provide universities, aviation companies, farmers and ranchers, oil and gas companies, and other industries Oklahoma heavily relies upon as its economic engine, the ability to hire and retain immigrants who do not present a threat to communities.

The Task Force shall submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives a report on or before August 31, 2024, detailing its findings and recommendations.

The Task Force shall be composed of eleven (11) members determined as follows:

1. Three (3) community members appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall have demonstrated knowledge of the process by which work permits and/or visas may be secured;

2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives or his designee;

3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate or his designee;

4. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety or his designee;

5. The Consul of Mexico in Oklahoma City or her designee;

6. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission or his designee;

7. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tax Commission or his designee;

8. The Chancellor for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education or her designee;

9. An appointee of the District Attorneys Council; and

A member appointed by the Governor shall serve as the Chair of the Task Force and shall have the authority to create committees and name committee chairs to facilitate the work of the Task Force and shall have the authority to appoint Task Force members and non-members to serve on committees. The Task Force shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the Chair allowing for timely completion of its work. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Task Force. Members, including those appointed to committees who are not members of the Task Force, shall serve without compensation.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall provide staff and administrative support for the Task Force. All Executive departments, officers, agencies, and employees of the State shall cooperate with the Task Force, including providing any information, data, records, and reports as may be requested.

This Executive Order shall be distributed to each member of the Task Force specifically identified herein and to each person appointed to a Task Force committee and to the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate and the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

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 30th day of April, 2024.

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. Kevin Stitt

ATTEST:

Josh Cockroft

Secretary of State

Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2024-8

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 18, June 3, 2024, eff. 5/1/2024