Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 1 - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Section 1:2024-8

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
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