Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 1 - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Section 1:2022-14

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2022-14
In
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
, the U.S. Supreme Court returned to States and their elected representatives
			 the authority to regulate and prohibit abortion. Oklahoma is once again able to
			 protect the lives of all unborn children.
When I ran for governor, I promised to sign every piece of
			 pro-life legislation to come across my desk. I have done that; and now,
			 Oklahoma is the most pro-life state in the country. But our work is not yet
			 done. Being pro-life entails more than being "pro-birth"; it also entails
			 renewing our efforts to support mothers
throughout
pregnancies, especially crisis pregnancies. While Oklahoma already has a strong
			 network of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, I want to ensure all possible measures are
			 taken to support both the unborn and mothers during crisis pregnancies.
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 law, hereby order the formation of the Helping Every Life and Parent
			 Task Force ("Task Force").
The Task Force shall study, evaluate, and make recommendations
			 regarding policies, programs and proposed legislation that will:
1. Support Crisis Pregnancy Centers in
		  Oklahoma;
2. Eliminate unnecessary
		  barriers to adoption;
3. Encourage
		  and provide resources to our communities to support mothers faced with an
		  unplanned pregnancy;
4. Do
		  justice, love kindness, and walk humbly in support of Oklahoma mothers and
		  families;
5. Educate Oklahomans on
		  the reality of life in the womb; and
6. Empower nonprofit organizations and local
		  faith communities to efficiently support families and mothers before, during,
		  and after childbirth;
The Task Force shall submit to the Governor, the President Pro
			 Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
			 Representatives, a report on or before October 28, 2022, detailing its findings
			 and recommendations.
The Task Force shall be composed of eleven (11) members
			 determined as follows:
1. The Oklahoma
		  Attorney General or designee;
2.
		  The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives or designee;
3. The President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma
		  Senate or designee;
4. The
		  Secretary of Health and Mental Health or designee;
5. The Secretary of Human Services or
		  designee;
6. The Commissioner of
		  Health or designee;
The Governor shall appoint five additional members as
			 follows:
7. Three
		  representatives from nonprofit organizations or local faith communities
		  specializing in pregnancy care and support;
8. A licensed obstetrician-gynecologist; and
9. A representative of the faith
		  community operating a crisis pregnancy center.
The Governor shall select from the eleven (11) appointed members
			 a Chair of the Task Force who 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 the Secretary of
			 State and each member of the Task Force specifically identified herein, the
			 President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker 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 8 
			 th day of July, 2022.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
J. Kevin Stitt
ATTEST:
Brian Bingman
Secretary of State