Committee creates 'Arise Oklahoma' task force to study workforce readiness

Chairman West explained House Bill 31 28 would establish a task force called "Arise Oklahoma" with the purpose of elevating statewide workforce readiness, identifying employment barriers and strengthening pipelines for business growth. West said the bill includes members from the new workforce commission so the effort would not duplicate existing work and noted the commission currently has only a few staff, meaning the task force could help coordinate across many stakeholders.

Representative Blansett asked why a new body was needed rather than relying on the workforce commission and whether task forces typically produce actionable plans. West acknowledged the concern, said he had spoken with business owners and education stakeholders, and pointed to a sunset clause so the legislature could end the task force if the work was not actionable. "It does have a sunset on it," West said, adding that the legislature could choose not to renew the group if it did not produce useful recommendations.

The committee moved the bill, debated briefly, and recorded the committee vote as listed in the transcript; the chair declared the bill passed.