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Bill > SB1683


OK SB1683

OK SB1683
Education; creating the Research and Education Protection Act of 2024; providing purpose. Effective date. Emergency.


summary

Introduced
02/05/2024
In Committee
02/27/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/31/2024

Introduced Session

2024 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act relating to education; creating the Research and Education Protection Act of 2024; providing short title; providing purpose; defining terms; requiring public schools and institutions of higher education to disclose certain gifts received after certain date; providing manner of disclosure; requiring submitted information to be forwarded to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES); requiring information to be disclosed on certain website; directing the State Auditor and Inspector to inspect or audit certain gifts upon certain request; requiring public schools and institutions of higher education to disclose offering of certain gifts; providing manner of disclosure; requiring submitted information to be forwarded to OMES to issue a final decision on whether certain gift may be accepted; directing OMES to develop certain forms and maintain certain website; making certain indirect gifts subject to certain approval process; directing the State Auditor and Inspector to inspect or audit certain gifts upon certain request; requiring public schools and institutions of higher education to disclose certain contracts from certain foreign sources entered into after certain date; providing manner of disclosure; requiring certain information to be submitted to OMES; requiring information to be disclosed on certain website; directing the State Auditor and Inspector to inspect or audit certain contracts upon certain request; requiring public schools and institutions of higher education to disclose certain proposed contracts; requiring submitted information to be forwarded to OMES to issue a final decision on whether a school or institution may enter into certain contract; directing OMES to develop certain forms and maintain certain website; making certain contracts subject to certain approval process; directing the State Auditor and Inspector to inspect or audit certain contracts upon certain request; providing civil penalty for certain failure to disclose certain information; providing for deposit of funds; providing for administrative enforcement of penalty; allowing certain entities to bring civil action for certain enforcement; providing for attorney fees; providing immunity from employment discipline and civil liability to certain employees who make certain reports; providing for reward amount; providing for confidentiality of certain information; prohibiting public schools and institutions of higher education from participating in certain agreements with certain foreign sources; requiring certain cultural exchange agreements to be shared with certain federal and state agencies; providing manner of sharing information; requiring the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Education to submit certain annual report by certain date; providing contents of report; prohibiting certain associations from accepting certain gifts or grants or entering into certain contracts; requiring public schools and institutions of higher education that establish certain program or agreement to adopt certain prioritizing policy; requiring institutions of higher education with certain research budget to screen certain applicants and students; directing boards of regents to require submission of certain materials from certain individuals; directing presidents of institutions of higher education to designate a research integrity office; providing purpose of office; requiring certain review prior to interviewing for or offering certain positions; allowing an individual to not be employed for failure to disclose certain information; requiring a research integrity office to report certain information regarding an individual who was rejected for employment on certain basis; directing institutions of higher education to adopt a policy of prioritizing certain foreign researchers; requiring institutions of higher education with certain research budget to establish certain travel approval and monitoring program; providing criteria for certain preapproval; requiring maintenance of certain records of foreign travel requests and approvals for certain time period; requiring submission of certain annual report; requiring certain operation audit by certain date; allowing certain academic partnerships to be entered into or renewed under certain conditions; directing the Governor to appoint certain individual to submit certain report; providing contents of report; providing for severability; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

AI Summary

This bill, titled the "Research and Education Protection Act of 2024", aims to protect Oklahoma's research and educational system from potential malicious influence from foreign countries of concern. The key provisions are: 1. Requiring public schools and institutions of higher education to disclose gifts, contracts, and proposed agreements with foreign sources from countries of concern, such as China, Russia, and Iran, and submit the information to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) for review and approval. 2. Imposing a civil penalty for failure to disclose the required information and providing whistleblower protections for employees who report undisclosed foreign activities. 3. Prohibiting public schools and institutions from participating in certain agreements with foreign sources that could undermine the state's or the nation's security interests. 4. Requiring institutions with significant research budgets to screen applicants and visitors from countries of concern, establish travel approval and monitoring programs, and prioritize partnerships with allied nations over countries of concern. 5. Authorizing the Governor to appoint an individual to submit a semi-annual report on foreign influence in higher education in Oklahoma. The bill aims to enhance transparency and oversight over foreign activities in the state's education system, with the goal of protecting research and educational operations from potential malicious influence.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Education

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Coauthored by Representative Steagall (principal House author) (on 03/05/2024)

bill text


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