Bill > SB754

This bill authorizes the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) to establish the Doctoral Retention Grant Program, which aims to encourage doctoral-level researchers and professionals to remain in Oklahoma. The program will develop competitive grants for applicants committed to staying in the state and furthering OCAST's mission. OCAST will administer the program and will examine best practices from other states to design its framework. The bill includes important provisions to prevent duplicating existing incentive programs and requires recipients to provide service testing data to ensure they fulfill their proposed commitments. Importantly, all grants will include a "clawback provision" that requires recipients to reimburse the program if they fail to meet the grant's contract terms. The bill also creates a new Doctoral Retention Grant Program Revolving Fund in the State Treasury, which will be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations, and can be used for awarding grants and covering OCAST's operating expenses. The program is set to become effective on November 1, 2025, providing time for OCAST to develop and implement the grant program's details.

Labor and Employment

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb754&Session=2600