ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 283 	By:	Coates and Leftwich of the Senate

			and

		Jackson of the House

An Act relating to children; creating the Task Force on Youth Transitioning into Adulthood; providing expiration date; specifying duties; providing for membership; directing selection of chair and vice-chair; requiring quorum; providing for travel reimbursement; directing staff support by the Office of Juvenile Affairs; directing date of first meeting; requiring certain report; providing for noncodification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A.  There is hereby created until November 30, 2009, the Task Force on Youth Transitioning into Adulthood to study policies and programs to assist youth as they transition into adulthood through education, behavioral health, social services, housing, and employment services.  The task force shall:
1.  Conduct an in-depth study of the populations of youth who are not served or who are inadequately served as they transition into adulthood, including, but not limited to:
a.	youth who are currently in or are preparing to exit the juvenile justice system,
b.	youth who are currently in or are preparing to exit the foster care system, and
c.	youth who experience conditions in their daily lives that place their health, safety, physical and mental health at risk;
2.  Study issues that directly impact the ability of youth to transition into adulthood, including, but not limited to:
a.	financial independence,
b.	life skills, and
c.	transportation;
3.  Study current state and federal programs that assist youth as they transition into adulthood, including program criteria and barriers;
4.  Generate input from youth about their personal experience with programs and issues that impact their ability to transition into adulthood;
5.  Explore the creation of new state programs to ensure that young people in Oklahoma who do not qualify for existing programs can be served;
6.  Examine various methods, including but not limited to tax credits, that can be used to incentivize businesses to hire young people; and
7.  Provide recommendations for legislation to implement the findings of the task force.
B.  The task force shall be composed of twenty-five (25) members as follows:
1.  The Director of the Department of Human Services;
2.  The Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs;
3.  One member from the Governor’s Task Force on Economic Development to be appointed by the Governor;
4.  Eleven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
a.	one member from the Senate,
b.	one member from the State Department of Rehabilitation Services,
c.	one member from the State Department of Education with experience in alternative education,
d.	one member from a chamber of commerce in the state,
e.	one member from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission,
f.	one member from the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank,
g.	one member from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
h.	one member from the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education,
i.	one member from the Oklahoma Department of Labor,
j.	one member from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and
k.	one member from a publicly operated local workforce investment area; and
5.  Eleven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
a.	one member from the House of Representatives,
b.	one member from a homeless coalition in the state,
c.	one member from an organization representing municipalities in the state,
d.	one member from a Job Corps Center in Oklahoma,
e.	one member from an institution of higher education in the state with experience in vocational training for young people,
f.	one member from an association of Youth Service Agencies in the state,
g.	one member from an association of child advocates in the state,
h.	one member from an association that promotes the development of the Latino community in the state,
i.	one member from a Native American tribe with experience providing transitional services to youth,
j.	one member from an association that promotes the development of the African American community in the state, and
k.	one member from an association that promotes the development of the Vietnamese American community in the state.
C.  The members of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
D.  The Director of the Department of Human Services and the Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall serve as co-chairs for the task force.
E.  A quorum of the task force shall be required in order for any final action of the task force.
F.  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their service, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:
1.  Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
2.  Nonlegislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
G.  Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the Office of Juvenile Affairs.
H.  The task force shall conduct its initial meeting not later than fifteen (15) days after the effective date of this act.
I.  The task force shall report its findings, including any legislative recommendations, to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor by November 30, 2009.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2009.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives