A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahomans Virtually Everywhere Act of 2019". The Oklahomans Virtually Everywhere Act creates a statewide initiative that allows Oklahomans to provide their expertise throughout the world without leaving their communities by Oklahoma becoming the leader in telepresence and virtual presence.

B. For purposes of this section:

1. "Telepresence" means the ability of people who are not physically present with each other to collaborate and interact with others in meetings, conferences, office work and other contexts as though they were physically present; and

2. "Virtual presence" means that the interactions between individuals and groups virtually present in meetings, conferences, office work and other social contexts are indistinguishable between those who are physically present and those who are not.

C. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall lead an effort in conjunction with OneNet, the State Board of Career and Technology Education, State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services on behalf of all state agencies to create a research and development proposal to make Oklahoma a leader in telepresence, with the ultimate goal of being a leader in virtual presence as the technology matures. The proposal shall include a proposed budget and be prepared for the legislative session following the effective date of this act. Each agency in this subsection shall designate a liaison for this effort.

D. The proposal shall:

1. Include a proposed budget and be prepared for the budget hearings of the legislative session;

2. Be created in consultation with businesses and state agencies;

3. Include a strategy for training Oklahoma organizations to use existing technology for telepresence and virtual presence; and

4. Include an overview of the current state of telepresence in Oklahoma education, government and business, with the following:

a.research and actions necessary to become a leader in telepresence in education,

b.research and actions necessary to become a leader in telepresence in government,

c.research and actions necessary to become a leader in telepresence in business,

d.research and actions necessary to become a leader in telepresence in Oklahoma rural communities,

e.identification of potential partners and sources of matching or other funds,

f.strategy for training Oklahoma organizations to use existing technology for telepresence and virtual presence, and

g.any additional information deemed necessary by the participants.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 106, § 1.