A. 1. There is hereby created a mechanism for establishing criteria and a process for designation as a STEM Community or STEM Region. The STEM Community or STEM Region is one of several recommendations on improving Oklahoma Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the Governor's Science and Technology Council's "OneOklahoma" report.

2. The criteria for designation as a STEM Community or STEM Region shall include a requirement that educators, administrators, business leaders, students, parents, government officials and business and industry groups within a community or region create awareness, promote partnerships with education and industry, develop and execute action plans for improving STEM education and training, identify and acquire the needed resources to improve STEM education and training and identify and accumulate STEM data within the community or region, including but not limited to kindergarten through twelfth grade test results, the number of STEM-related degree holders in the local workforce, the number of STEM-related degrees conferred and the number of STEM-related certifications or credentials obtained. The region or community shall also develop a plan to recognize and promote successes in both student and teacher accomplishments in the STEM area within the community or region. The concept of creating a STEM Community or STEM Region is incorporated in the Department of Education's STEM strategy and will include and support STEM programs in many of the Department of Career and Technology Education's technology centers.

3. The process for designation as a STEM Community or STEM Region shall require that state legislators initiate designation of a STEM Community or STEM Region through an application process. The final approval and designation of an Oklahoma STEM Community or STEM Region shall reside with the Governor.

4. The application process shall be outlined by a subcommittee of an existing STEM education or workforce committee or board, to be identified by the Governor. The creation, sustainment and execution of the subcommittee shall be the responsibility of the Department of Career and Technology Education. The application process shall be based on criteria established by the subcommittee.

B. The subcommittee shall also study issues related to the promotion and growth of STEM education and training in the state and create specific recommendations to address the current and pending shortage of highly skilled employees in the energy, agriculture and biosciences, aerospace and defense, transportation and distribution and information technology and financial services sectors in Oklahoma.

C. The subcommittee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on an annual basis.

Added by Laws 2014, c. 194, § 2. Amended by Laws 2018, c. 31, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018.