HB1228 Summary: Sheltered Workshop Act

• Creates the Sheltered Workshop Act to license and regulate sheltered workshops that provide work and training activities for individuals with developmental disabilities in Oklahoma.

• Establishes Department of Human Services authority to issue, renew, deny, suspend, and revoke sheltered workshop licenses with minimum standards for physical plant, staffing, training, qualifications, and service recipient records.

• Requires sheltered workshops to conduct criminal background checks on employees and prohibits hiring of individuals with convictions for misdemeanor assault and battery or any felony, with waiver provisions available.

• Mandates annual inspections of licensed sheltered workshops without prior notice and requires the Department to maintain a public inspection log detailing deficiencies, violations, and corrective actions.

• Provides for conditional licenses with written correction plans, informal conference procedures, license transfer restrictions with prior approval, and effective date of November 1, 2011.