Senate Bill 1181 Summary

• Creates the "Oklahoma-A STEM State of Mind" Program to establish criteria and processes for designating communities or regions as STEM Communities or STEM Regions.

• Requires designated STEM Communities or Regions to include educators, administrators, business leaders, students, parents, and government officials working together to create awareness, promote education-industry partnerships, develop action plans, and acquire resources to improve STEM education.

• Establishes a subcommittee under an existing STEM education or workforce committee (identified by the Governor) to outline the application process and establish designation criteria, with the Coalition for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education in Oklahoma (CASMEO) responsible for creating and maintaining the subcommittee.

• Requires the subcommittee to study issues related to promoting STEM education and training, and to develop recommendations addressing skilled employee shortages in energy, agriculture, biosciences, aerospace, defense, transportation, distribution, and information technology sectors.

• Mandates the subcommittee submit annual reports with findings and recommendations to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.