Oklahoma § 62-36.1 - Short title - Oklahomans Virtually Everywhere Act of 2019

§ 62-36.1. Short title - Oklahomans Virtually Everywhere Act of 2019

– Research and development proposal.

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,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 62. Public Finance

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.