2022 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74. State Government
§74-840-2.27C. Reduction-in-force plan.

A. At least thirty (30) days before the scheduled beginning of reduction-in-force separations or as otherwise provided by law, the appointing authority shall post in each office of executive branch agencies affected by the proposed reduction-in-force notice that a reduction-in-force will be conducted. The reduction-in-force implementation plan shall be provided to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and any state employee association representing state employees at such time. The notice shall not be posted unless approved by the cabinet secretary for the agency conducting the reduction-in-force. If there is no incumbent cabinet secretary for the agency, the cabinet-secretary-notice-approval requirement shall not be applicable. If the appointing authority is governed by an elected official, the cabinet-secretary-notice-approval requirement shall not be applicable. The approved notice shall be posted in each office affected by the proposed plan for five (5) days. The appointing authority shall provide a copy of the notice to the Administrator. A reduction-in-force shall not be used as a disciplinary action.

B. The reduction-in-force implementation plan shall:

1. Provide for the appointing authority to determine the specific position or positions to be abolished within specified units, divisions, facilities, agency-wide or any parts thereof; and

2. Provide outplacement assistance and employment counseling from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and any other outplacement assistance and employment counseling made available by the agency to affected employees regarding the options available pursuant to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act prior to the date that a reduction-in-force is implemented.

C. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall review the fiscal components of the reduction-in-force implementation plan and within five (5) business days of receipt reject any plan that does not:

1. Demonstrate that funds are available to cover projected costs; and

2. Contain an estimate of the cost savings or reduced expenditures likely to be achieved by the agency.

If the reduction-in-force is conducted pursuant to a reorganization, the fiscal components of the reduction-in-force implementation plan shall contain reasons for the reorganization, which may include, but not be limited to, increased efficiency, improved service delivery, or enhanced quality of service.

D. When the Legislature is not in session, the Contingency Review Board may, upon the request of the Governor, direct agencies, boards and commissions to reduce the number of employees working for the agency, board or commission whenever it is deemed necessary and proper. Such reduction shall be made pursuant to reduction-in-force plans as provided in this section.

E. 1. When the Legislature is not in session, the Contingency Review Board may, upon the request of the Governor, direct and require mandatory furloughs for all state employees whenever it is deemed necessary and proper. The Contingency Review Board shall specify the effective dates for furloughs and shall note any exceptions to state employees affected by same. All employees, including those employees of agencies or offices established by statute or the Constitution, shall be affected by such actions.

2. Mandatory furlough means the involuntary temporary reduction of work hours or the placement of an employee on involuntary leave without pay. Rules governing leave, longevity pay and participation in the State Employees Group Health, Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance program shall not be affected by mandatory furloughs. Furlough, as provided for in this section or by rules adopted by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, shall not be appealable under the provisions of this act.

3. Notwithstanding existing laws or provisions to the contrary, members of state boards and commissions shall not receive per diem expenses during periods of mandatory furlough. The Contingency Review Board shall additionally call upon elected officials, members of the judiciary, and other public officers whose salary or emoluments cannot be altered during current terms of office, to voluntarily donate to the General Revenue Fund any portion of their salary which would otherwise have been affected by a mandatory furlough.

F. All agencies directed by the Contingency Review Board to terminate or furlough employees, shall report the cumulative cost savings achieved by the reductions-in-force or furloughs to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives on a quarterly basis for one (1) year following the effective date of the action.

G. The appointing authority of an agency which has an approved reduction-in-force plan pursuant to the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act may request the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to appoint an interagency advisory task force for the purpose of assisting the agency and its employees with the implementation of the reduction-in-force. The appointing authority of state agencies requested by the Administrator to participate on a task force shall assign appropriate administrative personnel necessary to facilitate the necessary assistance required for the efficient implementation of the approved reduction-in-force.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 338, § 35, eff. July 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1983, c. 329, § 1, eff. July 1, 1983; Laws 1986, c. 84, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1986; Laws 1986, c. 244, § 7, emerg. eff. June 12, 1986; Laws 1991, c. 22, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Renumbered from § 841.14 of this title by Laws 1994, c. 242, § 54. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 283, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 263, § 8. Renumbered from § 840-4.18 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 263, § 10. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 287, § 6, eff. July 1, 1997. Renumbered from § 840-2.27 of this title by Laws 1997, c. 287, § 20, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 256, § 2, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 410, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 381, § 6, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 212, § 13, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2003, c. 353, § 1, emerg. eff. June 3, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 312, § 11, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 1, § 130, emerg. eff. March 15, 2005; Laws 2005, c. 453, § 2, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2007, c. 342, § 3, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2009, c. 38, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 2, § 101, emerg. eff. March 3, 2010; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 884; Laws 2022, c. 243, § 20, emerg. eff. May 11, 2022.

NOTE: Laws 2004, c. 277, § 1 repealed by Laws 2005, c. 1, § 131, emerg. eff. March 15, 2005. Laws 2009, c. 12, § 5 repealed by Laws 2010, c. 2, § 102, emerg. eff. March 3, 2010.