Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2021-23

Current through Vol. 42, No. 3, October 15, 2024

Section 1:2021-23

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2021-23

As Governor, it has always been a priority of my Administration to push back against federal overreach. On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (President Biden's Order). President Biden's Order (and related guidance) requires federal contractors and subcontractors with "covered contracts" to conform to several protocols, including mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of all contractor employees. Since the issuance of the Order, several Oklahoma state agencies have expressed concern about the Order's impact on the ability of the agency to continue to provide services needed by all Oklahomans unless they comply with this federal mandate.

President Biden's Order is just the latest example of the Biden Administration's blatant disregard for the personal freedoms that all Oklahomans hold so dear. My Administration has been very clear, vaccines work and are effective, but they should not be mandated by any government to free citizens. Freedom is the standard in Oklahoma, and my Administration does not believe that any federal vaccination mandate should be forced upon our State.

Therefore, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power vested in me by Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, hereby order that all State agencies, boards, and commissions affected by President Biden's Order, submit a report by November 1, 2021, to the Governor's Office, that evaluates the impact of noncompliance with the President's Order. This report should include the following information:

1) An evaluation of whether the agency, board, or commission possesses a "covered contract" as defined by President Biden's Order.

2) If so, list those "covered contracts" and provide the value of all identified "covered contracts."

3) The impact on regular agency, board or commission operations or personnel that noncompliance with this Order would produce.

4) Any other information the agency, board, or commission wishes to provide on the potential impact of President Biden's Order.

This Executive Order shall be forwarded to the members of the Governor's Executive Cabinet, and to the chief executives of all State agencies, boards, and commissions, who shall cause the provisions of this Order to be implemented by all appropriate agencies of State government.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma this 22^nd day of October 2021.

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. Kevin Stitt

ATTEST:

Brian Bingman

Secretary of State

Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2021-23

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 05, November 15, 2021, eff. 10/22/2021