Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1277 By: Alvord
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to employment benefits; amending 40
7 O.S. 2021, Section 2-417, as amended by Section 1,
8 Chapter 309, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section
8 2-417), which relates to disqualification; modifying
9 conditions for disqualification for certain benefits;
9 specifying acceptable work search actions; and
10 providing an effective date.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 40 O.S. 2021, Section 2-417, as
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15 amended by Section 1, Chapter 309, O.S.L. 2024 (40 O.S. Supp. 2025,
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16 Section 2-417), is amended to read as follows:
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17 Section 2-417.
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18 SEEK AND ACCEPT WORK - WEEK OF OCCURRENCE DISQUALIFICATION.
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19 A. An individual shall be disqualified to receive benefits for
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20 each week in which the individual shall have failed to do any of the
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21 following:
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22 1. Diligently search for suitable employment at a pay rate
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23 generally available in that area of the state in keeping with his or
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24 her prior experience, education and training;
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Req. No. 3347 Page 1
1 2. Make application for the minimum number of weekly work
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2 search efforts as required by the Oklahoma Employment Security
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3 Commission Conduct five (5) weekly search actions; or
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4 3. Present oneself as an applicant for employment in a manner
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5 designed to encourage favorable employment consideration.
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6 B. The following actions shall be deemed acceptable work search
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7 actions:
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8 1. Submitting a resume to an employer;
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9 2. Completing and submitting a job application to an employer;
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10 3. Attending and completing an interview with an employer;
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11 4. Attending a job fair;
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12 5. Completing an online or in-person job search workshop, job
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13 club, or job search networking meeting;
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14 6. Completing a job search assessment including, but not
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15 limited to, a personality, skills, or interests assessment;
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16 7. Completing career direction research or work, such as a job
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17 search plan or a targeted employer list;
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18 8. Completing job search branding and marketing activities such
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19 as completing a resume, cover letter, master application, elevator
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20 pitch, or LinkedIn profile, and uploading a completed resume to a
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21 job board allowing visibility to employers;
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22 9. Participating in a volunteer or on-the-job training
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23 opportunity likely to lead to paid employment;
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24 10. Completing an online or in-person mock interview;
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Req. No. 3347 Page 2
1 11. Participating in job search counseling;
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2 12. Completing an activity with an online job search tool;
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3 13. Taking a civil service exam;
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4 14. Reviewing job opening suggestions; or
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5 15. Developing a complete resume in the state's employment
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6 service system.
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7 B. C. The requirements of subsection A of this section shall be
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8 waived if the individual has been summoned to appear for jury duty
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9 before any court of the United States or of any state. The waiver
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10 will shall continue for as long as the individual remains on jury
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11 duty pursuant to the original summons.
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12 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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14 60-2-3347 BRC 12/18/2025 4:19:41 PM
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Req. No. 3347 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.