Expanding Workforce Access · Strengthening Public Safety
HB 3379
Higher Education Workforce Development & Fair Admissions Act
Legislative Context
HB 3379 aligns higher-education admissions policy with workforce development and second-chance workforce development initiatives. The bill focuses on removing administrative barriers that prevent qualified applicants from pursuing credentials needed for high-demand jobs.
Sources: HB 3379 Bill Text; FWD.us (2022)
WORKFORCE REALITY
By 2027, approximately 70% of Oklahoma jobs will require an associate's degree or higher. This projection underscores why access to college and credentials matters for our labor force.
Source: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (Workforce Projections)
EMPLOYER DEMAND IS ALREADY HERE
58% of job postings require an associate's or bachelor's degree and a recent report on skilled and middle-skill jobs shows employers are already seeking this educated workforce.
This data comes from 2023 reports on associate's and bachelor's degree and middle-skill jobs employers are already seeking this educated workforce.
Source: Oklahoma State University, WorkTrends (Employer Analysis)
Education Means Economic Opportunity
Median wages for positions requiring postsecondary education (associate's degree or higher) are approximately $30,400 higher than wages for jobs requiring only a high school diploma.Higher education not only unlocks jobs but also increases earnings and tax contributions.
Source: Oklahoma State University, WorkTrends
More Jobs Than Workers
"Oklahoma had approximately 104,000 job openings … with only 0.6 unemployed persons per job opening — equivalent to roughly 60 unemployed persons for every 100 job openings."This tight labor market shows why expanding access to degrees and certifications is critical.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (JOLTS)
Untapped Workforce Potential
More than 1 million Oklahomans — about 1 in 3 adults — have a criminal record.
(FWD.us, 2022)
This is roughly 1.2 million people – a significant labor pool currently underrepresented in higher education and employment.
Source: FWD.us (2022)
Justice-Impacted Workforce Pool
Approximately 1 in 17 Oklahomans has a felony conviction.
These individuals face additional barriers when seeking education and employment, yet many are ready to contribute to the workforce.
Source: FWD.us (2022)
Incarceration Context
Oklahoma has one of the highest incarceration rates in the United States. High incarceration rates mean thousands of people reentering communities each year needing pathways to education and careers.
Source: Prison Policy Initiative (2024)
Admissions Barrier
Many colleges ask about criminal history on initial applications. This screening occurs before academic qualifications are reviewed, discouraging applicants and limiting enrollment.
Source: AACRAO (2019)
What the Bill Does
Prohibits public institutions from asking about criminal history on the initial admissions application.
Applies to state colleges and universities.
Enables merit-first admissions — academic review occurs before background review.
Source: HB 3379 Bill Text
Statutory Language (Excerpt)
"State educational institutions shall not inquire about a prospective student's criminal history on an initial application form."
Exception: Institutions may ask about certain sex-related convictions on the initial application. After acceptance, colleges may inquire for counseling, housing, and participation decisions.
Source: HB 3379 Bill Text
What the Bill Does NOT Do
• It does not eliminate post-admission background checks or campus safety authority. • It does not remove academic standards or guarantee admission. • It does not apply to private institutions.
Source: HB 3379 Bill Text
"No clear evidence that asking and using such questions…accomplishes this goal." The AACRAO work group reviewed research and found no empirical link between criminal-history questions and reduced campus crime.
Campus Safety Evidence
Source: AACRAO (2019)
Campus Crime Context
College campuses are statistically safer than surrounding communities, and violent incidents are rare.
High-profile tragedies like the Virginia Tech shooting involved individuals with no prior criminal convictions.
Source: AACRAO (2019)
Policy Precedent: Louisiana
Louisiana was the first state to prohibit public universities from asking about criminal history on initial college applications. After acceptance, institutions may still inquire for housing and safety decisions. There has been no documented increase in campus crime following the policy's implementation.
Campus crime is lower now than when the policy became law
Inmates who participate in correctional education programs have 43% lower odds of returning to prison. Educational access is a proven public-safety strategy: it lowers recidivism and increases employment post-release.
Source: Davis et al., RAND Corporation (2013)
Behavioral Health Workforce Gaps
All 77 Oklahoma counties are designated mental-health professional shortage areas. Oklahoma lacks sufficient behavioral health case managers, addiction counselors, and other allied professionals, limiting access to care.
Source: Healthy Minds Policy Initiative (2023)
High-Demand Careers
Justice-impacted graduates can help fill shortage occupations such as:
• Behavioral health case managers • Licensed alcohol & drug counselors • IT specialists & software developers • Human resources professionals • Construction managers
…….And many more
Sources: Healthy Minds Policy Initiative (2023); OSU WorkTrends
Economic Education Impact
Education access strengthens the labor market, increases tax revenue, and reduces incarceration costs.
Studies show that excluding justice-impacted workers from employment reduces national GDP by tens of billions of dollars, while inclusion increases earnings and spending.
Sources: FWD.us (2022); Brennan Center for Justice (2020
Policy Alignment
HB 3379 connects workforce development, education access, and public safety outcomes. By removing the admissions barrier, the bill expands the talent pipeline, addresses labor shortages, and supports reentry success.
Sources: OSU WorkTrends; AACRAO (2019)
A Bipartisan Opportunity
Workforce expansion and second-chance hiring enjoy broad bipartisan support. Business leaders, workforce boards, and criminal justice advocates agree that removing unnecessary barriers helps everyone.
Sources: U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2021); OSU WorkTrends
Call to Action
Support workforce development. Support fair admissions. Support HB 3379.
Contact your legislator and urge them
to vote YES for an
Oklahoma workforce that
leaves no one behind
References
1. AACRAO. (2019). Criminal and disciplinary history in college admissions. 2. Davis, L. M., et al. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of correctional education. RAND Corporation. 3. FWD.us. (2022). Turning the page: Criminal justice reform and workforce opportunity in Oklahoma. 4. Healthy Minds Policy Initiative. (2023). State of the behavioral health workforce in Oklahoma. 5. KCUR. (2017). Louisiana is first state to ban public colleges from asking about criminal history. 6. Louisiana Revised Statutes §17:3152. 7. Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business. (2023). WorkTrends: Employer hiring and credential demand. 8. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. (2024). Workforce projections and critical occupations. 9. Oklahoma Legislature. (2025). HB 3379 introduced bill text. 10. Prison Policy Initiative. (2024). Oklahoma incarceration profile. 11. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Job openings and labor turnover — Oklahoma. 12. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2021). The business case for second-chance hiring. 13. Brennan Center for Justice. (2020). Conviction, imprisonment, and lost earnings. 14. NACUA Journal of College & University Law. (2010). Article on campus safety and background checks.