Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-1362: Purpose

It is hereby declared that the purpose of Section 1361 et seq.

of this title is:

1. To recognize that the employee benefit needs of individual

state employees differ, depending on the age, salary and family

status of the employee, and that it is needful to permit

participating employees to select and tailor the benefits they

receive in a manner calculated to best meet the particular needs of

themselves and their families;

2. To furnish state employees with choices among various

employee benefits or cash compensation;

3. To provide state employees and their dependents with basic

group health insurance, basic group term life insurance, and basic

long-term disability insurance;

4. To provide state employees and their dependents with

optional employee benefits, to include, but not be limited to,

enhanced health insurance coverage, health maintenance organization

services, life insurance, dental insurance and enhanced long-term

disability insurance;

5. To provide state employees with reimbursement for qualifying

dependent care expenses for which a dependent care tax credit is not

taken, reimbursement for qualifying health care expenses not

reimbursed by any other insurance plan or taken as a tax deduction,

additional benefits which are currently taxable, additional benefits

which are not currently taxable, and cash compensation;

6. To provide state employees with tax sheltered income

deferment plans;

7. To provide uniform benefit options for all state employees

regardless of their place of residence within this state;

8. To manage the provision of health care benefits in a manner

that allows for the long term control of costs;

9. To provide for the coordination and design, in accordance

with applicable law, of all employee benefits offered to state

employees so as to increase the efficient delivery and effectiveness

of those benefits;

10. To enable the state to attract and retain qualified

employees by providing employee benefits which are competitive with

those provided private industry;

11. To offer uniformity in those benefits that are offered to

both state employees and those eligible for participation in the

State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act, Section 1301 et

seq. of this title;

12. To recognize and protect the state's investment in each

employee by promoting and preserving good health and longevity among

state employees;

13. To recognize the service to the state by elected and

appointed officials by extending to them the same benefits as are

provided under the flexible benefits program to state employees; and

14. To recognize long and faithful service, and to encourage

employees to remain in state service until eligible for retirement

by providing employee benefits.