A. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is hereby authorized to establish within the Department or within any of the institutions operated by the Department training programs to train necessary personnel for the Department or its institutions, or may arrange for programs with any public or private school, entity or institution. Training may occur individually pursuant to the Quality Workforce for Oklahoma's Heroes Act.¹ Funds of the Department or its institutions may be used to pay salaries or tuition and subsistence for employees or prospective employees in the training programs, pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section.

B. Any employee or prospective employee who, while receiving such training is paid a salary, or for whom tuition and subsistence are furnished shall enter into a contract with the Department prior to receiving any payment for salary, tuition, or subsistence. The contract shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Oklahoma Veterans Commission and shall include a stipulation that, unless the employee or prospective employee continues in the employ of the Department for a period of time that is greater than or equal to the length of the training, the employee or prospective employee shall reimburse the Department or institution for the amount of money paid to or for him or her by the Department during the training period.