OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Several groups representing the interests of minorities in Oklahoma are criticizing the elimination of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission and say they're working to form a new coalition to promote equality and end to discrimination.

Individuals with several minority-rights groups met Monday at the Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters to discuss the creation of the "Oklahoma Universal Human Rights Alliance."

The GOP-controlled Legislature passed a bill in 2011 to transfer all duties of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission to the attorney general's office.

The Human Rights Commission employs about a dozen workers, and a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office says those employees have been encouraged to apply for a position in the attorney general's office.