With seven weeks remaining in session,
lawmakers continue to focus on meeting the April 19th deadline for
third reading for bills from the opposite chamber. Among the more
than thirty bills acted on by the Full Senate, those receiving approval
included:
-HB 1422 by Sen. Mark Snyder. The bill
it self relates to the Viatical Settlement Act and the Life Settlement
Act, but the legislation was successfully amended by Sen. Jim Dunlap
to insert the provisions of SB 770, by Sen. Scott Pruitt which would
replace the current workers' comp system with an administrative
system that uses magistrates at the local level to settle workers'
comp cases. However, an amendment to restore the title was tabled.
-HB 1308 by Sen. Herb Rozell increases
a number of fees related to driver licenses and state identification
cards to help fund the transition to a digital driver license by
2004 in Oklahoma. The measure also establishes a voluntary fingerprint
identification program for children.
-HB 1798 by Sen. Bruce Price calls
for a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment relating
to an exemption from ad valorem taxes for manufacturing concerns.
The bill would delete a current qualification that a facility must
be unoccupied for 12 months prior to acquisition.
-HB 1798 by Sen. Paul Mueggee expands
a current sales tax exemption on agriculture producers for products
sold at the farm to include roadside stands and other sales not
directly to businesses.
-HB 1709 by Sen. Bruce Price establishes
a $5-per-ton tax credit on the purchase of poultry litter.
-HB 1897 by Sen. Ben Robinson creates
the Oklahoma Low Cost Prescription and Non Prescription Assistance
Program, a voucher system to provide prescription drugs for the
elderly.
-HB 1124 by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson,
relates to sexual assault and authorizes approval of payments by
assistant district attorney, and increases the amounts paid for
exams and medications. The bill was amended to state that any Oklahoma
court of competent jurisdiction where venue is proper for collection
of child support has the power to enforce an order for child support
and punish individuals for failure to comply.
-HB 1336 by Sen. Keith Leftwich extends
a sales tax exemption on construction materials purchased by specified
non-profit entities for the construction of homes for low-income
families. The bill was amended to add an exemption for sales of
trees or other plants to be placed on public property.
Governor Keating signed the following
Senate measures on Monday:
-SB 110 by Sen. Billy Mickle and Rep.
Randall Erwin, requires agencies to provide employee benefit informational
meeting and invite certain vendors. However the bill was recalled
by SCR 20.
-SB 130 by Sen. Bernest Cain and Rep.
Loyd Benson makes language in the Governmental Tort Claims Act gender
neutral.
Likewise, attention in the House was
focused on heavy floor action, with the chamber considering more
than 50 pieces of legislation. Among those approved on Monday:
-SB 168 by Rep. Carolyn Coleman relates
to the Reading Sufficiency Act by requiring assessments be given
to kindergarten students in order to give educators a better idea
of what reading levels children possess at that age. The measure
passed on a motion to reconsider the bill after being defeated last
week. Three amendments were added, including one exempting special
education students from the assessments. Another amendment allows
for a teacher's aid to assist in the pre-test screening of students
aimed at cutting the cost of the program in half. The third amendment
requires the Oklahoma Department of Education to prepare the data
from the program. A fourth amendment deletes three paragraphs related
to literacy programs.
-SB 124 By Rep. Dan Webb establishes
the Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission as a separate state
agency. The enacting clause was stricken.
-SB 621 by Rep. James Dunegan authorizes
the Commissioner of Public Safety to charge and collect certain
credit card fees paid to the Department of Public Safety.
-SB 684 by Rep. Doug Miller relates
to state employees in the Oklahoma Personnel Act. The amendment
sets a minimum of $25 to be paid into the Oklahoma State Employees
Deferred Savings Incentive Plan.
The Principal authors of the following
measures rejected Senate amendments and requested the bills be sent
directly to conference committees:
-HCR 1028 by Rep. Don Ross relates
to the Distressed Areas Restoration and Development Act of 2001.
-HB 1029 By Rep. Fred Stanley relates
to the State Dental Act.
-HB 1070 By Rep. Bill Mitchell relates
to the State Travel Reimbursement Act expenses.
-HB 1072 by Rep. Bill Mitchell relates
to cancer treatment and research programs in higher education institutions.
-HB 1364 by Rep. Jack Begley relates
to the Commissioners of the Land Office regarding payments in lieu
of ad valorem taxes.
-HB 1433 by Rep. Barbara Staggs relates
to exemption from certain reporting requirements for schools.
-HB 1627 by Rep. Fred Stanley relates
to dental hygienists.
The Governor signed the following House
measures into law on Monday:
-HB 1253 by Speaker Larry Adair and
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield requires school districts to conduct criminal
background checks on new teachers before they can be licensed to
teach by the Board of Education. It also requires district attorneys
to notify local school superintendents if a student or employee
of the district is charged with a crime.
-HB 1131 by Rep. Dan Webb and Sen.
Frank Shurden prohibits the attachment of unauthorized stickers
to drivers' licenses, authorizes persons to request the expiration
of drivers' license during birth month and removes the requirement
for separate substance abuse courses for persons under 21 years
of age.
-HB 1142 by Reps. Kevin Calvey, Ron
Peters, and Sen. Jim Reynolds allows prosecutors to file arson charges
against anyone who causes a fire while manufacturing a controlled
dangerous substance.
-HB1148 by Rep. Frank Davis and Sen.
Mike Johnson clarifies applicability of employment prohibition to
certain situations.
-HB 1152 by Rep. Darrell Gilbert, D-Tulsa
and Sen. Ben Robinson requires notice to be provided to the Corporation
Commission related to 911 emergency telephone service.
-HB 1162 by Rep. David Braddock and
Sen. Brad Henry authorizes the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
to use federal grant funds to improve clandestine drug lab detection,
removal and disposal.
-HB 1191 by Rep. Clay Pope and Sen.
Bruce Price creates the Southern Dairy Compact, stating purpose
along with rules and terms.
-HB 1214, by Rep. Terry Ingmire and
Sen. Ted Fisher updates statutory cites and deletes obsolete language
related to agriculture, children, cities and towns, the Corporation
Commission, counties and county officers, crimes and punishments,
criminal procedures, elections, insurance, labor motor vehicles,
officers, poor persons, prisons and reformatories, professions and
occupations, property, public finance, mental health, public health
and taxation, schools, state government, waters and water rights
and workers' compensation.
-HB 1262 by Rep. Dale Smith and Sen.
Frank Shurden relates to the State Geographic Information Systems
Council by adding the Director of Wildlife Conservation as a member
of the council.
-HB 1289 by Rep. Dale Wells and Sen.
Johnnie Crutchfield, relates to agencies purchasing certain motor
vehicles with public funds by adding the Oklahoma Department of
Veterans Affairs to the list.
-HB 1329 by Rep. James Covey and Sen.
Rick Littlefield relates to the Oklahoma Floodplain Management Act
by authorizing establishment and charging of certain fees for certain
administrative costs.
-HB 1330 by Rep. James Covey and Sen.
Gilmer Capps relates to the Cooperative Marketing Association Act
by clarifying and updating language and relates to the Cooperative
Agricultural and Horticultural Associations.
-HB 1376 by Rep. Bob Plunk and Sen.
Frank Shurden sets forth an exception to certain bidding procedures
involving county purchasing agents.
-HB 1819 by Speaker Larry Adair, Sen.
Brad Henry and President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor authorizes
the compilation, codification and annotation of the Oklahoma Statues
2001, providing procedures and requirements related thereto.
-HB 1824 by Rep. Joe Eddins and Sen.
Ben Robinson establishes the Joint Legislative Task Force on Residential
Mental Health Programs.
