Week In Review
Monday, May 3rd through Thursday May 6th, 2004

Monday, May 3rd

• The Senate met briefly to consider legislation, including the following:

-SB 1136 by Sen. Kenneth Corn and Rep. Glen Bud Smithson would provide for veterans’ preference if an agency implements a reduction in force over those nonveterans who have equal retention points. The bill passed 47-0.

-SB 1160 by Sen. Sam Helton and Rep. Larry Ferguson would require providers of vision insurance to be actively engaged in certain services and would limit the number of vision plans and rate schedules offered annually. The Senate refused to concur with House amendments.

-SB 1263 by Sen. Ben Robinson and Rep. Barbara Staggs relates to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act and would add an eligibility requirement for licensure as a speech-language pathologist as well as provide eligibility requirements for licensure as audiologist. The bill passed 38-9 and was sent to the Governor.

-SB 1357 by Sen. Richard Lerblance and Rep. Randall Erwin relates to the Mining Lands Reclamation Act and would provide for violations reported by citizens’ complaints to be kept confidential. The bill failed 23-24.

-SB 1402 by Sen. Ben Robinson and Rep. Al Lindley would prohibit the harming or killing of service dogs used for the benefit of handicapped individuals and would prohibit the interference with performance of certain service dogs. The bill passed 46-0.

-SB 1547 by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson and Rep. Joan Greenwood would create an Oklahoma Long-Term Care Partnership Act and would specify powers and duties of the Health Care Authority and the Insurance Department and direct the Authority to amend the state Medicaid program to allow for asset disregard. The bill passed 47-0.

• The House was also working to consider legislation on the floor including the following:

-HB 2159 by Rep. Wayne Pettigrew and Sen. Robert Milacek would require people to drive in the right hand lane of any four-lane divided highway system except when passing. The measure would also provide a minimum fine of $50 to a maximum fine of $500 if found in violation. The bill passed 96-2.

-HB 2270 by Rep. Carolyn Coleman and Sen. Jim Reynolds would require penalties for crimes involving the intent to cause serious bodily harm or death. The committee substitute was amended by the Senate and contains an emergency clause. The bill and emergency passed 98-0.

-HB 2271 by Rep. Carolyn Coleman and Sen. Jim Reynolds would modify the grounds for expungement of records. The bill and emergency passed 97-0.

-HB 2385 by Rep. Kevin Cox and Sen. Ben Robinson would modify language relating to the Insurance Department and requires all domestic insurers to keep biographical information current. The Senate amendments were adopted and the bill and emergency passed 98-0.

-HB 2445 by Rep. Jari Askins, Rep. Paul Roan and Sen. Dick Wilkerson would modify sentences for a wide variety of crimes and would make it a misdemeanor to interfere with an emergency telephone call and would allow a law enforcement officer to detain a person who is a necessary and material witness to a felony if there is a likelihood the person would be unavailable to serve a subpoena. The bill and emergency passed 97-1.

-HB 2552 by Rep. Danny Hilliard and Sen. Debbe Leftwich would create the Belle Maxine Hilliard Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Revolving Fund, which would provide those already diagnosed with the illness the necessary treatment and would also cover uninsured women diagnosed with high grade cervical dysplasia with Medicaid funding. The bill passed 98-0.

• Governor Brad Henry made several appointments to state boards and commissions on Monday.

Tuesday, May 4th

• The Senate met briefly to continue hearing legislation on the floor and then adjourned to GCCA. The measures considered by the full Senate were the following:

-HA for SB 1331 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. John Nance would modify the definition of electronic communication and would provide procedures and circumstances for the interception of wire, oral or electronic communications during a specified time period. The bill passed 41-3.

-HA for SB 1184 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. David Braddock would increase the fee for criminal history background checks from $10 to $15. The bill and emergency passed 42-0.

-HA for SB 1265 by Sen. Jerry Smith and Rep. Bill Case would remove certain court fees, require payment of postage for certain notices and would remove limitation on certain deposits. The bill passed 38-0.

-HA for SB 1412 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. Paul Roan would raise the penalty assessment for certain offenses from $7 to $9. The bill and emergency passed 33-10.

-HA for SB 1502 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. Lucky Lamons would authorize jurisdiction and venue for a pattern of criminal offenses and states penalty. The bill and emergency passed 41-0.

-HB for SB 1618 by Sen. Jerry Smith and Rep. Terry Harrison would update statutory references relating to court trials. The bill passed 41-2.

-HA for SB 1622 by Sen. Charlie Laster and Rep. Bill Nations would require development of a new method for calculating state Medicaid program payments. The House amended the measure to create an Oklahoma Nursing Facility Funding Advisory Committee to develop the new method of calculation. The House amendments were adopted and the bill and emergency passed 41-0.

-SJR 48 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Barbara Staggs would direct the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to work with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections to study the living conditions of children of incarcerated women and make recommendations that will help break destructive cycles and restore the opportunities for the children to live healthy and productive lives. The resolution passed 42-0.

-HA for SB 1363 by Sen. Scott Pruitt and Rep. Thad Balkman would require any state agency that denies an exemption from tax liability to provide a written response to the applicant at the time of denial. The bill passed 41-0.

• The House considered the following legislation:

-SA for HB 2494 by Rep. Dennis Adkins and Sen. Glenn Coffee would prohibit aircraft manufacturers from taking certain actions and terminating certain agreements. The bill passed 99-0.

-The conference committee report was rejected for HB 1874 by Rep. Ron Langmacher and Sen. Bruce Price. The bill states that the Commissioner of Labor cannot develop rules for the abatement of friable asbestos materials more stringent than federal standards and other requirements of U.S.C., Section 2641 et. seq. for Asbestos Emergency Hazard Response.

-The House also recalled HB 1018 by Rep. M.C. Leist and Sen. Frank Shurden from the governor’s desk. The measure relates to statutes and reports, providing for emergency administrative rules.

• Governor Brad Henry signed several measures on Tuesday including a bill to ban same sex adoption. HB 1821 by Rep. Susan Winchester and Sen. Jerry Smith modifies procedures fro the adoption of children of foreign countries. The Attorney General released an opinion that Oklahoma is obligated to recognize out-of-state adoptive parent/child relationships, regardless of whether those parents are eligible to adopt in Oklahoma. The bill was amended to reverse the opinion. Other measures signed by the governor are as follows:
-HB 2195 by Rep. Abe Deutschendorf and Sen. Jim Maddox allows an electronic document presented in compliance with the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act to be acceptable for filing, and authorizes county clerks to accept payments for fees made by a credit or debit card.
-SJR 47 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. Fred Morgan names the Medical Examiner Building after Dr. Fred B. Jordan, Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner.
-HB 1873 by Rep. Neil Brannon and Sen. Kenneth Corn defines dimension stone quarry as a site where natural stone used as building material is excavated and the stones are selected, trimmed, or cut to specified shapes or sizes.
-HB 2145 by Rep. Al Lindley and Sen. Debbe Leftwich creates the Advancement of Hispanic Students in Higher Education Task Force and sunsets July 1, 2009.
-HB 2526 by Rep. Ray Vaughn and Sen. Charlie Laster;
-HB 1860 by Rep. Bill Mitchell and Sen. Frank Shurden;
-HB 1835 by Rep. Al Lindley and Sen. Bernest Cain;
-HB 2278 by Rep. Danny Morgan and Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield;
-HB 2477 by Rep. Terry Harrison and Sen. Charlie Laster;
-SB 1029 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1061 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1063 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1163 by Sen. Bruce Price and Rep. James Covey;
-SB 1206 by Sen. Bruce Price and Rep. James Covey;
-SB 1372 by Sen. Angela Monson and Rep. Bill Nations;
-SB 1609 by Sen. Angela Monson and Rep. Susan Winchester;
-SB 991 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1015 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1023 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1025 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 1033 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 956 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 958 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 960 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 966 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 968 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 970 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 993 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-SB 995 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell;
-HB 1133 by Rep. Joe Eddins and Sen. Herb Rozell;
-HB 1890 by Rep. Jerry Ellis and Sen. Sam Helton;
-HB 2247 by Rep. Fred Perry and Sen. Glenn Coffee;
-HB 1864 by Rep. Randall Erwin and Sen. Frank Shurden;
-SB 1107 by Sen. Daisy Lawler and Rep. Joe Sweeden;
-SB 1111 by Sen. Bernest Cain and Rep. Debbie Blackburn;
-SB 1246 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols and Rep. Glen Bud Smithson;
-SB 1522 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. John Carey;
-SB 1598 by Sen. Bernest Cain and Rep. Susan Winchester;
-SB 869 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Purcy Walker;
-SB 1095 by Sen. Bernest Cain and Rep. Bill Case;
-SB 1253 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Joe Sweeden;
-SB 889 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Purcy Walker;
-HB 2713 by Rep. Opio Toure and Sen. Jerry Smith.

Wednesday, May 5th

• The Senate met briefly and then adjourned to continue working on bills in GCCA. Legislation considered by the full Senate were the following:

-CCR for HB 2552 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Danny Hilliard creates the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Revolving Fund and names the fund after Belle Maxine Hilliard. The conference committee report was adopted 44-0.

-HA for SB 1503 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. Lucky Lamons prohibits false or fraudulent statements to financial institutions to obtain certain information and states penalty. The bill and emergency passed 42-0.

-HA for SB 1526 by Sen. Dick Wilkerson and Rep. Paul Roan would include additional schedules of drugs to the Anti-Drug Conversion Act. All schedule drugs with the exception of Schedule 1 would be included in the program. The bill and emergency passed 44-0.

-HA for SB 1507 by Sen. Ted Fisher and Rep. John Carey relates to public buildings and public works. The bill passed 42-0.

-SCR 67 by Sen. Mike Morgan would authorize the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical Colleges to issue revenue bonds in the sum of $11.5 million for the purpose of expanding the capacity of the chilled water system on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The resolution was adopted.

• The House approved the following measures:

-SA for HB 2129 by Rep. John Carey and Sen. Jay Paul Gumm relates to revenue and taxation by authorizing income tax checkoff for support of training of court appointed special advocates. The bill and emergency passed 95-2.

-SA for HB 2488 by Rep. Mark Liotta and Sen. Randy Brogdon would prohibit certain uses of social security numbers. The bill passed 98-0.

-HR 1043 by Rep. James Covey commends the profession career of Rural Fire Defenses Director Larry Zerger. The bill passed.

• GCCA approved three appropriations bills including the following:

-CCS for SB 954 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell would make an appropriation to the Department of Central Services.
-CCS for SB 962 by Sen. Mike Morgan, Sen. Ben Robinson, Rep. Jack Bonny and Rep. Bill Mitchell would make an appropriation to the Military Department.
-CCS fro SB 1299 by Sen. Frank Shurden and Rep. M.C. Leist would require certain training for the Capitol Patrol.

Thursday, May 6th

• The Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. to hear legislation. They will reconvene on Monday, May 10th at 1:30 p.m.

Other News

• The Special Committee to Investigate Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher heard testimony from three witnesses on Tuesday.

• Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and House Speaker Larry Adair announced Wednesday plans to put the State-Tribal Gaming Act under SB 553 that has been passed and signed by the Governor, on the ballot for November’s general election.

• The fourth hearing on tort reform met on Thursday in the House of Representatives Chamber.