Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2003

Audio Clip

Senator Scott Pruitt

Defeat of Teacher Protection Bill Victory for Trial Lawyers

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association again flexed its muscles Monday, using its influence over the Democrat-controlled state Senate to defeat the reconsideration of SB 346, the School Protection Act, by Senator Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow and Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City.

“This bill is an important piece of legislation to school districts across Oklahoma because of its protections against frivolous lawsuits, as demonstrated by the support of the Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administrators, the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators, the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, and the State Chamber of Commerce, and I am disappointed in its defeat,” Pruitt said.

The defeat of this legislation means educators, school districts, and school employees acting according to state law and school rules will not be afforded the bill’s protection from frivolous lawsuits.

“Lack of discipline in schools today is a significant problem, and a large part of the problem is the fear that educators have of being sued. I can’t believe that most Senate Democrats didn’t agree that teachers and schools deserve protection from frivolous lawsuits,” Pruitt said.

“Unnecessary lawsuits for frivolous claims contribute to higher operating costs at schools. This bill would have provided relief to schools and teachers and taken dollars out of the pockets of trial lawyers and put them back into the classroom,” said Morgan.

Five Democrats joined all twenty Republicans in voting against a motion to table, or kill, the bill. But during the actual vote on the bill, Senator Sam Helton, D-Lawton, switched his vote under pressure from the Democrat leadership, leaving the bill one vote short of the twenty-five necessary for passage.

“I sincerely appreciate the votes of Senators Kerr, Maddox, Price and Shurden, the four brave Democrats who bucked their party’s liberal leadership and joined Republicans in voting for this bill,” stated Pruitt.

For more information, contact:
Senator Scott Pruitt
Assistant Republican Floor Leader
(405) 521-5602