For the week of Monday, April 29 to Thursday, May 2, 2002

Monday, April 29th

• With a target sine die adjournment date of May 24th four weeks away, the focus was on appropriations measures being considered by the GCCA, legislation awaiting approval of amendments from the opposite chamber, and legislation headed for conference committee. On Monday the GCCA approved the following, all by Senators Kelly Haney and Cal Hobson and Representatives Mike Mass and Jack Bonny:
  
  -SB 1006 containing an appropriation of $4.1 million to the Commissioners of the Land Office, representing a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -SB 1010 contains $2.2. million to the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, representing a 5 percent cut.
  
  -SB 1015 appropriates $6.9 million to the Department of Libraries, a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -SB 1060 appropriates $3.7 million to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, representing a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -HB 2425 appropriates $4.3 million to the Oklahoma Arts Council, a cut of 5 percent.
  
  -HB 2339 appropriates $5.6 million to the Physician Manpower Training Commission, representing a 5 percent cut.
  
  -HB 2445 contains $12.6 million for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, a cut of 5 percent.
  
  -HB 2455 appropriates $750,000 to Civil Emergency Management, a cut of 3 percent.
  
  -HB 2505 appropriates $25.6 million to the Department of Rehabilitation Services, a cut of 1.5 percent.
  
  -SB 1036 contains $3.7 million supplemental appropriation for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
  
  
• On Monday, Governor Frank Keating vetoed SB 1276, by Sen. Brooks Douglass and Rep. Lloyd Fields which would have modified exemptions to the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act. The Governor signed the following measures:
  
  -HB 1980 by Rep. M.C. Leist and Sen. Kevin Easley removes statutory requirement for certain employees of the Department of Environmental Quality to disclose to the Executive Director information relating to the employee's interest in companies regulated by the department, changes names of specified programs, removes the statutory name of certain offices and modifies the structure of the department, content of certain reports and powers and duties of the Department.
  
  -HB 2414 by Rep. Jim Newport and Sen. Gene Stipe prohibits motor vehicles from approaching within fifteen feet of individuals who are visually or hearing impaired or otherwise physically handicapped and using a service dog.
  
  -HB 2886 by Rep. Larry Ferguson and Sen. Mike Morgan modifies core curriculum requirements needed for high school graduation.
  
  -HB 2908 by Rep. Debbie Blackburn and Sen. Brad Henry sets guidelines for making changes or transferring an account held under the Oklahoma College Savings Plan Act.
  
  -SB 650 by Sen. Brad Henry and Rep. Jari Askins limits when payments are due to Workers' Compensation and modifies auditing procedures, expands records for review and modifies premium adjustment requirements.
  
  -SB 900 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Ray McCarter removes the 18-month service requirement from legislation that allows school districts to grant high school diplomas to veterans of World War II, and extends program to include Korean War Veterans.
  
  -SB 972 by Sen. Herb Rozell and Rep. Jim Wilson creates the Scenic Rivers Act, requiring the Illinois River to be restored to its original pristine condition and requires reports from the Departments of Environmental Quality, Agriculture, the Conservation Commission and Scenic Rivers Commission and makes additional requirements of those agencies.
  
  -SB 992 by Sen. Herb Rozell and Rep. Barbara Staggs creates the school Bullying Prevention Act and requires district policy to prohibit harassment, intimidation and bullying of students.
  
  -SB 1326 by Sen. Cal Hobson and Rep. Jim Glover modifies the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act, deleting limits on the number of out-of-state races on which wagers may be made on days when no live racing is conducted and deleting criteria for a full racing program.
  
  -SB 1420 by Sen. Jim Maddox requires a person subject to the Sex Offenders Registration Act to register with the security and police of institutions of higher learning.
  
  
• The full Senate approved the following measures on Monday:
  
  -SB 1028 by Sen. Kelly Haney and Sen. Cal Hobson appropriates $2,946,549 to the J.D. McCarty Center, reflecting a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -SB 1037 appropriates $41,499,895 to the University Hospitals Authority, reflecting an 8.1 percent budget cut.
  
  -SB 897 by Sen. Gilmer Capps would allow tax credits for Cordell residents whose property was damaged in the October tornadoes.
  
  -SB 991 by Sen. Jerry Smith modifies the reporting time for various fees relating to the Indigent Defense System.
  
  -SB 952 by Sen. Keith Leftwich would require the reporting of injuries resulting from the operation or malfunction of elevators.
  
  -SB 995 by Sen. Ben Robinson would change the name of Connors State College of Agriculture and Applied Science to Connors State College.
  
  -SB 1359 by Sen. Larry Dickerson would create the Oklahoma Biennial Compensation Review Board.
  
  -SB 1453 by Sen. Keith Leftwich would require the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of State Finance to accept online forms from the Oklahoma Public Employees Association and other such statewide associations.
  
  -HCR 1057 by Sen. Ben Robinson calls on Oklahoma's congressional delegation to try to temporarily increase Oklahoma's Medicaid matching funds.
  
  
• The following measures were approved by the full House on Monday:
  
  -HB 2485 by Rep. Mike Mass appropriates $386,278 to the Office of Handicapped Concerns.
  
  -HB 2489 by Rep. Mike Mass appropriates $790,374 to the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission.
  
  -HB 2491 by Rep. Mike Mass makes an appropriation of $276,685 to the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission.
  
  -HB 2855 by Rep. Stuart Ericson adds domesticated rabbits to the definition of livestock.
  
  -HB 2762 by Rep. James Covey enacts the Oklahoma County Fair Enhancement Act, and provides for an administration of a county fair program, creates a fund, provides for certain monies to be deposited, provides for procedure for expenditures, provides for administrative costs, requires certain information to be provided, and provides for certain allocation.
  
  -HB 2110 by Rep. James Covey makes milk the official state beverage and changes the name of the Department of Agriculture.

Tuesday, April 30th

• The following measures were approved by the full Senate on Tuesday:
  
  -HB 1036 by Sen. Kelly Haney and Sen. Cal Hobson giving the Oklahoma Health Care Authority a supplemental appropriation of $3.7 million.
  
  -SB 1010 appropriates $2.2 million to the Oklahoma commission for Teacher Preparation, reflecting a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -SB 1015 appropriates $6.9 million to the Department of Libraries; a cut of 5 percent.
  
  -SB 1060 appropriates $3.7 million to OETA, reflecting a 5 percent cut.
  
  -HB 2485 appropriates $371,278 to the Office of Handicapped Concerns, containing a 5 percent cut.
  
  -HB 2489 appropriates $790,374 to the Human Rights Commission, a 5 percent budget cut.
  
  -HB 2491 appropriates $276,689 to the Indian Affairs Commission, which reflects a 5 percent cut.
  
  -SB 1623 by Sen. Frank Shurden would name U.S. Highway 59 south of Interstate 40 through Sequoyah County the "Larry Dickerson Memorial Highway."
  
  
• During Tuesday's session the House approved the following measures:
  
  -HB 2278 by Rep. Thad Balkman and Rep. Tim Pope provides issuance requirements for Oklahoma Mustang Club and Choose Life special license plates, and creates a revolving fund.
  
  -HB 2679 relates to the sale of real property for delinquent taxes and exempts certain property from sale by the county treasurer.
  
  -HB 2380 by Rep. Paul Roan removes authorization for a turnpike from the Kansas State Line south to the Texas State Line in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 69.
  
  -HR 1036 by Rep. Purcy Walker proclaims May 2002 as Flood Awareness Month.
  
  -HB 2624 by Rep. Bob Plunk provides for the conveyance of certain state property and authorizes the proceeds of sale to be used for the CLEET Training Center in Ada.

Wednesday, May 1st

• The full Senate approved the following on Wednesday:
  
  -SB 1328 by Sen. Bernest Cain creating the Oklahoma Educational Interpreter for the Deaf Act, mandating standards and educational requirements for interpreters.
  
  -SB 963 by Sen. Keith Leftwich imposing a penalty on local exchange telephone companies for failing to timely remit emergency 911 fees to governing bodies.
  
  -SB 1299 by Sen. Herb Rozell relating to the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board. The measure would require mutual consent for amending a network provider facility contract and provides for disclosure of a specific fee schedule.
  
  -SB 125 by Sen. Billy Mickle would establish the Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission as a separate state agency.
  
  -SB 1631 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield would provide mathematics remediation for certain third through eighth grade students.
  
  -SB 1371 by Sen. Jeff Rabon would allow for movement of vehicles transporting heavy equipment for fighting fires when such vehicles exceed size or weight limitations.
  
  -SB 1314 by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson would transfer certain duties to the Oklahoma Biological Survey and clarify a statutory reference relating to the Oklahoma State Register of Natural Heritage Areas Act.
  
  
• Legislation gaining final approval by the House on Wednesday included:
  
  -HB 2425 by Rep. Mike Mass containing a $4.3 million appropriation to the Oklahoma Arts Council, reflecting a cut of 5 percent.
  
  -HB 2439 by Rep. Mike Mass appropriates $5.6 million to the Physician Manpower Training Commission, containing a budget cut of 5 percent.
  
  -HB 2445 by Rep. Mike Mass containing an appropriation of $12.6 million to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, containing a 5 percent cut.
  
  -HB 2505 by Rep. Mike Mass makes an appropriation of $25.6 million to the State Department of Rehabilitation, reflecting a 1.5 percent budget cut.
  
  -HB 2344 by Rep. Barbara Staggs increases the post-retirement annual earnings limitation for post-retirement school district employees.

Thursday, May 2nd

• The Senate met in a brief floor session on Thursday before adjourning for the week. This marked the deadline for rejecting amendments from the opposite chamber and requesting conference. The Senate will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 6th.

Other News

• Tuition will likely be increasing at the University of Oklahoma. President David Boren announced on Tuesday he would seek a 7 percent increase, the maximum allowed, when the OU regents meet May 10th. Boren said the increase was necessary to counter to counter budget decreases as well as rising costs in health care and book costs for the library. OSU raised tuition by 7 percent last week.
  
  
• Former state Senator and State Health Department employee Jim Lane has been sentenced to five years in prison, five years probation and $105,000 in fines after entering a guilty plea to a felony charge of submitting false travel claims. His wife Rebecca is awaiting trial on a separate charge accused of collecting state pay for work she did not do.