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Week In Review

Monday, April 1 to Wednesday, April 4, 2013



Monday, April 1

• The Senate met Monday, approving the following resolutions.

-SCR 12 by Sen. Ron Sharp, congratulates the Choctaw High School Pom Squad.

-SCR 17 by Sen. Ron Sharp, congratulates the OBU Men’s and Women’s Swim Team.

-SCR 18 by Sen. Ron Sharp, congratulates the OBU Men’s and Women’s Track Team.

• Senate committees approved numerous measures Monday, including the following.

-HB 1658 by Rep. Lee Denney, modifies guidelines for grading in schools.

-HB 1361 by Rep. Randy Grau, requires a parent entitled to notice and consent for an abortion by an unemancipated minor to provide to the physician a copy of a government-issued proof of identification.

-HB 1588 by Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, creates the Parental Notification for Abortion Act.

-HB 2015 by Rep. Sean Roberts, modifies the Individual Abortion Form.

-HB 1403 by Rep. Dennis Johnson, creates the Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act.

-HB 1418 by Rep. Richard Morrissette, creates the Josephine Meade Anti-Hunger Act.

-HB 1467 by Rep. Jason Murphey, creates the Executive Reform Act of 2013.

-HB 1482 by Rep. Jason Murphey, repeals a study group established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission focused on reviewing an education plan on dams and levees.

-HB 2078 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, modifies retirement dates for firefighters.

-HB 1035 by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, modifies language related to testing requirements in schools.

-HB 1071 by Rep. Brian Renegar, amends language relating to the Academic Performance Index.

-HB 1264 by Rep. Jason Nelson, extends the Rethinking Special Education, Competency and Transition Task Force.

-HB 1313 by Rep. John Enns, requires each school district board of education to adopt a grading policy that emphasizes certain values.

-HB 1431 by Rep. Mike Turner, creates the Electronic Resource Act of 2013.

-HB 1622 by Rep. Sally Kern, allows a concealed or unconcealed handgun to be carried onto private school property by a person who is properly licensed.

-HB 2131 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, creates the Education Improvement Act.

-HB 2087 by Rep. Jason Nelson, creates the Allowing Local Administrators More Options Act.

• The House convened Monday, approving a number of bills including the following.

-SB 199 by Sen. Corey Brooks, prohibits school district boards of education and administrators from inquiring whether or not the interviewee has children or where they plan to enroll their children.

-SB 817 by Sen. Dan Newberry, amends language pertaining to the Consumer Credit Code.

-SB 1030 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, requires victims impact panels to be live, in-person presentations.

-SB 1034 by Sen. Kim David, requires the education and training programs in juvenile law, child abuse and neglect required for any court-appointed special advocate available for appointment to include information related to confidentiality of records.

-SB 1096 by Sen. Bill Brown, modifies references to the Internal Revenue Code concerning the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System.

• House committees approved numerous measures Monday, including the following.

-SB 996 by Sen. Ron Justice, creates an Emergency Drought Protection Special Fund.

-SB 216 by Sen. Eddie Fields, requires a person who is a hunting guide to have a specific type of license.

-SB 25 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, indicates that a fee is to be charged to waste producers in addition to any charges specified in any contract or elsewhere.

-SB 887 by Sen. David Holt, prohibits the transfer of food stamp benefits to unauthorized persons.

-SB 200 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, establishes a program of foster care for children in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs to recruit foster families.

-SB 460 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, requires the Department of Human Services to record all incoming calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline and keep all recordings on file for a period of 90 days.

-SB 639 by Sen. Kim David, requires the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Child Abuse Response Team to employ at least five investigators and at least five forensic interviewers.

-SB 917 by Sen. Kim David, modifies definitions for child care facilities.

-SB 167 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, amends language pertaining to property and county treasurers.

-SB 321 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, repeals language related to notice on sales tax permit holders of statutory penalties.

-SB 322 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the tax levy on oil production.

-SB 488 by Sen. Susan Paddack, creates the Inmate Farm Worker Act.

-SB 97 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, authorizes the Department of Public Safety to enter into agreements with persons whose license to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended or revoked, to drive between their place of residence and their place of employment under certain circumstances.

-SB 235 by Sen. Frank Simpson, amends language relating to veterans.

-SB 1012 by Sen. Rob Johnson, updates statutory references related to cities and towns.

-SB 478 by Sen. Charles Wyrick, requires legislative authorization of budgets.

-SB 779 by Sen. Don Barrington, authorizes the Department of Public Safety to issue an annual fleet permit to an electric utility for certain purposes.


Tuesday, April 2

• The Senate met Tuesday, and approved no legislation.


• Senate committees approved numerous bills Tuesday, including the following:

-HB 2187 by Rep. Charles Joyner, outlines procedure for sale of railroads or railroad components owned by the Department of Transportation.

-HB 1423 by Rep. Scott Biggs, includes those who willingly attempt to prevent any person from giving testimony or producing records, documents or objects in a court of law to the list of felonies.

-HB 2188 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, establishes fees for electronic medical records.

-HB 1050 by Rep. Dustin Roberts, extends the renewal period for a petition for a protective order to every sixty days until the defendant is served.

-HB 2201 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, Creates the CompSource Mutual Insurance Company Act.

-HB 1087 by Rep. Randy Grau, provides for lien filing to include payment for profit and overhead costs.

-HB 1084 by Rep. Randy Grau, requires applicants for private process server licenses to cause notice of the hearing to be made no less than twenty days prior to the hearing in the legal newspaper of the county.

-HB 1414 by Rep. Elise Hall, repeals language referring to affirmative action.

-HB 1085 by Rep. Randy Grau, mandates that a defendant, when prescribed by a judge, as a condition of pretrial release, consent to any monitoring or testing procedures, including GPS monitoring and urinalysis testing.

-HB 1523 by Rep. Bobby Cleveland, reduces the punishment for persons caught on a train without a ticket.

-HB 1524 by Rep. Bobby Cleveland, reduces the punishment for gambling on train.

• The House convened Tuesday, approving numerous bills including the following:

-SB 450 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, allows defendants released upon personal recognizance to enter a plea of guilty using an electronic method provided by the court.

-SB 33 by Sen. Ron Justice, removes prohibitions in the Oklahoma Hazardous Waste Management Act on burning hazardous waste for fuel.

-SB 489 by Sen. Frank Simpson, requires certain records received by the Department of Environmental Quality that contain information regarding sources of radiation to be kept confidential.

-SB 251 by Sen. Earl Garrison, allows the superintendents for the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf to determine accommodations for their students so that they may take standardized state end of instruction exams.

-SB 413 by Sen. Mike Schulz, eliminates deadlines for certain permits for public water supply systems.

-SB 355 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, establishes the validity period for letters of guardianship at no longer than 15 months.

-SB 207 by Sen. John Ford, removes constraints on probationary teacher evaluations.

• House committees met Tuesday, and approved numerous measures, including the following:

-SB 295 by Sen. Tom Ivester, adds recovery and recovery support to certification standards for private mental health and substance abuse facilities.

-SB 975 by Sen. Rob Johnson, requires health benefit plans and dental plans to establish and maintain appeal procedures for any claim by a dentist or subscriber denied based on lack of medical necessity.

-SB 970 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows members of certain legislative committees to receive updates on the 2009 Final Report and Task Force of the Effect of Alzheimers Disease in Oklahoma.

-SB 937 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, initiates a task force on prescription drug abuse.

-SB 298 by Sen. Al McAffrey, creates a task force to examine regulatory standards on physician’s advertising.

-SB 581 by Sen. Tom Ivester, modifies the list of persons and entities that may file a request or petition to determine whether an individual is in need of mental health treatment.

-SB 755 by Sen. Tom Ivester, ensures confidentiality between a physician or psychotherapist and a consumer with regards to mental health and drug or alcohol abuse treatment information.

-SB 920 by Sen. Ron Justice, creates the Oklahoma Cottage Food Law.

-SB 181 by Sen. Kim David, extends the Oklahoma Suicide Prevention Council until 2020.

-SB 27 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, requires county offices to post signs informing the public about whom to contact regarding Medicaid fraud.

-SB 587 by Sen. Ron Justice, places electronic monitoring devices in nursing facilities unless otherwise opted out of the program for specific circumstances.

-SB 915 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, prohibits health care service providers from denying life-saving treatment to those who do not have health insurance.

-SB 900 by Sen. Rob Standridge, requires that hospices must be investigated and surveyed every three years to be in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Hospice Licensing Act.

-SB 592 by Sen. David Holt, allows assisted living facilities to participate in an informal dispute resolution panel offered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

-SB 64 by Don Barrington, prohibits people from selling, distributing, possessing, and igniting aerial luminaries.

-SB 1013 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, requires all bail enforcers or bail recovery agencies to be CLEET certified.

-SB 691 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, clarifies that insurance and insurance department are interchangeable unless the context dictates otherwise and requires specific wording.

-SB 404 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the Personal Injury Trust Fund Transparency Act.

-SB 668 by Sen. Rob Johnson, modifies the requirement for signatures needed to form a recognized political party.

-SB 869 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires the rotation of names of candidates on primary ballots.

-SB 233 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, requires additional deposits for elections in which the first place and second place candidates are separated by a margin of 10% or more.

-SB 106 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, changes the criminal penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for any person who wittingly offers required information regarding scrap metal dealings that is false.

-SB 143 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Oklahoma 24/7 Sobriety and Drug Monitoring Program Act.

-SB 89 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, increases the fine from $200.00 to $400.00 for dumping trash on public or private property.

-SB 206 by A.J. Griffin, modifies stipulations and requirements on concealed and unconcealed firearms.

-SB 394 by Sen. Kim David, allows a district attorney who does not seek reelection or who is defeated in a reelection vote to carry a firearm anywhere in the state for personal protection.

-SB 484 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, changes the exemption for serving as a grand or petit juror.

-SB 745 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, authorizing either Oklahoma Tax Commission or taxpayer to appeal tax-related dispute decisions to the Oklahoma County District Court or Oklahoma Supreme Court.

-SB 865 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, authorizes district attorneys to create delinquent sales tax restitution programs.

-SB 1083 by Sen. Rob Johnson, makes language regarding oath and bonds gender neutral.

-SB 1056 by Sen. Rob Standridge, makes language relating to pharmacist renewal certificates gender neutral.

-SB 396 by Sen. Clark Jolley, transfers all powers and duties of the Human Rights Commission to the Attorney General.

-SB 682 by Sen. Don Barrington, establishes the purpose of Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training.

-SB 621 by Sen. Ron Justice, consolidates the duties and functions of the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center.

-SB 926 by Sen. Rob Johnson, removes obsolete language in the Oklahoma Recycling Initiative.

-SB 191 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, allows for the notification of drilling to land owners to be delivered by a process server.

-SB 767 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, transfers all employees, duties, assets and obligations of the Commission on Marginally Producing Oil and Gas Wells to the authority of the Committee for Sustaining Oklahoma's Energy resources.

-SB 791 by Sen. Rob Johnson, deletes requirements for certain bonds for motor vehicles.

-SB 78 by Sen. Brian Bingman, creates the Horizontal Well Development Act.

-SB 426 by Sen. John Ford, modifies the state’s system for evaluating teachers.

-SB 535 by Sen. John Sparks, requires that when a superintendent chooses to not continue employing a teacher for reasons relating to criminal charges, the superintendent must forward a copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education.

-SB 513 by Sen. Jim Halligan, creates guidelines for alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out.

-SB 536 by Sen. John Sparks, allows public schools to make inquiries or disclose information regarding a current or former employee's job performance to another public school or a state agency.

-SB 169 by Sen. John Ford, creates a virtual education system for students who are not residents of the school district in which the provider is contracted.

-SB 574 by Sen. Clark Jolley, mandates that all children enrolled in pre-kindergarten undergo reading skill screenings.

-SB 759 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, establishes the Deployed Parents School Act of 2013.

-SB 631 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates a task force to study technological integration into academic standards.


Wednesday, April 3

• The Senate approved the following resolution Wednesday:

-SR 16 by Sen. Rob Standridge, honors the life and service of Captain Pete Norwood.

• Senate committees approved the following bills Wednesday:

-HB 1794 by Rep. Mike Christian, provides bonus pay for certain state employees.

-HB 1717 by Rep. Leslie Osborn, provides performance bonuses for certain state employees.

-HB 1989 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, creates the Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013.

-HB 1434 by Rep. Mike Turner, creates the Modern Student Personal Budgeting Act.

• The House met Wednesday, approving a number of measures including the following:

-HR 1012 by Rep. Mike Christian, honors the life of Captain Pete Norwood.

-SB 619 by Sen. Corey Brooks, requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to cancel the licenses of any cigarette or tobacco dealer who has been determined to have violated the provisions of the Unfair Cigarette and Tobacco Product Sales Act.

-SB 1053 by Sen. Dan Newberry, requires applicants for roofing contractor registrations to have a thirty thousand dollar bond filed with the registrar.

-SB 91 by Sen. Eddie Fields, requires a school district board of education member to obtain instruction on issues in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education.

-SB 440 by Sen. Rob Johnson, clarifies language related to judgments.

-SB 716 by Sen. Eddie Fields, creates the Oklahoma Honey Sales Act.

-SB 988 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, removes “retained attorney” from the list of attorneys required to complete at least six hours of education and training annually in courses relating to juvenile law.

-SB 1042 by Sen. Dan Newberry, clarifies the powers and duties of the Alarm and Locksmith Industry Committee.


• The House committees approved numerous measures Wednesday, including the following:

-SB 5 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies definitions relating to employment law.

-SB 780 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, raises the fine for killing or mutilating protected wildlife.

-SB 819 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, prohibits the use of certain hunting aids.

-SB 919 by Sen. Ron Justice, removes big game commercial hunting licenses as a requirement for the issuance of a permit and modifies the definition or aircraft to include fixed wing aircraft related to depredating animals by use of aircraft.

-SB 488 by Sen. Susan Paddack, creates the Inmate Farm Worker Act.

-SB 996 by Sen. Ron Justice, creates the Emergency Drought Protection Special Fund.

-SB 25 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, indicates that a fee is to be charged to waste producers in addition to any charges specified elsewhere.

-SB 71 by Sen. Mark Allen, requires the Department of Public Safety to issue an annual vehicle permit to transportation company or manufacturer of portable buildings solely for the movement of oversize portable buildings for a specific manufacturer of portable buildings.

-SB 30 by Sen. John Ford, strengthens the restrictions for individuals on the Oklahoma Sex Offender Registry.

-SB 257 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires the Oklahoma Office of the Homeland Security to designate a division of their office as the Oklahoma School Security Institute.

-SB 258 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires natural and man-made disasters and emergency plans to be reviewed and updated annually as appropriate by each school.

-SB 259 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires every school authority to immediately report the discovery of a firearm not authorized by law to be possessed to a law enforcement authority.

-SB 315 by Sen. Brian Crain, requires CLEET to include in its basic training courses a minimum of two hours of education and training relating to recognizing and managing a person experiencing dementia or Alzheimers.

-SB 347 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, transfers the duties of the State Board of Health relating to the regulation of fire extinguishers to the Office of the State Fire Marshall.

-SB 398 by Sen. Susan Paddack, allows any reserve peace officer who has completed the 240-hour reserve peace officer certification program to become certified as a full-time police officer.

-SB 276 by Sen. Randy Bass, amends language related to absentee ballots.

-SB 277 by Sen. Randy Bass, amends language related to elections and compensation of precinct officials.

-SB 966 by Sen. Mike Schulz, permits a notarized affidavit signed by a custodial legal parent or legal guardian submitted by the person under the age of 18 years to be submitted with an application for an identification card by any person under the age of 18.

-SB 173 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, exempts any person, corporation, place of worship or business entity that allows any individual or employee to carry a loaded or unloaded weapon from any liability arising from that policy.

-SB 432 by Sen. John Ford, creates the Oklahoma’s Career Promise Act.

-SB 429 by Sen. Clark Jolley, authorizes the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority to develop the Oklahoma Public Events Network.

-SB 166 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, repeals certain income tax credits.

-SB 330 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies language related to the Compete with Canada Film Act.

-SB 331 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the time period during which exemptions for rolling stock is applicable as written under the sales tax exemptions measure.

-SB 332 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, eliminates gold and silver from the specified reporting requirements by the tax administration and eliminates language regarding the release of information on production.

-SB 341 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, repeals statutory language related to franchise or excise tax on corporations.

-SB 343 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, eliminates outdated language related to certain tax credits.

-SB 387 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, eliminates Surviving Spouse License Plates and adds them to the Gold Star Surviving License Plates category.

-SB 495 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies language related to the Oklahoma State Regents’ Endowment Trust Fund.

-SB 678 by Sen. John Sparks, exempts from the excise tax any vehicle on which ownership is transferred by a repossessor directly back to the owner or owners from whom the vehicle was repossessed, provided ownership be assigned by the repossessor within 30 days of issuance of the repossession title and it be identical to that reflected in the vehicle title record immediately prior to the repossession.

-SB 954 by Sen. Ron Justice, removes language concerning assessors.

-SB 955 by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires all Oklahoma lottery prize tickets to include the toll free telephone number and contact information for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services programs for compulsive gambling disorder.

-SB 976 by Sen. Dan Newberry, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Quality Events Incentive Act.

-SB 789 by Sen. Rob Johnson, modifies language relating to low-point beer.

-SB 613 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, increases the annual gross payroll for new direct jobs projected by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for the Quality Jobs Program to equal or exceed $2.75 million within three years of the first complete calendar quarter following the start date.

-SB 788 by Sen. Dan Newberry, establishes a study consisting of a series of open meetings to discuss business opportunities and employment factors affecting the state’s business climate.

-SB 792 by Sen. Rob Johnson, creates the Oklahoma Crusher Act.

-SB 66 by Sen. Don Barrington, provides that the State Fire Marshal is not required to inspect or cause to be inspected portable retail fireworks stands prior to opening.

-SB 107 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, requires precious metal and gem dealers under the Precious Metal and Gem Dealer Licensing Act to require a business location and proof of that business location.

-SB 177 by Sen. Harry Coates, amends language regarding fraud or bogus checks.

-SB 501 by Sen. Frank Simpson, requires all state buildings and properties to be designated as nonsmoking.

-SB 1031 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, modifies language relating to solicitations.

-SB 1118 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, increases the years of credited service for determining retirement dates for the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement Fund.

-SB 228 by Sen. Frank Simpson, creates the Quality Workforce for Oklahoma’s Heroes Act.

-SB 254 by Sen. Kim David, modifies language concerning the Oklahoma Medicaid Program Reform Act.

-SB 436 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, authorizes the board of education on any school district contiguous to any other school located in an adjacent state to enter into contracts with the board of education of the school district located in the adjacent state for the purpose of providing shared administrative services.

-SB 456 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, requires every county Department of Human Services office to conspicuously post a sign in an area clearly visible to all visitors of the county office about how to report public assistance fraud.

Thursday, April 4

• The Senate met Thursday, but took no action.