Mon, April 21- Wed. Apr. 24, 2014

Monday, April 21

• The Senate met Monday, approving numerous bills including the following.

-HB 2974 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, makes not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse facilities eligible to receive certain Special Universal Services.

-HB 2349 by Rep. Sally Kern, amends language relating to the Oklahoma Law on Obscenity and Child Pornography.

-HB 2527 by Rep. Kay Floyd, provides an income tax checkoff for domestic violence legal aid services.

-HJR 1006 by Rep. Scott Biggs, sends to a vote of the people a measure that protects agriculture as an industry.

-HB 3170 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, modifies language relating to mastery of state academic content standards in designated subject requirements.

-HB 2685 by Rep. Randy Grau, modifies language relating to abortion, requiring certain consent.

• Senate committees did not take up bills Monday.

• The House approved numerous bills, including the following on Monday.

-SB 1141 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies language relating to the State Judicial Revolving Fund.

-SB 1719 by Sen. Clark Jolley, amends language relating to court ordered purchases of goods or services.

-SB 934 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, modifies language relating to minors possessing firearms.

• House committees took no action on bills Monday.

Tuesday, April 22

• The Senate approved a number of bills Tuesday, including the following.

-HB 2508 by Rep. Earl Sears, reduces the top individual income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent.

-HB 2526 by Rep. Kay Floyd, states upon a preliminary investigation of a domestic violence crime, the first peace officer who interviews the victim will assess the potential for danger by asking questions provided on a lethality assessment form.

-HB 2609 by Rep. Cory Williams, amends requirements for filing a motion for expungement.

-HB 2976 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, requires each hospital, during the postpartum period and prior to discharge, to provide parents of newborn infants educational information on pertussis disease and the availability of a vaccine to protect against pertussis.

-HB 3394 by Rep. Scott Biggs, prohibits a CLEET-certified peace officer to request or accept cash payment in the field for any fine related to a state law violation.

-HB 3472 by Rep. Jason Nelson, prohibits the courts from awarding custody or guardianship of a child to a sex offender.

• Senate committees took no action on bills Tuesday.

• The House approved several bills Tuesday, including the following.

-SB 1442 by Sen. Kim David, permits former district attorneys and other law enforcement to carry a firearm anywhere in the state for personal protection.

-SB 1248 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, allows the director of the Department of Corrections to have specific powers relating to penal institutions including to authorize a $100 expense allowance per month for the maintenance and cleaning of uniforms and other related expenses to be paid by the Department of Corrections.

-SB 1254 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to publish a comprehensive report detailing state-owned properties.

-SB 1902 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, creates the Division of Educational Services within the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

• House committees did not take up bills Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 23

• The Senate approved several measures, including the following.

-HB 2642 by Rep. Lee Denney, creates the Securing Educational Excellence Fund.

-HB 2134 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, reduces the percentage of registered voters’ signatures from 5 percent to 2.5 percent of the total votes cast in the last general election either for governor or for electors for president and vice president to form a recognized political party.

-HB 2954 by Rep. Josh Cockroft, modifies language relating to the County Fleet Vehicle Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Cost Revolving Fund.

-HB 3176 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, modifies language relating to classified or unclassified employee leave.

-HJR 1026 by Rep. Dan Fisher, proposes a constitutional amendment to amend language relating to the right of a citizen to keep and bear, or carry, arms.

-HJR 1092 by Rep. Jon Echols, proposes to ask voters for approval of a bond issue to fund secure areas and facilities on or near schools for personal safety.

-HB 2643 by Rep. Lee Denney, amends language related to the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

-HB 1378 by Rep. Emily Virgin, amends the Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR Training Act.

• Senate committees took no action on bills Wednesday.

• The House approved several bills Wednesday, including the following.

-SB 1246 by Sen. Brian Bingman, reduces the top individual income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent.

-SB 991 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, prohibits insurers from increasing limits of liability by the stacking of policies.

-SB 1181 by Sen. Ron Sharp, creates the “Oklahoma – A STEM State of Mind” Program.

-SB 1610 by Sen. Frank Simpson, modifies the definition of “war veteran”.

-SB 1745 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, creates the Local Government Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act.

-SB 1875 by Sen. Tom Ivester, modifies language relating to expunged records.

• House committees did not take up bills Wednesday.

Thursday, April 24

• The Senate approved several measures, including the following.

-HB 2367 by Rep. John Trebilcock, increases the travel allowance for each county commissioner and sheriff.

-HB 3365 by Rep. Jon Echols, modifies language relating to product liability actions.

-HB 2637 by Rep. Lee Denney, amends language relating to dog kennel restrictions.

-HB 2676 by Rep. Ken Walker, modifies restrictions on Oklahoma Highway Patrol dash cam records.

-HJR 1033 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, sends to a vote of the people a measure that would allow the state to incur debt to refurbish the State Capitol building.