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The full Senate has given overwhelming support to legislation targeting those who plan crimes of mass violence and those who fail to report such plans. Senate Bill 995, by Sen. Brian Crain, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison for anyone who plans to commit a plan of mass violence at a school, place of worship, a place of employment, a sporting event, entertainment venue or any other location used for large gatherings of people.
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The Senate has given its approval to a measure expanding the state’s landmark scholarship program, Oklahoma’s Promise. Senate Education Chairman John Ford is the principal author of SB 432, creating ‘Oklahoma’s Career Promise Act,’ expanding Oklahoma’s Promise program to cover 100 percent of tuition and fees for students pursuing industry certification in five specific areas of the economy. Those areas include aerospace and defense, energy, agriculture and biosciences, information and financial services, and transportation and distribution.
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The full Senate has given its approval to the “Parent Empowerment Act.” Senate Bill 1001, authored by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, would enable parents to petition to make dramatic changes in their child’s underperforming school. The bill was approved 30 to 12 on Wednesday. Holt said the bill was based on a “parent trigger” concept that has been enacted in at least seven other states.
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Sen. Jerry Ellis today criticized a plan that would send to a vote of the people a proposal to make the offices of State Superintendent, Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner gubernatorial appointments.

Ellis said it was unwise to consolidate so much power in the executive branch.

“This is a scheme that simply invites temptation,” said Ellis, D-Valliant. “Reducing these offices to cabinet positions is reminiscent of Louisiana-style politics, and it would open the door to Louisiana-style corruption. They had the best government money could buy.”
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Oklahomans took a step closer to paying lower prices this “Black Friday” and beyond with Senate passage Wednesday of Senate Bill 550, which would legalize low-price retail sales in Oklahoma for the first time since 1941. SB 550, authored by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, passed the full Senate 28 to 15.
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The state Senate today advanced a proposal that would allow voters to make the offices of state superintendent, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner gubernatorial appointments.

Sen. Greg Treat, author of Senate Bill 598, said the reform would allow the governor to be the true executive of the state and be more fully responsible for the executive branch.
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The full Senate has given approval to a bill aimed at improving care for Oklahoma National Guardsmen struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Sen. Brian Crain is principal author of Senate Bill 527 which was approved by the Senate on Monday 44 to 0.

Crain said the programs would be administered by the University of Oklahoma and would be geared to assist the spouses, parents and other friends and family members who are acting as caregivers for returning troops.
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