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The Senate General Government Committee has given unanimous approval to a measure allowing cities and counties to ban smoking on government property. Senator Frank Simpson, R-Springer is the author of Senate Bill 501, which was approved on Monday—just a week after that same committee voted overwhelmingly against a bill which would have given local government the authority to ban smoking in private businesses as well as government owned properties.
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The full Senate is the next stop for a bill creating two pilot programs to help Oklahoma National Guardsmen returning from duty with either Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Sen. Brian Crain, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee won passage for Senate Bill 527 in Senate Appropriations on Wednesday. He said the University of Oklahoma would administer the programs.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee has given unanimous approval to a bill restoring Oklahoma State Department of Health inspections at state-run veterans’ centers. Sen. Frank Simpson is principal author of Senate Bill 629, which was approved Wednesday on a vote of 18-0.
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State Sen. Kim David has won committee approval for a measure to expand Oklahoma’s Child Abuse Response Team (CART) program. First launched in 2005, the concept was to utilize investigators who were highly trained in investigating child abuse, including forensic interviews of children and case development for prosecution, to oversee and coordinate the investigation of such cases.
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The Senate Finance Committee has given approval to legislation that would ultimately lower the state income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 4.75 percent. The measure was approved on a nine to three vote on Tuesday. Senate Bill 585 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, would be fully effective in tax year 2015.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1062, the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act, in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation was passed on an 8-2 vote and now heads to a floor vote before the full Senate.
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