Monday, April 23, to Friday, April 27, 2018

Monday, April 23, 2018

? The Senate met on Monday and approved the following legislation:
-HB 2997, by Rep. Cyndi Munson and Sen. J.J. Dossett, designates the red-tailed hawk as the state raptor of Oklahoma. The bill passed 39-2.

-HB 1244, with title restored, by Rep. Mark Lepak and Sen. A J Griffin, creates the Jeri Cooper Act. It requires, subject to the availability of funds, the State Department of Rehabilitation Services to: establish a program to broaden the availability of support service providers in the deaf-blind community; develop a mission statement for said program and promulgate rules necessary for its implementation; provide grants to providers and organizations that offer services for said community; and use a request-for-proposal process to award grants, which are capped at $300,000. It authorizes the Department to develop a certification requirement and training program. The bill passed 41-0.

-HB 2621, by Rep. Kevin West and Sen. James Leewright, specifies the rate for certain travel costs for which all bail bondsmen bear. It requires certain computerized records be without limitation and accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The bill passed 41-0.

-HB 3324, with title restored, by Rep. Scott Fetgatter and Sen. Stephanie Bice, apportions 5 percent of the quarterly Quality Jobs incentive payment amount to the Quick Action Closing Fund. The bill passed 35-7.

-HB 3330, by Rep. Mike Sanders and Sen. A J Griffin, modifies residency restrictions for registered sex offenders to include family child care homes. The bill passed 41-0.

-HB 3393, by Rep. Ben Loring and Rep. Chris Kannady and A J Griffin, requires all penal institutions, detention centers and county jails use the least restrictive restraints necessary when the facility has actual or constructive knowledge that an inmate is pregnant. It prohibits the use of restraints in certain situations. It prohibits the use of certain types of restraints. It makes it unlawful for any correctional officer to use restraints on a pregnant inmate while the inmate is delivering her baby. It makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by a fine of $1,000 or both. The bill passed 42-0.

-HB 3096, by Rep. Josh Cockroft and Sen. Robert Standridge, authorizes a county board of health to create a city-county board of health after Nov. 1, 2018. It was approved 41-0.

-SR 27, by Sen. Mike Schulz, encourages closer economic relationships between the United States and Taiwan by negotiating a beneficial trade agreement between the two countries. It also commends the introduction of reciprocal U.S. and Taiwan trusted traveler programs, the U.S. Global Entry program and the Taiwan e-Gate program, which encourages two-way tourism. The resolution supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in the INTERPOL, ICAO, UNFCCC, and WHA. It celebrates the 38th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of
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Oklahoma and Taiwan and it commends Peter C.Y. Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, for efforts and contributions toward enhancing cooperation between Taiwan and Oklahoma.

-SR 28, by Sen. Tom Dugger, proclaims April 8-14, 2018, as Emergency Management Week in the State of Oklahoma.

The Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget advanced several measures on Monday, including the following:

-CS for HB 371, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields and Sen. Kim David, modifies the method of calculating the motor fuel assessment under the International Fuel Tax Agreement. It removes a reference to a specific tax rate and adds a reference to the applicable tax rate under the Motor Fuel Tax Code.

-CS for HB 3175, also by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields and Sen. Kim David, permits business that relocate back into Oklahoma from outside the U.S. to taxpayer make installment payments of income taxes due as a result for the move for tax years ending after Jan. 1, 2017, if the taxpayer elects to make installment payments of federal taxes during under the federal tax code.

The House met Monday and approved the following measures:
-SB 1221, as amended, by Sen. James Leewright and Rep. Josh West, creates the Alyssa Wise Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentencing Act. Under the act, children convicted of murder in the first degree may be sentenced to life without parole under a specific procedure laid out in the act.
Before the preliminary hearing a magistrate may request a psychological evaluation. If the evaluation is requested before the preliminary hearing then the evaluation along with other facts and considerations may issue a "Notice of Intent to Seek a Sentence of Life Without Parole" within 30 days. The juvenile offender must respond to the notice within 15 days. The juvenile will then be entitled to a trial by jury and if the child is found guilty, the court will schedule a hearing to consider and weight the chronological age of the offender, incompetencies associated with youths, whether circumstances suggest the possibility or rehabilitation, social background or history of substance abuse, record of the offender and any other criteria the court deems relevant. The court will consider evidence from sentencing and the trial itself. If the weight of the evidence establishes that the crimes committed by the offender reflect irreparable corruption and permanent incorrigibility, the judge may then sentence the juvenile offender to live without the possibility of parole. After debate on the bill, it passed off the House floor 60-31. The emergency did not pass and West asked to later reconsider the vote on the emergency.

-SB 1488, by Sen. Chris Kidd and Rep. Kevin Wallace, creates the land legacy lifetime license for all legal resident landowners for use on the property for which the license is purchased. It allows for transfer of the license after one year and for the landowner to purchase more than one license. It passed 60-28.

-SB 1251, by Sen. James Leewright and Rep. Josh West, requires a bail bond be exonerated by operation of law in any case in which the defendant has been arrested on new charges in the same jurisdiction in which the bondsman or insurer has posted the appearance bond or bonds for the defendant, and the defendant has been subsequently released on his or her own personal recognizance. It also requires a bail bond be exonerated by operation of law in any case in which there is an added charge to a case that would result in a higher fine or longer term of sentence if convicted, or an amendment to a charge that would result in a higher fine or longer term of sentence if convicted, provided any premium paid by the defendant to the bondsman or insurer from the original charge must be credited to the defendant if the same bondsman or insurer posts the appearance bond or bonds on the added or amended charge. It requires a subsequent bond to be at the same premium rate. It passed 52-37.

-SB 1203, by Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Dustin Roberts, requires any person convicted of a speeding violation to be punished by a fine not to exceed $60 and court costs not to exceed $40. It passed 86-0.

-SB 1162, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Glen Mulready, repeals language related to the Oklahoma Individual Health Insurance Market Stabilization Act. It passed 52-36 with the same vote on the emergency.

-SJR 66, by Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Mark Lepak, proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would require the candidates for Governor and for Lt. Governor to run on a ticket beginning in 2026. The procedure for the joint nomination and election of candidates for those offices would be set by law. It passed 68-22.

Gov. Mary Fallin signed several bills on Monday, including the following:
-HB 2913, by Rep. Mickey Dollens, Rep. Jon Echols and Sen. Lonnie Paxton, allows Oklahoma farmers to plant and harvest hemp. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry will manage the program, which permits universities to work with farmers in Oklahoma to cultivate certified hemp seed for research and development for industrial uses. It creates within the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry a revolving fund that will consist of all registration, lab, and inspection fees paid by program participants. The legislation takes effect immediately.

-HB 1014XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields and Sen. Kim David, modifies the apportionment of revenues to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund and the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund.

-HB 2548, by Rep. John R. Bennett and Sen. Mark Allen, changes the name of the MSG Joshua Wheeler, U.S. Army Delta Force, Memorial Highway in Sequoyah County to the MSG Joshua Wheeler, U.S. Army Memorial Highway.

-HB 2634, by Rep. Greg Babinec and Sen. Jack Fry, affords any employee of the Department of Public Safety appointed to the position of Commissioner the right to return to the previous position of the employee without any loss of rights, privileges or benefits immediately upon completion of the duties as Commissioner, provided the employee is not otherwise disqualified.

-HB 2643, by Rep. Dustin Roberts and Sen. Greg Treat, removes reference to the enhancement of punishment for driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance.

-HB 2772, by Rep. Mike Osburn and Sen. Adam Pugh, removes the hairbraiding licensing requirement in the Oklahoma Cosmetology and Barbering Act.

-HB 2885, by Rep. Josh West and Sen. Casey Murdock, requires the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to promulgate rules regarding the application and licensing process, including the expiration date of a farmed cervidae facility license, fees for farmed cervidae facility licenses and all renewals, procedures for the transfer of ownership, recordkeeping requirements, importation requirements, animal identification requirements, fencing requirements and limits on the size of licensed facilities, as well as flushing procedures prepared with the input from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to ensure no native cervidae remain in a newly established licensed enclosure.

-HB 3152, by Rep. Jeff Coody and Sen. Paul Scott, creates the Oklahoma Education Act of 2018. The act allows local school board candidates or board members to be related within the second degree by affinity or consanguinity to any employee of the school district governed by the board if the school district has an ADM of less than 400 and the school board has previously adopted a policy stating such a candidate or board member does not attend or participate in any regular or executive session of the board held to consider any personnel matter or litigation relating to the school district employee.

-HB 3156, by Rep. Earl Sears and Sen. Roger Thompson, eliminates the requirement that an incorporated city or town send the Tax Commission chair or their designee of a copy of the municipality's notice of a biennial town meeting or resolution calling for its regular municipal elections. The bill also increases from $10,000 to $25,000 the amount of minimum tax liability at which point no agreement to compound, settle or compromise such tax liability will be effective until the settlement has been approved by judgment of one of the judges of the district court of Oklahoma County, after a full hearing.

-HB 3311, by Rep. Rhonda Baker and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, modifies state subject matter standards for history, social studies, and U.S. Government by including the content of the U.S. naturalization test. It requires the test be available in physical and electronic formats as an optional assessment tool for teachers. It removes U.S. Government from the U.S. History assessment, but requires the assessment emphasize civics.

-HB 3353, by Rep. Sean Roberts and Sen. Nathan Dahm, allows a person in possession of a valid handgun license or who meets the criteria, and presents a valid military identification card, to carry a handgun while scouting. It provides that any property designated as a wildlife refuge or wildlife management areas are excluded as prohibited places to carry.

-HB 3374, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Roger Thompson, allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to enter into a contract with a private vendor in the marketing and sale of personalized or special license plates. It requires the Commission to establish administrative fees for license plates issues and renewed under the provisions of the bill. It requires fees be in addition to all other registration fees provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act. The bill requires the designs remain property of the Commission and allows for approval of additional designs and color combinations for special plates.

-SB 1134, by Sen. A J Griffin and Rep. Leslie Osborn, permits Oklahoma Lottery Commission offices and employees whose duties require participation in investigations conducted to purchase lottery tickets only when part of an official lottery investigation that is approved in advance by the executive director or their designee. The bill prohibits any ticket purchased from being shared or assigned in any manner to an otherwise eligible participant. It also prohibits the officer or employee authorized to purchase a ticket from retaining any prize or winnings that may result from the winning ticket and from having a right to any prize or winnings.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

The Senate met Tuesday and advanced the following measures:
-CCR for HB 2281, by Rep. Terry O'Donnell and Sen. Greg Treat, modifies the forged instruments or coins, larceny of lost property and theft of aircraft, automobile or construction equipment. The bill passed 40-0.

-CCR for HB 2286, by Rep. Terry O'Donnell and Sen. Greg Treat, states the legislative intent in relation to the Pardon and Parole Board. It requires any person in the custody of the Department of Corrections must serve one-fourth of the sentence before the application of earned credits or any other type of credits, such that no credits shall have the effect of reducing the length of the sentence to less than one-fourth of the sentence imposed for crimes committed on or after July 1, 2017. The bill modifies eligibility requirements for Board members. It requires the Board to include an administrative parole dock to each district attorney in the state. The bill modifies parole eligibility for persons in the Department's custody for a crime committed on or after July 1, 2017. It requires the Board to state on the record reasons for denying parole. It requires the Board to suggest a course of remediation for an inmate convicted of certain crimes outline therein if the inmate is denied parole. The bill requires the Board to consider provided information when determining the suitability of an inmate for parole. The bill requires a person in the custody of the Department whose parole consideration date is calculated therein, and is not serving a sentence of life imprisonment without parole or who is not convicted of an offense designated as a violent offense be eligible for administrative parole. The bill passed 40-0.

-SB 224, by Sen. A J Griffin and Rep. Chris Kannady, requires all youthful offender court records be confidential unless the motion to impose an adult sentence is granted by the court; the court sentences the person as an adult; or the motion to transfer the person to the custody or supervision of the Department of Corrections is granted. It also requires all reports, evaluations, motions, records, exhibits or documents generated that are submitted to the court or admitted into evidence during the hearing on the motions for certification as a youthful offender or a juvenile are confidential and be filed or admitted under seal, except that such records can be provided to the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The bill requires a preliminary hearing to commence within 90 days of the notice of a juvenile's location if an accused who was absent for 90 days after the filing of the information is detained in a juvenile detention center or county jail within this state, or his or her location becomes known to the state at any time after the first 90 days have expired. It extends to the age of 18 years and six months from the age of 18 years and 5 months that a youthful offender may be returned to a treatment program. It permits the Office of Juvenile Affairs to recommend that the youthful offender be returned to its custody upon attaining the age of 18 years and six months until the age of 19 to complete the reintegration phase of the treatment program or community supervision as determined by OJA. It permits, during any period of extension, a youthful offender to be transferred to the Department of Corrections as provided by statute whether the youthful offender is placed in an out-of-home placement or in the community. It requires that a youthful offender to remain in custody or under the supervision of the Office of Juvenile Affairs until the youthful offender has been discharged or sentenced by the court or until the youthful offender's 19th birthday if the court has extended jurisdiction for the offender until 19 years of age, at which time the youthful offender will be returned to the court for final disposition of the youthful offender's case. It repeals outdated language related to charging those under 18 as an adult. The bill passed 40-0.

-HB 2527, by Rep. Bobby Cleveland and Sen. Nathan Dahm, permits employees of a county who are in possession of a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a concealed handgun when acting in the course and scope of employment within the courthouses of the county in which he or she is employed. It provides that the provisions of the bill do not allow the county employee to carry the handgun into a courtroom. The bill now returns to the House for consideration of changes made to the bill during Senate committee consideration of the measure.

-HB 1120, by Rep. Josh Cockroft and Sen. Anthony Sykes, authorizes a county sheriff to contract with a statewide association of county sheriffs to administer contracts with third parties attempting to locate persons of their outstanding misdemeanor or failure-to-pay warrant. It authorizes sheriffs contracting with such an association to assign their rights and duties regarding the contracts to the association. The bill passed 39-0.

-HB 2759, by Rep. Leslie Osborn and Sen. Anthony Sykes, modifies various definitions within the State Dental Act. It amends language related to the granting of emergency temporary licenses. The bill requires beginning January 1, 2019, that every dental assistant receiving a permit to complete a class on infection control as approved by the Board within one year from the date of receipt of the permit. It requires any person holding a valid dental assistant permit prior to January 1, 2019, to complete an infection-control class as approved by the Board before December 31, 2019. It adds that failure to complete the class shall be grounds for discipline. The bill adds a new license fee for a mobile dental treatment facility. It allows a dentist to petition the board to be temporarily exempted from the requirement to maintain a policy for professional malpractice liability insurance due to health, injury or other personal exigent circumstance during the year. The bill passed 40-0.

-HB 2796, with title restored, by Rep. Tim Downing and Sen. A J Griffin, requires drug manufacturers and distributors make certain data available to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control on a monthly basis. It also requires that information be kept confidential. The bill passed 39-1.

-HB 2889, by Rep. Zack Taylor and Sen. Paul Scott, modifies language permitting sheriffs to charge a $5 fee for fingerprints under the Oklahoma Self-defense Act. The bill allows the sheriff to set the amount of the fee to recover costs. The bill permits applicants to submit their application to a sheriff in any country, rather than only in the county in which they reside. It permits the applicant to have their fingerprints taken by any county sheriff. The bill passed 39-0.

-FS for HB 2941, with title and enacting clause restored, by Rep. Glen Mulready and Sen. Stephanie Bice, removes requirement that title insurance be provided by certain insured persons. The bill requires every duly appointed agent of a title insurance company that countersigns and issues an owner's policy of title insurance on behalf of the title insurance company, immediately thereafter, complete and execute a Notification of Owner's Policy on a form to be promulgated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department, which form shall contain, at a minimum, spaces for the name of the owner, the legal description of the property, the identity of the title insurance company underwriting the policy, the policy number and the date of issuance. It also requires, within 30 days of the issuance of said owner's policy of title insurance, the agent executing a Notification of Owner's Policy will cause the same to be filed for record in the land records of the county clerk of the county in which the subject land is situated and transmit a copy thereof by mail, fax, email or personal delivery to the insured owner. It requires the Oklahoma Insurance Department to maintain, for each title insurance company holding a valid license and authorized to do business in the state, contact information for the office or person responsible for making available copies of owner's policies pursuant to this statute and will make such contact information generally available to the public on its Internet website and by telephone request and shall require prompt responses by all title insurance companies to requests made under this statute. The bill requires the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate necessary rules.

The Senate Transportation Committee gave a do pass recommendation to Gov. Mary Fallin's nomination of Guy Berry to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Sen. James Leewright, R-Sapulpa, presented the nomination. Berry will serve until July 1, 2020. His nomination now goes to the full Senate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee gave its approval Tuesday to two executive nominations.
Receiving do pass recommendations from the committee were:

-Bill Brown, of Edmond, to the Polygraph Examiners Board, to serve an unexpired term ending May 17, 2022. His nomination was sponsored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.
-Patrick E. Moore, from Okmulgee, to the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System Board, to serve a five-year term ending July 1, 2023, sponsored by Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah.

-The nominations now move to the full Senate for its consideration.
* Former Sen. Clark Jolley's nomination to be Gov. Mary Fallin's Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology was approved Tuesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Jolley previously chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee. Pugh, also, was Jolley's successor in the Senate and carried his appointment to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The do pass motion for Jolley' nomination passed without opposition.

Fallin’s appointment of Denise Northrup, to head the Office of Management and Enterprise Service was also approved. Northrup's nomination to lead the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) also passed without opposition. It was presented by Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City. Northrup's nomination was advanced on a 33-1 vote. Sen. Nathan Dahm cast the only nay vote.

Both nominations now go to the full Senate for its consideration. Jolley and Northrup will replace Preston Doerflinger.

The committee also gave do pass recommendations to two nominations for Dennis Shipley, one to the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and the other to the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority. Both are six-year terms ending Oct. 11, 2024. Shipley will succeed himself.

His nomination also moves to the floor of the Senate for consideration.

The Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee advanced three executive nominations Tuesday. Receiving do pass recommendations from the committee were:
-Scotty J. Herriman, from South Coffeyville, to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, to serve a five-year term ending June 30, 2023. The nomination was carried by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville.

-Dr. Christine C. Kunzweiler, of Tulsa, to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, to serve a five-year term ending May 9, 2023. The nomination was presented by Sen. David Rader, R-Tulsa, on behalf of Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow.

-Joe L. Mayere, of Guymon, to the State Board of Agriculture, to serve a four-year term ending April 26, 2022. Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, carried his nomination. The nominations now are eligible for consideration by the full Senate.

The House on Tuesday approved the following measures: -SB 1398, by Sen. Stephanie Bice and Rep. Elise Hall, authorizes the use of school district building funds to be used for district operations. It passed 54-39.

-SJR 70, by Sen. Stephanie Bice and Rep. Elise Hall, proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that expands the uses of certain ad valorem taxes levied by a school district for operations. It passed 57-34.

-CCR for SB 650, by Sen. Wayne Shaw and Rep. Ben Loring, modifies availability for persons authorized to file a motion for expungement by minimizing time limits for those convicted of a nonviolent felony offense from in the last 15 years to seven. It allows the petition to be made five years after the felony conviction has passed. It modifies the time period for those convicted of violent crimes from 20 years to 10 years after the conviction has passed. The CCR was adopted and the bill passed 60-28.

-CCR for SB 786, by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Ben Loring, provides that every person who breaks and enters on any commercial or residential property or any room, booth, tent, railroad car, automobile, truck, trailer, outbuilding or vessel of another, in which any property is kept, with intent to steal any property therein or to commit any felony, is guilty of burglary in the third degree. The bill establishes a penalty for burglary in the third degree. The CCR was adopted and the bill passed 56-33.

-CCR for SB 793, by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Chris Kannady, modifies prison sentences for transporting or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule 1 or II controlled dangerous substance, except marijuana; for transporting or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule III, IV or V controlled dangerous substance or marijuana; for an imitation controlled substance; for manufacture or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance; for using or soliciting the use of services of a person less than 18 years of age to distribute, dispense, transport with intent to distribute or dispense or cultivate a controlled dangerous substance or by distributing a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 18 years of age; and for transporting with intent to distribute or dispense, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance to a person in, on, or within 2,000 feet of the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, public vocational school, public or private college or university, or other institution of higher education, recreation center or public park, including state parks and recreation areas, public housing project, or child care facility. The bill modifies references to cocaine. The bill modifies language and punishments related to trafficking. It removes the requirement that someone convicted of transporting a Schedule V controlled dangerous substance be guilty of a felony and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not more than five years and a fine of not more than $1,000. The CCR was adopted and it passed 67-20.

-SB 953, by Sen. A J Griffin and Rep. Kevin Wallace, reduces the number of years unused tax credits in the program can be carried forward to three years from five years beginning Jan. 1, 2019. It passed 95-2.

-SB 1043, by Sen. Paul Rosino and Rep. Lewis Moore, modifies the fee county clerks may charge for records. The bill eliminates the term "reasonable fee." The bill provides county clerks in counties with a population of less than 750,000 may charge a fee not to exceed $0.25 per image or $0.15 per image for providing more than 3,000 images in electronic format. The bill provides county clerks in counties with populations more than 750,000 may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $0.25 per image or $25 per gigabyte for providing more than 100 megabytes of records in an electronic format. It passed 91-5.

-SB 1190, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski and Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, removes language related to the purpose of the Reading Sufficiency Act and language regarding recognition of certain schools. It requires the State Board of Education ensure that, at a minimum, students are able to meet the following criteria: read and comprehend grade level text and identify main ideas and key details and directs the board to only use the scores based on the standards for reading foundations/processes and vocabulary portions of the statewide third-grade assessment administered and prohibits the use of scores from the other language arts portions of the assessment. The bill and the emergency clause passed 88-1. Casey gave notice that he may eventually want to reconsider the vote.

-HB 3113, by Rep. Eric Proctor, creates two new individual income tax brackets for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. The bill sets the top income for the 5 percent bracket for single individuals and married filing separately at the next $92,800 over $7,200. It creates a 6 percent bracket for those individuals on the next $150,000 or part thereof. It creates a 7 percent bracket for those individuals on the remaining income. The bill sets the top income for the 5 percent bracket for married individuals filing jointly, surviving spouses permitted to file as married under the IRS Code and heads of households at the next $187,800 over $12,200. It creates a 6 percent bracket for those individuals on the next $200,000 or part thereof. It creates a 7 percent bracket for those individuals on the remaining income. The bill, without any amendments, passed on a vote of 78-14.

-SB 1103, by Sen. Ervin Yen and Rep. Marcus McEntire, requires all health benefit plants to include coverage for a law-dose mammography screening and defines related terms. It passed 83-4.

-CCR to HB1925, by Rep. Chris Kannady and Sen. Nathan Dahm, modifies the boundaries of Oklahoma Supreme Court and Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals judicial districts effective November 1, 2017. It requires the new arrangement for the Oklahoma Supreme Court include one justice from each of the five congressional districts as they exist on November 1, 2017 and four justices selected at large. It requires one justice for the Court of Criminal Appeals be selected from each of the five congressional districts used to select Supreme Court justices. The CCR was adopted and the bill passed fourth reading on a vote of 59-32.

-CCR to SB 649, by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Terry O'Donnell, provides that a previous conviction for possession of a controlled dangerous substance or the equivalent law for possession of a controlled dangerous substance from any other jurisdiction may not be used to enhance punishment under the second and subsequent offenses statute. It removes petit larceny offenses from being used for enhancement. It authorizes any person who has a previous felony conviction for a crime listed in Section 571 of Title 57 who commits one of the crimes to be punished by a term of not more than twice the maximum sentence that could have been imposed for a first conviction of the current offense. The CCR was adopted and the bill passed fourth reading on a vote of 84-9.

-SB 1464, by Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Tim Downing, modifies the Post-Conviction Procedure Act by providing that evidence used to seek post-conviction relief may include forensic scientific evidence that was not available to be offered by a defendant at trial or that disputes forensic scientific evidence relied on by the state at trial. It passed 92-0.

-SB 1581, by Sen. Kay Floyd and Rep. Leslie Osborn, as amended and with title restored, creates the Leave of Last Resort Bank to be administered by the Human Capital Management Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It requires the division to designate an employee to serve as the shared leave liaison to coordinate with state agencies and employees wishing to utilize the leave bank. It requires the leave bank be funded by voluntary donations of annual and sick leave from employees retiring from or leaving state service. It passed 92-0.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Senate met Wednesday and approved several measures, including the following: -FS for HB 1568, with title restored, by Rep. Jon Echols and Sen. Roger Thompson, requires the Department of Commerce to establish a program that allows existing tax credits to be repurchased from owners of the outstanding credits to reduce the debt burden to the state.
It allows the Department to under into agreements for the purchase of tax credits. It allows tax credits owned by a taxpayer company to be repurchased by the state if said agreement is in the best interest of the state. It requires the Department to require the agreement be beneficial to the interested of Oklahoma and its citizens. It requires no agreement be finalized unless the estimated direct state benefits resulting from the agreement exceed the estimated direct state costs. It requires notification of the Tax Commission of such an agreement. It prescribes required information regarding purchased tax credits. It authorizes the return of funds. It provides for annual disclosure. It provides for the computation of amount based on terms of such an agreement. Passed 29-12. The bill now returns to the House for consideration of the Senate amendments.

-HB 2009, by Rep. Michael Rogers and Sen. Jason Smalley, requires the State Department of Education to annually publish on its website within one click of the homepage a report that lists all increases in wages, salaries, rates of pay or fringe benefits, and any changes to job class, excluding changes that did not result in an increase in pay beginning with the 2018-19 school year. It requires the Department to publish the information within 60 days following the submission of personnel reports certified on October 15 and July 15. The bill and its emergency clause passed 39-1.

-HB 2308, with title restored, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, authorizes the Insurance Commission to relocate the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Oklahoma City offices to a single site in Oklahoma County, including but not limited to a tract of land located along the Lincoln Boulevard Corridor owned by the Commissioners of the Land Office of the State of Oklahoma. It requires the new office location to consist of sufficient square footage to accommodate staff offices, program areas, staff conference areas, records and computer areas, general storage areas, security equipment storage areas, main room, reception area and other necessary areas for operation of the department. It authorizes the commission to purchase a building for no more than appraised value or to enter into a lease purchase agreement. It exempts the purchase or build-out from the Public Competitive Building Act of 1974, provided no funds used for the purchase or build-out come from the General Revenue Fund, and the expenditure of all funds is overseen and approved by both the Oklahoma Insurance Department and the Commissioners of the Land Office. The bill passed 38-3.

-HB 3117, with title restored, by Rep. Carl Newton and Sen. Stephanie Bice, clarifies it is the responsible of the State Board of Education to notify local school districts boards of education that a member has not completed certain instructional or continuing education requirements. It modifies the time period to two years during which a person disqualified from serving on a local school district board of education for failing to meet the instructional or continuing education requirements. The bill modifies notification and appeal procedures for failure to attend continuing education. The bill grants a member that has been notified of failure to meet the continuing education requirements 10 days after receipt of the notice to file a written appeal with the State Board of Education requesting a hearing to show why the member should not be found in violation of the requirements. The bill passed 40-0.

-HB 3284, by Rep. Chris Kannady and Sen. Jason Smalley, changes the remittance conditions as it relates to bond and security filing fees from when an individual is sentenced to when an individual is booked into jail. The bill passed 40-0.

-HB 3309, with title restored, by Rep. Rhonda Baker and Sen. Stephanie Bice, requires the State Department of Education to administer an induction program for teachers to provide support, mentorship and coaching to educators at the beginning of their careers or as they transition to new roles within a school or district. It defines applicable terms and establishes induction program guidelines. The bill passed 40-0.

-FS for HB 3439, with title and enacting clause restored, by Rep. Carol Bush and Sen. Wayne Shaw, permits the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Services Division approve the use of Rapid DNA systems by the Department of Corrections, a county sheriff's office or a law enforcement agency for the analysis of known DNA samples collected upon arrest or conviction, once the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has approved these systems for use with CODIS and issued quality assurance standards and written procedures governing the use of Rapid DNA Systems by law enforcement booking stations. It establishes requirements for approval. The bill establishes requirements for submitting a DNA sample. The bill establishes a $150 fee. It requires any funds collected be used to pay for expenses incurred to perform Rapid DNA analysis of arrestee or offender samples.

-SB 932, by Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Tommy Hardin, permits any Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs employee to be granted administrative leave with pay for volunteer service activities under such terms and limitations as the Executive Director may establish, in service to veterans or dependents of veterans in the state that meet one or more of the following criteria: The activity is directly related to the Department's mission; the activity is sponsored or sanctioned by or in partnership with the Department; or the activity will enhance the development or skills of the employee in his or her current position. It requires the leave be as brief as permitted under the circumstances and not support an activity otherwise prohibited by law while in a duty status. The bill requires the agency's executive director to establish guidelines for approval of administrative leave for volunteer service which balances the department's goals and operations and ensures that each is conducted efficiently and effectively. The bill passed 41-0.

-SB 1346, by Sen. Paul Scott and Rep. Rande Worthen, requires court clerks to enter a conviction upon the minutes of a case, stating briefly the offense for which the conviction has been had, and to immediately annex together and file the following papers, which constitute a record of the action: the indictment and a copy of the minutes of the plea or demurrer; a copy of the minutes of the trial; the charges given or refused, and the endorsements, if any; and a copy of the judgment, including a notation of the date of birth of the defendant and the last four digits of the Social Security number of the defendant. It also requires the judgment contain the statutory reference to the felony crime the defendant was convicted of and the date of the offense. The bill requires the date of birth only be released to entities or persons that comply with the provisions of the bill. It requires the court to make date of birth records accessible to any entity or person that makes application to the Supreme Court and demonstrates a legitimate need for the records; newspapers; and members of the Oklahoma Bar Association. It requires the Supreme Court to develop an online registration and access portal to allow approved entities and persons to access the records. It permits the Supreme Court to establish an annual fee not to exceed $1,500 to access the records. It permits the court to promulgate necessary rules. The bill passed 34-4. The emergency clause failed 24-14.

-SB 1446, by Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Dale Derby, requires the Board of Medical Licensure to require a licensee receive not less than one hour of education in pain management or opioid use and addiction each year preceding an application for renewal of a license, unless the licensee has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that the licensee does not currently hold a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number. It modifies the definition of "unprofessional conduct" by including the prescribing, dispensing or administering opioid drugs in excess of the authorized maximum dosages. It adds various definitions as used in the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act relating to the prescribing of opioids. It requires that the failure of a registrant to access and check the central repository is grounds for disciplinary action. It allows Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs to make unsolicited notifications to the licensing boards of a pharmacist or practitioner. It restricts initial prescriptions for opioids to a seven-day supply. It requires a review of the course of treatment for any patient who is continuously prescribed an opioid or other Schedule II controlled substance for three months. It requires the Insurance Department to evaluate the effect of the limits on prescriptions of opioid medication on claims paid by health insurance carriers. The bill passed 41-1.

• SJR 66, by Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Mark Lepak, proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that would require the candidates for Governor and for Lt. Governor to run on a ticket beginning in 2026. The procedure for the joint nomination and election of candidates for those offices would be set by law. The resolution passed 34-9. The measure will go to the Secretary of State's Office for placement on the November general election ballot.

After nearly an hour and a half of questions and debate, the Senate approved the state's fiscal year 2019 general appropriations bill Wednesday, the largest in the history of the state.

-SB 1600, by Sen. Eddie Fields, Sen. Kim David, Rep. Dennis Ray Casey and Rep. Kevin Wallace, makes general appropriations for the expenses of various agencies of the executive, legislative and judicial departments. It repeals HB3705, which appropriated funds to the State Department of Education. It repeals a portion of HB1022XX, which appropriated funds to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for the state's graduate medical schools. The bill appropriates $7.67 billion, with approximately $745 million more than was appropriated for FY2018, the current fiscal year. The budget does not include any cuts to state agency appropriations. The bill passed 36-8 and now goes to the House where it was expected to be considered Friday.

The House considered many measures on Wednesday, approving several, including the following: -SB 888, by Sen. Josh Brecheen and Rep. Jeff Coody, eliminates the refundability of the zero-emission tax credit for wind energy. The measure passed 51-46.

-SB 1212, by Sen. Nathan Dahm and Rep. Sean Roberts, makes it unlawful to carry a firearm into a wildlife refuge or wildlife management area. The bill was amended by Coody and questions on the amendment, which implemented constitutional carry in Oklahoma, took about an hour. The bill passed 59-28.

-SB 1267, by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Kevin Calvey, creates the Defunding Human Trafficking Act. The bill defines applicable terms. The prohibits a provider from being eligible for reimbursement through Medicaid or any other federal or state program, directly or by subcontract with any other party, if that provider, or any affiliate of that provider, has been found by a court of law, either civilly or criminally to have violated 42 U.S.C., Section 289g-2 (2010) or any other federal or state law prohibiting trafficking in fetal body parts. It provides any provider found to be ineligible for reimbursement will be able to reapply after a period of five years and a showing that they and their affiliates no longer participate in the trafficking of fetal body parts. It requires the Oklahoma Health Authority to publish findings of its investigation of a complaint and issue a determination of whether a provider has committed a violation of the provisions therein within 60 calendar days of receipt of a complaint of a violation. The bill passed 77-12.

-SB 86, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. George Faught, requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to conduct an economic impact study on the affected municipalities for all new construction of state highways that have a primary purpose of bypassing municipalities. It also requires the study be conducted in addition to any study required by state or federal law. It requires, upon completion of the study, the impact be delivered to the governing bodies of the municipalities. It permits bypass projects to be added to the department's Eight-Year Construction Work Plan only upon a written official letter of support formally approved by the municipal governing body from the majority of the affected municipalities. The bill passed 62-27 and the emergency passed 68-19.

-SB 893, by Sen. Marty Quinn and Rep. Todd Thomsen, removes the sunset date for the $25 million annual cap on the credits for investment or job creation. It passed 66-26.

-SB 980, by Sen. A J Griffin and Rep. Rhonda Baker, creates an initial teaching certificate, a career teaching certificate, a mentor teaching certificate and a lead teaching certificate. It establishes qualifications for each type of teaching certificate. The bill requires the terms of the contracts issued to mentor teaching certificate candidates to include the following: "Mentor: an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership. A mentor teacher shall receive an annual salary supplement of at least Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.14 of this title." It requires the terms of the contracts issued to lead teaching certificate candidates to include the following: "Lead: an additional fifteen (15) days to be used to strengthen leadership. A lead teacher shall receive an annual salary supplement of at least Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) in addition to the salary for which the teacher qualifies pursuant to Section 18-114.14 of this title." It passed 57-30.
? Gov. Mary Fallin signed numerous bills on Wednesday, including the following: -HB 2825, by Rep. Scott McEachin and Sen. Nathan Dahm, directs the Department of Human Services to continue to explore and expand opportunities for the state to pursue agreements with additional service providers including but not limited to community colleges, technology centers and community resources in order to provide direct referral and link recipients with career and technology education and training programs. It is part of a suite of bills related to employment, training, and education client engagement for recipients of public assistance programs, according to Fallin's office. HB2825 takes effect Nov. 1.

-HB 1155, by Rep. Charles McCall and Sen. Greg Treat, requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to file a quarterly report with the Offices of the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives listing, by agency, all increases in wages or changes in title or classification of each employee. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-HB 3042, by Rep. Chris Kannady and Sen. Frank Simpson, allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and construct a long-term care facility for the purpose of assuming the operations of the Oklahoma Veterans Center established in Talihina. The bill takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

-HB 3129, by Rep. Dustin Roberts and Sen. Casey Murdock, expands specified county operation procedure requirements to road and bridge construction services. It increases the amount subject to specified purchase procedures. It specifies counties ability to provide certain bids to road and bridge projects and contracts. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-HB 3131, by Rep. Greg Babinec, Sen. Casey Murdock and Sen. Larry Boggs, changes the requirement that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's vehicles be black and white to the option of black or white squad cars. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-HB 3318, by Rep. Scott Fetgatter and Sen. Stephanie Bice, allows for the sale of any equipment by the board of county commissioners to sell real property, upon majority vote, without any bidding procedure or auction, directly to any person or entity for an amount that is less than market value of the property if there are no bids submitted. It requires that if no bids are submitted or all bids are less than the market value of the real property after 15 days from the date of the second publication of notice of sale, a board of county commissioners have the right to sell real property, upon majority vote, without bidding procedure or auction directly to any person or entity for an amount that is not less than the highest bid previously submitted through any previous bidding procedures provided therein. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-SB 1044, by Sen. Jack Fry and Rep. Scott Fetgatter, adds road and bridge construction services to the procedure for requisition, purchase, lease-purchase, and rental-supplies, material, and equipment for maintenance, operation, and capital expenditures of county government. The bill provides that its provisions do not prohibit counties from providing material and/or services bid on their 12-month bid list to all road and bridge projects and contracts. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-SB 1066, by Sen. A J Griffin and Rep. Mark Lawson, permits a court to order a 180-day extension of the delinquency adjudication proceedings deferral period if the court determines that the child has made satisfactory progress and that such extension is necessary to accomplish treatment goals and objectives. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-SB 1151, by Sen. James Leewright and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, allows a lender to contract for and receive a convenience fee from any borrower making payment by debit card, electronic funds transfer, electronic check or other electronic means in order to offset actual costs incurred by a lender for accepting and processing payments made by electronic means. It prohibits any convenience fee collected by a lender pursuant therein from exceeding the actual costs incurred by the lender. It allows a lender to impose a convenience fee in lieu of the actual cost incurred for the various types of electronic payments for which the lender imposes the fee. It provides for computing an average cost. It provides for notification of the customer in relation to the amount prior to the completion of a transaction. It prohibits refunds when a borrower elects to make a payment to the lender by any of the aforementioned means. It defines terms used therein. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

-SB 1537, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Chris Kannady, removes the requirement for a Direct Wine Consumer's Permit and eliminates language related to the shipment of wine. The bill takes effect Nov. 1.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Senate members met on Thursday and approved many bills, including the following measures:
-FS for HB 2177, by Rep. John R. Bennett and Sen. Joseph Silk, states the 10 Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the Great State of Oklahoma, and other such historically significant documents are recognized throughout the world and should be displayed proudly and resolutely in public buildings and on public grounds. The bill authorizes every county, municipality, city, town, school or any other political subdivision to display in its public buildings and on its grounds, replicas of historical documents including but not limited to the 10 Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Oklahoma Constitution and other historically significant documents in the form of statues, monuments, memorials, tablets or any other display that respects the dignity and solemnity of such documents. It requires the documents be displayed in a manner consistent with the context of other documents contained in such display. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display in the event that the legality or constitutionality of any such display is challenged in a court of law.

-HB 3526, by Rep. John Jordan and Sen. Nathan Dahm, extends the sunset date for the State Board of Licensed Social Workers until 2019. It excludes education or training to make certain abortion-related referrals from the definition of the term "continuing education." The bill passed 29-12.

-HB 2993, with title restored, by Rep. Marcus McEntire and Sen. Anthony Sykes, authorizes the use of specified funds as credit against assessments of the Self-insurance Guaranty Fund and impaired self-insurers. It modifies the sources for the Fund. It provides for the transfer of specified excess proceeds to the Fund and authorizes use as a credit against assessments for the Fund. The bill passed 41-0.

-HB 3306, by Rep. Harold Wright and Sen. Eddie Fields, prohibits semitrailers, trailers and truck-tractors from driving in the left-hand lane of a roadway that is divided into three or more lanes unless preparing for a left turn at an intersection. It requires official signs to be erected on the highway system where applicable. The bill passed 39-12.

-HB 3370, with title restored, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Casey Murdock, modifies monetary penalties for willfully entering the private land of another that is primarily devoted to farming, ranching or forestry purposes without permission by the owner from any sum not less than $500 to not less than $1,000. The bill passed 39-0.

-HB 3587, by Rep. Charles McCall and Sen. Mike Schulz, authorizes the governor to have the power to remove any gubernatorial appointments on any agency, board or commission at any time, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in addition to any appointments created by expiring terms or vacancies provided by law. It exempts appoints provided for in the Constitution and requires a vacancy created to be filled as provided by law. It adds that if a gubernatorial appointment requires confirmation by the Senate, removal of the appointee would also require confirmation by the Senate. It provides that if the Governor removes such an appointee when the Legislature is not in session, such appointee may continue to serve pending confirmation by the Senate of the action to remove the appointee. The bill grants those same powers to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Temp for their respective appointments. The bill passed 27-13

-HB 3603, with title restored, by Rep. Mark Lepak and Sen. Greg Treat, designates the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission as an advisory body to the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. It transfers all duties and powers of the Commission to the Executive Director. It modifies the duties and responsibilities of the Commission. It transfers the appointment authority for the Executive Director position from the Commission to the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. It requires the Executive Director serve at the pleasure of the Governor and can be removed or replaced without cause. It provides for the determination of compensation. The bill passed 32-6.

FS for HB 2177, with title restored, by Rep. John R. Bennett and Sen. Joseph Silk, states the 10 Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the Great State of Oklahoma, and other such historically significant documents are recognized throughout the World and should be displayed proudly and resolutely in public buildings and on public grounds. The bill authorizes every county, municipality, city, town, school or any other political subdivision to display in its public buildings and on its grounds, replicas of historical documents including but not limited to the 10 Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Oklahoma Constitution and other historically significant documents in the form of statues, monuments, memorials, tablets or any other display that respects the dignity and solemnity of such documents. It requires the documents be displayed in a manner consistent with the context of other documents contained in such display. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to prepare and present a legal defense of the display in the event that the legality or constitutionality of any such display is challenged in a court of law. The bill passed 39-3.

-FS for HB 2882, by Rep. Josh West and Sen. Jason Smalley, authorizes any State Board of Career and Technology Education technology center and any higher education institution to, upon application and approval of the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET), offer courses of study for law enforcement certification, basic peace officer certification academies and other law-enforcement-related training. It requires the courses or training offered to meet minimum standards established for peace officers and to meet all applicable eligibility requirements for students to receive benefits under the federal G.I. bills. The bill requires all participants in any courses or training offered be required to have submit to all background investigation requirements required by law. It authorizes technology centers and higher education institutions to set and administer their own rates for tuition and fees for courses or training offered. It establishes confidentiality requirements for information provided by CLEET to the institutions. The bill authorizes CLEET to conduct basic peace officer certification academies and other law-enforcement-related training for individuals who are neither commissioned nor appointed by a law enforcement agency under rules established by CLEET. It permits CLEET to set the tuition or fees for attending the basic peace officer certification academy and other law-enforcement-related training. It requires the tuition or fees be deposited into the Peace Officer Revolving Fund. The bill passed 39-1 with its title restored.

-HB 2795, with title restored, by Rep. Tim Downing and Sen. A J Griffin, directs medical facilities that prescribe, distribute, manufacture, dispense or administer controlled dangerous substances register with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control annually and pay a registration fee. The bill passed 39-1.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget met on Friday morning, hearing sixteen bills before members headed back to their districts for the weekend. The following measures were approved in JCAB: -SB 1583, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, modifies the criteria for deposits to be made to the Revenue Stabilization Fund. The measure increases, from $5.730 billion to $6.600 billion, the minimum amount that must be certified by the State Board of Equalization as having been deposited in the General Revenue Fund for deposits to the Revenue Stabilization Fund to be initiated. Approved 33-0.

-SB 1584, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, authorizes the Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority to issue new bonds and borrow money on the credit of income and revenue from land and property leases to generate up to $5,116,000 for pay for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of flood control dams. The measure provides that debt retirement payments are to be made by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and title to real property and improvements are to be transferred from the OICA to the commission upon final redemption of any bonds issued to finance the project. Approved 30-3.

-SB 1591, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, provides for supplemental reimbursements for eligible ground emergency medical transportation services to the extent provided by law. To be eligible, the provider must provide emergency transportation services to Medicaid beneficiaries, be enrolled as a Medicaid provider for the period being claimed and be owned or operated by the state, a political subdivision or local government, that employs or contracts with persons who are licensed to provide emergency medical services in the state and includes private entities to the extent permissible by federal law. Passed 31-3. -SB 1594, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, provides for recodification of certain statutes to ensure accuracy of the exhibits citing references related to the Master Settlement Agreement on tobacco, an agreement from which the state receives annual payments for deposit into the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (TSET), with amounts also deposited with the Attorney General and the Tobacco Settlement Fund for allocation to the Health Care Authority. Passed 32-0.

-SB 1602, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, reauthorizes the transfer of $5 million from Oklahoma Court Information System Revolving Fund to the District Court Interagency at the request of the Administrative Director of the Courts.. Passed 33-0.

-SB 1604, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, directs certain expenditures and requires certain budget procedures in regards to CareerTech. Passed 33-0.

-SB 1605, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, through agency administration savings and efficiencies to increase the current reimbursement rates for Sooner Care-contracted long-term care facilities by three percent and for all remaining Sooner Care-contracted provider types/ groups by two percent (with CMS approval) with the following exemptions: services financed through appropriations to other state agencies, durable medical equipment prosthetics, Orthotics and supplies, non-emergency transportation, services provided to Insure Oklahoma members, payments for drug ingredients/ physicians supplied drugs, Indian Health Services/ Indian/Urban Clinics, FQHCs, Program for the All-inclusive Care for the Elderly and rural health centers. All rate increases must be in compliance with state and federal law as well as state cost reimbursement methodologies. Passed 32-1.

-SB 1606, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace , requires that the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) use from the appropriated funds, $3,400,991 for the Rural Fire Operational Assistance Grants; $325,000 for the 80/20 Reimbursable Grant Program; and $343,325 be used for the “Made in Oklahoma” program. Passed 30-3.

-SB 1607, by Sen. Kim David and Rep. Kevin Wallace, directs the Department of Commerce to spend $445,000 of their appropriated funds on the implementation of the Aerospace Commerce Economic Services Act. The measure also requires the department to transfer $140,742 of appropriated funds to the Seminole State College Rural Business and Resource Center. Passed 30-4.

-HB 3706, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, directs the Department of Corrections to utilize adequate amounts of its appropriated funds to maintain a per diem rate of not less than $43.30 for private prison medium security beds. Pass 34-0.

-HB 3707, By Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to utilize $2M of their FY-19 budget toward the restoration of psychiatric inpatient, substance abuse residential, psychologist and agency-based therapy provider rates. The measure also directs the agency to use $4M toward offender needs assessments and prioritizes the use of increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) dollars. Passed 34-0.

-HB 3708, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, directs the Department of Human Services to utilize portions of their appropriation toward certain purposes and prioritizes the use of increased FMAP dollars; respite care and CAMA allocations. Passed 34-0.

-HB 3709, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, directs the Attorney General to transfer up to $100,000 from the Evidence Fund to the Legal Services Revolving Fund for domestic violence programs. Passed 33-0.

-HB 3712 By Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, modifies the apportionment of sales tax revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. Passed 31-2.

-HB 3716, by Rep. Kevin Wallace and Sen. Kim David, provides that credits generated, but not used, on or after January 1, 2019 may be carried forward as a credit against subsequent income tax liability for up to 20 years. For credits generated, but not used, on or after January 1, 2017 and prior to January 1, 2019, taxpayers can receive a refund of accrued credits at 85 percent of the credit value or also carry forward the credit for up to 20 years. Passed 21-14.

During its Friday floor session, the Oklahoma Senate recognized and honored the OG&E and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) workers who traveled to Puerto Rico to help restore power to the island nation after Hurricane Maria.

The House met Friday and approved SB1600, by Sen. Eddie Fields, Sen. Kim David, Rep. Dennis Ray Casey and Rep. Kevin Wallace. The measure makes general appropriations for the expenses of various agencies of the executive, legislative and judicial departments. It repeals HB 3705, which appropriated funds to the State Department of Education. It repeals a portion of HB 1022XX, which appropriated funds to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for the state's graduate medical schools. The bill appropriates $7.67 billion, with approximately $745 million more than was appropriated for FY2018, the current fiscal year. The budget does not include any cuts to state agency appropriations. The bill passed 63-31.