Monday, Feb. 13 to Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012

Monday, February 13

• With attention focused on committee work, the Senate approved no legislation on Monday.

• Senate committees approved the following measures Monday:

-SB 1471 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, would require the Oklahoma Tax Commission to provide an electronic format to the Department of Human Services including information and amount withheld for child support.

-SB 1073 by Sen. Don Barrington, requires recipients of TANF benefits to submit to drug testing.

-SB 1398 by Sen. Sean Burrage, would direct the Department of Human Services to privatize community-based out-of-home placement.

-SB 1417 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, provides for an advisory committee to the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.

-SB 1399 by Sen. Jim Wilson, states that the Department of Health shall establish and maintain a statewide voluntary emergency transportation and care membership program and collect fees.

-SB 1582 by Sen. Rob Johnson, gives the executive director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs the authority to appoint campus police.

-SB 1280 by Sen. Mike Schulz, establishes the “Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program Act”.

-SB 1386 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows the Attorney General to pursue suspected cases of Medicaid fraud.

-SB 1387 by Sen. Brian Crain, transfers the powers and duties of the Physician Manpower Training Commission to the State Department of Health.

-SB 1389 by Sen. Brian Crain, directs the Department of Human Services to evaluate persons enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid and help those eligible for Medicare to enroll in the program.

-SB 1390 by Sen. Brian Crain, requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to create a plan to reduce unneeded emergency visits from Medicaid patients.

-SB 1397 by Sen. Brian Crain, states that the Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall create a sliding scale for premium assistance where assistance provided is reduced as an employee’s salary is increased.

-SB 1066 by Sen. Don Barrington, expands murder in the first degree to include use of a synthetic controlled substance or manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance.

-SB 1517 by Sen. Rob Johnson, establishes the “Oklahoma Public and Private Facilities Infrastructure Act” which is responsible for improving the state’s public infrastructure through investments by private entities and facilitating bond financing.

-SB 1323 by Sen. David Holt, modifies the location of certain dog kennels within five hundred feet of a public or private school or day care.

-SB 1031 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, removes exclusion of the construction of municipal streets from computation of mileage for the purpose of state tax revenues.

-SB 1075 by Sen. Don Barrington, increase the population of a municipality to 10,000 for the exemption under competitive bidding.

-SB 1131 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, updates language regarding county assessors in Oklahoma.

-SB 1480 by Sen. Kim David, makes the appointment of a county electrical inspector optional.

-SB 1287 by Sen. Jim Halligan, removes the residency requirement for Library boards.

-SB 1000 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, removes requirements for counties to be contiguous for purchasing agreements.

-SB 1056 by Sen. Frank Simpson, would allow tuition to pay for certifications obtained by students at technology centers.

-SB 1111 by Sen. Eddie Fields, would create a University Center in Ponca City and a Board of Trustees to oversee administration.

-SB 1182 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, allows technology center school districts to use funds for additional uses.

-SB 1381 by Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre, requires instruction in public schools about the Tulsa Race Riots.

-SB 1421 by Sen. Constance Johnson, allows school districts that provide grades 7 through 12 education to incorporate dating violence information into age-appropriate health curriculum.

-SB 1565 by Sen. Susan Paddack, establishes a comprehensive dyslexia teacher training pilot program.

-SB 1380 by Sen. Thomas Ivester, states that students with parents who died during their eleventh or twelfth grade year are eligible for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.

-SB 1624 by Sen. John Sparks, modifies the definition of resident status relating to in-state tuition rates.

-SB 1228 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, eliminates the requirement for electronic student transfer for students desiring to transfer to another school district for enrollment in an online course.

-SB 1817 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, creates the Task Force on Creating Administrative Efficiencies.

-SB 1716 by Sen. John Sparks, states that knowingly damaging a fence used for animals or livestock in such a way that there is loss or damage to property is punishable by felony.

-SB 1518 by Sen. Eddie Fields, allows persons with the proper USDA certification to import live feral swine into Oklahoma provided the swine are going directly to a slaughter facility in a sealed trailer.

-SB 1940 by Sen. Eddie Fields, changes the meeting requirement for the State Board of Agriculture from at least once per month to at least eight times per year.

• The House met Monday but considered no legislation.

• House committees approved numerous measures this week, including the following:

-HB 2437 by Rep. Josh Cockroft, would impose the ban on rapists loitering near schools, child care centers, playgrounds or parks to include anyone convicted of molesting a child younger than 18.

-HB 2988 by Rep. Mike Ritze, adds places of worship to the list of areas which citizens of Oklahoma are allowed to use physical or deadly force against intruders.

-HB 2945 by Rep. David Derby, increases property value required for ten day notification of sale to $500.

-HB 3009 by Rep. Randy Terrill, expands the scope of murder in the first degree to include the intentional death of a corrections employee while the employee is performing official duties.

-HB 2521 by Rep. Sally Kern, amends the Volunteer Professional Services Immunity Act.

-HB 2518 by Rep. Sally Kern, modifies definitions regarding human trafficking.

-HB 2396 by Rep. Wade Rousselot, increases the fixed period of protective orders to five years.

-HB 2568 by Rep. Harold Wright, changes specific names inside of bill and increases maximum years served for accidents causing bodily injury.

-HB 2580 by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, would allow grandparents to file a petition for a person requiring treatment.

-HB 2253 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, allows courts to issue written orders to the Dept. of Public Safety regarding the driving privileges of persons serving community sentencing.

-HB 2350 by Rep. Wes Hilliard, authorizes the board of county commissioners to file actions against persons or entities causing damage to county roads.

-HB 2302 by Rep. Wes Hilliard, broadens the definition of kidnapping to include decoys, abductions or being carried away.

-HB 2252 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, removes considerations for lack of conviction for other felonies or misdemeanors under qualifications for criminal arrest record expungement.

-HB 2257 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, defines a trustee advisor as the person appointed by the terms of the trust installment to act as advisor to the trustee in matters relating to the trust’s property.

-HB 2636 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, allows drug court judges to enter an order to restore a Class D license if an offender has finished a drug court program.

-HB 2750 by Rep. Ron Kirby, extends the authority of a superintendent or principal to order any person off school property to include the removal of a person attending an official school activity or field trip.

-HB 2278 by Rep. Randy Grau, allows for a person not eligible for pretrial release to be released under his or her participation in urinalysis testing.

-HB 2484 by Rep. Randy Grau, amends the time period of revocation hearings for suspended sentences.

-HB 2656 by Rep. Fred Jordan, broadens the definition of an “electronic signature”.

-HB 2655 by Rep. Fred Jordan, allows a digitized image or electronic copy of an original or certified copy of an original instrument or document to satisfy the requirements for original documents when being recorded by the county clerk.

-HB 2401 by Rep. Wade Rousselot, states that district courts with jurisdiction to issue orders granting grandparental visitation rights shall be able to order initial mediation upon the filing of a verified petition.

-HB 2887 by Rep. Anastasia Pittman, requires that the Department of Human Services place a child belonging to an ethnic minority with a foster family of the same background if possible.

-HB 2368 by Rep. Dale DeWitt, increases the total outside width of round baled hay allowable during transport to eleven and eight inches.

-HB 3047 by Rep. Mike Ritze, states that if a municipality has a population of 200,000 persons or less and sells permits for display and use of fireworks they cannot prohibit the sale of fireworks.

-HB 2431 by Rep. Paul Roan, clarifies language regarding the OSBI’s ownership and operation of an aircraft on project or mission basis.

-HB 2562 by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, states that fines for physically disabled parking shall not exceed $500 and 20 percent of the fine will be paid to the Department of Public Safety.

-HB 2652 by Rep. Lee Denney, creates the Oklahoma Innocence Collaboration Act.

-HB 3076 by Rep. Joe Dorman, requires the Board of Education to request national background checks for any prospective volunteer.

-HB 2478 by Rep. Seneca Scott, allows the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to establish law enforcement behavioral health emergency dispatch systems.

-HB 2946 by Rep. David Derby, creates the Oklahoma Improvement in Maintenance Medications Act of 2012.

-HB 2756 by Rep. Jerry McPeak, allows for operators of commercial injection or disposal well or land application site to collect an additional fee on any deleterious substance that originated in another state.

-HB 3077 by Rep. Joe Dorman, allows members of the military to be eligible for in-state status for an institution in the state system of higher education or technology center schools.

-HB 3090 by Rep. Jason Nelson, states that the amount of Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships shall be prorated to reflect the number of days remaining in the current school year.

-HB 3112 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, states that funds allowed to eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program students cannot be used for remedial non-credit earning courses.

-HB 2641 by Rep. Lee Denney, creates the 21st Century Successful Living Act.

Tuesday, February 14

• The Senate considered no legislation on Tuesday.

• Senate committees approved the following bills on Tuesday:

-SB 1312 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, requires any person who witnesses sexual conduct between an adult and a child under age 14 to report the incident to the county or municipal law enforcement where the conduct was witnessed.

-SB 1714 by Sen. John Ford, provides that if the Tax Commission determines that the total combined credits claimed for contributions made under the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act to scholarship granting organizations before Jan. 1, 2013, are in excess of $1.75 million that the commission will determine the percentage of the contribution which establishes the proportionate share of the credit that may be claimed by taxpayers.

-SB 1355 by Sen. Sean Burrage, prohibits any person registered as a sex offender of any level from being removed from the Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry without a court order.

-SB 1115 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows a court to stay the due date for payment of forfeiture of a bail bond.

-SB 1199 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, requires that interest accrue on all child support and other support orders.

-SB 1304 by Sen. Brian Crain, repeals language related to the relationship of a court-appointed fiduciary and attorney-in-fact.

-SB 1313 by Sen. Brian Crain, requires that acceptance or refusal of service of a copy of process or other papers by a person who is 15 years of age or older who resides at the defendant’s dwelling house or usual place of abode to constitute acceptance or refusal by the party addressed.

-SB 1314 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows a party to have his or her attorney present to counsel and render advice during deposition, provided opposing counsel may object to excessive use of such counsel and advice.

-SB 1504 by Sen. Rob Johnson, requires a court to issue an order on the request of the claimant authorizing the release of confidential employment information maintained by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to the extent necessary for the collection of the judgment by the claimant.

-SB 1508 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, clarifies language related to expenditures from the Court Clerk’s Revolving Fund.

-SB 1523 by Sen. Rob Johnson, clarifies the requirement for every domestic limited liability company and every foreign limited liability company registered to do business in Oklahoma to pay an annual certificate fee of $25 to the Secretary of State.

-SB 1543 by Sen. Rob Johnson, modifies statutory references to robbery with a dangerous weapon.

-SB 1694 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, modifies the definition of “claim” under the Oklahoma Medicaid False Claims Act to exclude requests or demands for money or property that the government has paid to an individual as compensation for federal employments or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on the individual’s use of the money or property.

-SB 1721 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, creates Caylee’s Law.

-SB 1792 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the Asbestos Claims Transparency Act.

-SB 1903 by Sen. Steve Russell, directs officers entitled to receive copies of statutes and session laws to receive them in electronic or digital version, not printed volumes.

-SB 1561 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, levies an excise tax of 4.5 percent of the gross receipts or gross proceeds of each sale of tangible personal property to the consumer-user in this state by an out-of-state vendor who maintains a place of business in this state.

-SB 1715 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies statutory references and language related to credits against the insurance premium tax.

-SB 1233 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, requires the official statement, prospectus or other offering document to be filed with the Oklahoma State Bond Advisor prior to the expiration of 15 business days following delivery of and payment for bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness by any public trust.

-SB 1235 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the definition of “basic industry” under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act.

-SB 1297 by Sen. Brian Crain, creates the Administrative Tax Hearings Act.

-SB 1352 by Sen. Clark Jolley, prohibits any public investment in or purchase of any goods or services by public contract from Iran unless and until all sanctions by the U.S. government have been lifted.

-SB 1448 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, states that original documents filed by taxpayer related to property appraisal and valuation must be maintained by the county assessor.

-SB 1449 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, allows any person 62 years of age or older who is a head of a household, is a resident of this state and owns and resides in a manufactured home that is located on land now owned by the owner of the manufactured home to receive an exemption on the manufactured home equal to $2,000 if the person’s gross household income did not meet certain conditions.

-SB 1462 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, reauthorizes the Oklahoma Rifle Association License Plate.

-SB 1464 by Sen. Brian Bingman, adds oil and gas drilling to the list of qualified industries under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act.

-SB 1465 by Sen. Brian Bingman, exempts from taxation a holder of a direct payment permit on tangible personal property intended solely for use in other states but which is stored in Oklahoma pending shipment to other states or which is temporarily retained in Oklahoma for the purpose of fabrication, repair, testing, alteration, maintenance or other services.

-SB 1664 by Sen. Don Barrington, changes the source of funds for payment of expenses incurred by the Oklahoma State University Center for Local Government Technology from the Tax Commission to the office by the state auditor and inspector.

-SB 1676 by Sen. Mike Schulz, modifies statutory references to the Oklahoma Income Tax Act and modifies the apportionment of income tax revenue.

-SB 1678 by Sen. Mike Schulz, requires the Department of Public Safety to issue a permit to transport or move a manufactured home used for commercial purposes during the first five days of the following calendar year if the applicant can provide a special waiver and a commercial move affidavit authored by law.

SB 1696 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, requires each district attorney to create a Delinquent Sales Tax Restitution Program and assign sufficient staff and resources for the efficient operation of the program.

-SB 1108 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, modifies the Oklahoma Bond Oversight and Reform Act, directing the five-member makeup of the Council of Bond Oversight.

-SB 1254 by Sen. Mark Allen, provides an excise tax exemption to an original or a transfer certificate of title to be issued for any used all-terrain vehicle that is being traded in as part of another purchase transaction.

• The House convened Tuesday, approving the following measures:

-SJR 25 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, proposes a constitutional amendment granting the Pardon and Parole Board by majority vote the authority to grant parole for all offenses after conviction, upon restrictions and limitations deemed proper by the board or required by law, except for persons sentenced to death, life without parole or a violent offense.

-HB 2211 by Rep. Pam Peterson, allows a board of county commissioners chair to designate another county commissioner to serve in place of the chair on the city-county library commission, and it grants that person the same voting rights as the chair.

-HB 2364 by Rep. Lisa Billy, modifies language related to contraband in jails or prisons, allowing any electronic communication device that has no identifiable owner and that has been seized to be disposed of or sold by the agency that seized the device.

-HB 2579 by Rep. Glen Mulready, modifies language regarding the unlawful act of setting a fire to any forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands or building a campfire or burning trash that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands fire when the board of county commissioners has declared a period of extreme fire danger.

-HB 2748 by Rep. Dan Kirby, allows an appraiser licensed by and residing in another state who is not licensed in Oklahoma and does not obtain an Oklahoma temporary practice permit to apply for and obtain a reciprocal license if the appraiser licensing and certification program of the appraiser’s state is in compliance with reciprocity provisions and the nonresident appraiser holds a valid certification from a state whose requirements for licensure or certification meet or exceed those of Oklahoma.

-SB 1178 by Sen. Mark Allen, creates an exception to the requirements to tag certain wildlife when killed for lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime combination hunting and fishing license holders who kill a black bear

• House committees met Tuesday and approved the following measures:

-HB 2762 by Rep. Lee Denney, proposes renaming the Education Oversight Board the Commission for Education, Instruction Quality and Accountability, under which the Commission for Teacher Preparation and Office of Accountability would operate.

-HB 2314 by Rep. Ann Coody, modifies the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act, and would raise the age at which Oklahomans could purchase or receive tobacco products to 21.

-HB 2381 by Rep. Josh Cockroft, requires a physician who prescribes dispenses or otherwise provides RU-486, mifepristone, or any other drug or chemical used to perform or induce an abortion to be present in the same room as the patient when the drug or chemical is first provided to the patient.

-HB 2266 by Rep. Doug Cox, creates the Public Health Delivery Act.

-HB 3000 by Rep. Tom Newell, states that failure by a school district board member to satisfy continuing education requirements shall result in the ineligibility of the member to run for reelection to that respective board seat or to run for election to any other board seat on the board of education for a three-year period for three-member boards, four-year period for four member board or for a five-year period for five-member boards.

-HB 2285 by Rep. Emily Virgin, extends the deadline for certified elementary education teachers to meet the statutory requirements and successfully complete the subject area portion of the examination to be certified in early childhood education.

-HB 2306 by Rep. Ann Coody, removes language regarding the State Board of Education’s authority to review preliminary plans for new construction and major alteration of public school buildings where structural changes are proposed.

-HB 2502 by Rep. Weldon Watson, creates the Grand River Dam Authority Act of 2012.

-HB 2503 by Rep. Weldon Watson, allows the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors to delegate to the general manager the responsibility to approve the expenditure of monies for business expenses.

-HB 2443 by Rep. Dale DeWitt, directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to make education program resources at institutions within the State System of Higher Education available to the people of the Ponca City are to be known as the University Center at Ponca City.

Wednesday, February 15

• The Senate met Wednesday, approving the following measures:

-SB 1433 by Sen. Brian Crain, creates the Personhood Act.

-SB 988 by Sen. Mike Schulz, creates a misdemeanor for planting, nurturing or otherwise commercially producing castor beans containing the toxin ricin.

-SB 989 by Sen. Mike Schulz, creates a misdemeanor for transporting castor beans in quantities of more than 50 pounds containing the toxin ricin in the state.

• Senate committees approved the following measures Wednesday:

-SB 1624 by Sen. John Sparks, requires the State Regents for Higher Education to adopt a policy that allows a student to enroll in a higher education institution and be eligible for resident tuition when the student satisfies the admission standards for the institution and has secured admission to an enrollment in the institution.

-SB 1276 by Sen. Kim David, removes from Schedule V and adds to the Schedule III list of controlled dangerous substances any compound, mixture or preparation containing any detectable quantity of pseudoephedrine, its salts or optical isomers or salts of optical isomers.

-SB 1247 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, removes language referring to the Department of Public Safety Revolving Fund and replaces it with language referring to the Department of Public Safety Restricted Revolving Fund.

-SB 1372 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, removes language relating to the annual salaries for the deputy director and positions within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

-SB 1505 by Sen. Rob Johnson, requires a judge to order an indictment or presentment sealed until the defendant is arrested in order for disclosure of the indictment of presentment’s contents to be considered a misdemeanor.

-SB 1548 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, removes language permitting a $60 fee to be charged for the firearm training and qualification course.

-SB 1847 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, requires the Department of Public Safety to provide quarterly reports stating the staffing levels within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and whether individual troopers’ personal safety is at an increased risk due to staffing deficiencies to the Legislature and Governor.

-SB 1222 by Sen. Frank Simpson, creates the Oklahoma Veterans Treatment Act.

-SB 1348 by Sen. Brian Crain, establishes a veterans docket for a veterans’ court division.

-SB 1701 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, establishes that the adjutant general is the chief military adviser to the governor.

-SB 1204 by Sen. Mark Allen, requires the director of the Central Services Division of the Office of State Finance to publish a comprehensive report detailing state-owned property each year.

-SB 1642 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, modifies the apportionment of fee, taxes and penalties collected under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.

-SB 1643 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, modifies the amount apportioned to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.

-SB 1253 by Sen. Tom Ivester, requires all payments received by the state auditor and inspector from providing continuing professional education to be deposited to the State Auditor and Inspector Revolving Fund.

-SB 1256 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, requires 29.84 percent of fees, taxes and penalties collected pursuant to the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act to be credited to the General Revenue Fund.

-SCR 22 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, approves the transfer of real and personal property totaling 558.5 acres of the area known as Boggy Depot State Park owned by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to the Chickasaw Nation.

-SB 1068 by Sen. Don Barrington, modifies the definition of “allowable expense” under the Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation Act.

-SB 1144 by Sen. Brian Bingman, replaces the Higher Education Facilities Revolving Fund with the Weigh Station Improvement Fund in the list of revolving funds that receive benefit that is provided from a 1 cent per gallon assessment on each gallon of motor fuel used or consumed in the state.

-SB 1163 by Sen. Brian Bingman, permits costs resulting from a release from a storage tank system owned or operated by the state or federal government to be reimbursed from the Oklahoma Petroleum Storage Tank Release Indemnity Program.

-SB 1182 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, permits technology center building fund proceeds to purchase student transportation, grounds maintenance including parking lots and sidewalks and instructional and maintenance equipment.

-SB 1187 by Sen. Susan Paddack, permits the Council on Law Enforcement and Training to waive all or part of any money due to the council if deemed uncollectable by the counsel.

-SB 1242 by Sen. Don Barrington, allows the court to order a defendant to reimburse the Oklahoma attorney general for costs incurred by that agency during its investigation of a crime for which the defendant pleaded guilty, no contest or was convicted if the defendant is able to pay without manifest hardship and if the costs incurred by the agency may be determined with reasonable certainty, except as otherwise provided in the Elderly and Incapacitated Victim’s Protection Program.

-SB 1412 by Sen. Susan Paddack, authorizes the commissioner of public safety and other officers of the department designated by the commissioner to provide a copy of any record required to be maintained by the department at no charge to any nonprofit provider exempt from federal income tax and contracted by the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

-SB 1554 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, removes language limiting the State Fire Marshal Revolving Fund to $550,000.

-SB 1649 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, modifies the funds that may be deposited in the Commissioners of the Land revolving fund to include any appropriated money designated for transfer into the fund.

-SB 1565 by Sen. Susan Paddack, requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish a comprehensive dyslexia teacher training pilot program and select one or more institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to participate in the program.

-SB 1380 by Sen. Tom Ivester, requires a student be eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition for the first semester or other tuition for the first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if the child’s parent died during the students’ 11th or 12th grade year.

-SB 1800 by Sen. Kim David, creates a Child Care Facility Review Board.

• The House met Wednesday, approving the following bills:

-HJR 1082 by Rep. Gary Banz, proposes a constitutional amendment removing the restriction on state officers from serving on active duty in the National Guard or Reserves.

-HB 2494 by Rep. Lee Denney, modifies language regarding the A-through-F grading system for schools.

-HB 1910 by Rep. Mike Jackson, allows the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to prepare examinations and establish other requirements in order for those involved in the installation of water well pumps to be certified and obtain a license.

-HB 2192 by Rep. Jason Murphey, requires that an application for attorney fees for services performed on appeal be made to the appellate court by separate motion filed any time before issuance of mandate.

-HB 2519 by Rep. Jason Nelson, modifies the definition of “child pornography”.

• House committees approved the following measures on Wednesday:

-HB 2346 by Rep. Skye McNiel, creates the Oklahoma Quick Action Closing Fund Amendments Act of 2012.

-HB 2324 by Rep. Doug Cox, creates the Prioritizing Public Funding in the Purchasing of Family Planning and Counseling Services Act.

-HB 3044 by Rep. Leslie Osborn, prohibits any agency, board, commission, department, program or office of state government from being authorized a maximum number of full-time employees in excess of 105 percent of the monthly average of actual full time equivalent employees without approval by the Legislature through an appropriation act or other law of the state.

-HB 2491 by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, directs the plan year under the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to begin on the first day of July for education employees.

-HB 2288 by Rep. Emily Virgin, expands the conditions under which a state employee may opt out of the basic health insurance plan to include employees who will be covered by a separate group plan at or before the beginning of the next year.

-HJR 1093 by Rep. Kris Steele, disapproves a 6 percent pay increase for judges and statewide officials that was approved by the Judicial Compensation Board.

-HJR 1091 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from enacting legislation conflicting with federal law that prohibits the use of retirement plan assets for something other than benefit payments.

-HB 2974 by Rep. David Dank, removes language relating to the reports of contributions and expenditures to be filed with the Ethics Commission in accordance with the Political Subdivisions Ethics Act.

-HB 2977 by Rep. David Dank, recreates the Task Force for the Study of State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives.

-HB 2517 by Rep. Sally Kern, creates a Higher Education Outcomes-Based Funding Task Force.

-HB 2596 by Rep. Corey Holland, creates the Education Mandates Review Task Force.

-HB 2698 by Rep. William Fourkiller, creates the Oklahoma Physical Activity and Academic Performance Task Force.

-HB 2254 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, creates the Local Law Enforcement Mental Health Empowerment Act.

-HB 3055 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Water for 2060 Act.

-HB 2915 by Rep. Phil Richardson, creates the Groundwater Severance Restriction Act.

-HB 2924 by Rep. Don Armes, requires any acquisition of water rights by eminent domain to be limited to a 10-year term.

-HB 2319 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, increases the amount municipalities are to provide for support of the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System to 14 percent of the actual paid base salary of each member of the system employed by the municipality.

-HB 3043 by Rep. Leslie Osborn, creates the Fair and Open Competition in Governmental Construction Act.

-HB 2204 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, modifies language related to the Employment Security Act.

Thursday, February 16

• The Senate met Thursday, but considered no legislation.

Other News

• Special elections were held across the Oklahoma on Tuesday, February 14 for local school boards as well as two Senate seats and a seat in the House of Representatives. Voters chose Rep. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, to represent District 46. State Sen. Andrew Rice, former Democratic Leader of the Senate, resigned the seat last month after his wife accepted a position out of state. McAffrey will be sworn in next week after the State Election Board has certified results of the race. Republican Ann A. Griffin won the Republican Primary for the Senate District 20 seat, vacated after the death of Sen. David Myers in November. The general election for that seat will be held in April.
• Testimony began this past week in Oklahoma City federal court in the bribery trial of former State Senate leader, Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, who served as Pro Tem of the Senate from 2005 until 2006, then co-president pro tem from 2006 until 2008. Morgan is accused of taking more than $400,000 in bribes from companies in exchange for his influence in the legislature. Also being tried are lobbyist Andrew Skeith and attorney Martin Stringer. The two are accused of conspiring with Morgan. More than three dozen current and former elected officials could testify during the trial.
• State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger released the numbers on January’s sales tax collections, and the news continues to bode well for Oklahoma. The $165 million represents an all-time monthly record, and is almost 12 percent higher than the same time one year ago. The figures represent spending in the days just before and after Christmas and are an indication of rising consumer confidence in the state. While sales tax collections are up, natural gas prices and gross production tax collections on natural gas remain low. Doerflinger said when the State Equalization Board meets on February 21 to make the final certification for the 2013 appropriations, he’ll ask board members to lower projections for natural gas collections.