Monday, Feb. 23 to Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009

Monday, February 23

• The Senate approved the following measures on Monday:

-SB 673 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, adds the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to the definition of “health care facility” in the Affordable Access to Health Care Act.

-SB 293 by Sen. Sean Burrage, authorizes the Grand River Dam Authority and municipally owned utilities to use funds to assist consumers in establishing energy conservation activities if there is a defined and measurable conservation of energy.

-SB 448 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, directs a judge to submit written findings relating to the custodial arrangements of a child of a single person who has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment.

-SB 580 by Sen. Sean Burrage, permits long-term care facility pharmacies to maintain controlled dangerous substances in an emergency electronic medication kit used at the facility.

• Senate committees on Monday took no action on bills.

• The House convened Monday and approved numerous bills including the following:

-HB 1127 by Rep. Chris Benge, appropriates $5 million to the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority Disbursing Fund.

-HB 1045 by Rep. Rex Duncan, removes the population restriction on language allowing boards of county commissioners to regulate or prohibit dogs running at large.

-HB 1458 by Rep. Al McAffrey, creates the Funeral Services Licensing Act.

-HB 1597 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, allows an attorney of record for a deceased party immediately preceding death to file a statement of death with the court.

-HB 1739 by Rep. Ron Peters, stipulates that in any proceeding of custody over a minor child a determination by the court that one party is guilty of domestic violence shall mean that any type of custody by that party is not in the child’s best interest.

• House committees met Monday and approved numerous measures, including the following:

-HB 1780 by Rep. Tad Jones, provides the State Treasurer the right to recover costs associated with retaining outside legal counsel to ensure compliance with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act and authorizes the treasurer to purchase services to locate and effect the delivery of property.

-HB 2028 by Rep. Kris Steele, modifies the definition of “child neglect”.

-HB 1385 by Rep. Leslie Osborne, requires elected or appointed state or county officers or employees convicted of a felony to forfeit all benefits, regardless of whether the offense violated an oath of office and regardless of whether the conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere occurs during or after the term of office.

-HB 1704 by Rep. David Derby, creates the Oklahoma Information Services Act and the Office of Information Services.

-HB 1676 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, transfers the Criminal Justice Resource Center from the Legislative Service Bureau to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Attorney General.

-HB 1603 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, requires a court to appoint an independent attorney in class actions.

-HB 1748 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, abolishes the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission and delegates some duties to the State Board of Corrections.

Tuesday, February 24

• The Senate met Tuesday and approved the following legislation:

-SB 604 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, creates the Task Force on Internet-Based Instruction to conduct a review of Internet-Based instruction in Oklahoma and make recommendations regarding necessary changes to ensure accountability for such programs in public schools.

-SB 449 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, directs the state to recognize and the Labor Commissioner to enforce the provisions of certain National Fire Protection standards.

-SB 11 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to pay interest on refunds due on tax returns filed after Jan. 1, 2010, when the refund is not paid in a certain number of days.

-SB 40 by Sen. Andrew Rice, extends the excise tax exemption granted to beer manufactured in Oklahoma for export to include spirits.

-SB 52 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies language related to the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council, changing reference from health maintenance organizations licensed by the Department of Health to health maintenance organizations issued certificates of authority by the insurance commissioner.

-SB 59 by Sen. Andrew Rice, modifies language related to eligibility requirements for the Oklahoma Employer/Employee Partnership for Insurance Coverage Premium Assistance Program.

-SB 249 by Sen. Ron Justice, allows municipal fire departments to conduct national criminal history records checks prior to appointing a paid member of the department.

-SB 256 by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, authorizes the Oklahoma Historical Society to transfer all duties and obligations to the municipal governing body or a public trust where the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Memorial of Reconciliation is located.

-SB 267 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows funds of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund to be used for capital expenditures and operating expenses incurred by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine for educational programs and residency training.

-SB 279 by Sen. Harry Coates, exempts the Office of Juvenile Affairs from a requirement to have its construction plans reviewed by the Construction and Properties Division of the Department of Central Services if OJA has a licensed architect or engineer as a full-time employee.

-SB 299 by Sen. Brian Bingman, transfers from the Corporation Commission to the Department of Central Services the duty of selling vehicles that have been seized for not bearing a proper license plate as required by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.

-SB 303 by Sen. Brian Bingman, modifies language related to the Retail Electric Consumer Cost Reduction Safety and Service Efficiency Act.

-SB 321 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, authorizes the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services to collaborate with other national, state and local agencies to establish a single point-of-entry concept for aging and disability groups in the state.

-SB 337 by Sen. Tom Adelson, amends HJR 1058 of the 51st Legislature, which authorized the Department of Human Services to sell a parcel of land in Tulsa County.

-SB 402 by Sen. Brian Crain, modifies language relating to the testing of blood, breath, saliva or urine to determine alcohol concentration or the presence or concentration of another intoxicating substance affecting a person’s ability to drive.

-SB 489 by Sen. Don Barrington, extends a maximum $15,000 per year sales tax exemption granted to persons who have been honorably discharged from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces or Oklahoma National Guard to the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible person if the surviving spouse has not remarried.

-SB 434 by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, directs the Department of Health to provide a cancer patient navigation program to provide education about and resistance with the management of cancer.

-SB 505 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, stipulates that no more than four members of a city planning commission may serve on design committees or commissions.

-SB 518 by Sen. Ron Justice, adds “grandparent” to the definition of “members of the immediate family” for the purposes of victim impact statements.

-SB 527 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, requires an employer whose check to an employee was returned, due to a refusal of the bank to honor it because of insufficient funds or because a stop payments was placed on the check, to reimburse the employee for any fees or costs incurred due to the bank’s refusal to honor the check.

-SB 573 by Sen. Harry Coates, permits a prime contractor, subcontractor or sub-subcontractor in lieu of retainage to execute and deliver to the owner, prime contractor or subcontractor before the commencement of construction for which the prime contractor, subcontractor or sub-subcontractor will be responsible for performing a good and sufficient release of the retainage bond in an amount equal to 10 percent of the contract or subcontract price.

-SB 611 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, modifies the guidelines governing the offering of evidence of a DNA profile in a trial.

-SB 612 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, requires defendants planning to raise the question of mental illness to file notice with the court within 30 days after arraignment.

-SB 613 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, prohibits a court from imposing a deferred sentence when reviewing a sentence or revocation of probation.

-SB 636 by Sen. Ron Justice, specifies the enforcement of commodity measurements for the State Board of Agriculture and requires the board to promulgate rule for the enforcement of two handbooks from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

-SB 699 by Sen. Brian Crain, clarifies language related to the Oklahoma Medicaid False Claims Act.

-SB 747 by Sen. Clark Jolley, exempts school psychologists or psychometrists from the general education portion of the required competency examination to successfully complete the professional education portion of the competency examination.

-SB 794 by Sen. Clark Jolley, directs the Department of Human Services to include statistics on unsuccessful adoptions when it publishes statistics on successful adoptions.

-SB 1134 by Sen. Clark Jolley, clarifies language related to exemptions from jury service.

-SB 2 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, authorizes the Oklahoma Tax Commission to design and issue In God We Trust license plates.

-SB 622 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Oklahoma Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

• Senate committees approved no legislation on Tuesday.

• The House convened Tuesday and approved the following measures:
-HB 1473 by Rep. Mike Sanders, exempts from ordinances restricting land use and building construction parcels of 10 acres or more of land used for agricultural purposes annexed into the municipal limits at any time.

-HB 1009 by Rep. Rex Duncan, creates the Oklahoma Lemon Law, requiring a manufacturer to either accept a vehicle return and refund the full purchase price to the consumer or replace the vehicle with a vehicle of the same model and features a comparable model.

-HB 1644 by Rep. Wade Rousselot, modifies the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act and requires 48-hour reporting of damage to a one-call notification call center.

-HB 1131 by Rep. Scott Martin, modifies language related to the maximum number of hours for full-time-equivalent employees.

-HJR 1010 by Rep. Scott Martin, proposes a constitutional amendment modifying language related to the School Land Fund, clarifying language related to the source of revenues.

-HJR 1012 by Rep. Scott Martin, proposes a constitutional amendment related to meetings of the Board of Equalization.

-HB 1697 by Rep. Lisa Billy, requires court clerks to contact the Department of Corrections at least 10 days prior to giving notice of a sentence reduction.

-HB 1007 by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, modifies language related to parking for the physically disabled.

-HB 1055 by Rep. Doug Cox, adds to the list of actions that constitute an unfair claim settlement practice under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act to include failing to pay or requesting a refund of payment for health care services preauthorized or precertified by an insurer.

-HB 1465 by Rep. R.C. Pruett, extends the dates during which the hunting, killing, capturing or taking of any furbearer is allowed.

-HB 1295 by Rep. Jason Murphey, adds a definition of “reissue” as it relates to the inability of a person to obtain a professional license if he/she is not in compliance with Oklahoma income tax laws.

-HB 1470 by Rep. Mike Sanders, increases from $100 to $500 the maximum award a board of county commissioners may offer for the arrest, conviction or evidence leading to the arrest or conviction of any person stealing or defacing county road signs or other county property.

-HB 1579 by Rep. Charles Joyner, makes it unlawful for anyone to block a door or window during the commission of a crime to prevent or delay the arrival or entry of law enforcement.

• House committees met Tuesday approved the following measures:

-HB 2125 by Mike Shelton, changes the name of the African-American Centennial Plaza to the African American Heritage Plaza.

-HB 1604 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, prohibits wholesalers from purchasing more than 15 percent of their annual inventory value at not less than $500,000 at the time they purchase from another wholesaler.

-HB 1513 by Rep. Mike Jackson, adds definition regarding the administration of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating and non-intoxicating beverages.

-HB 1569 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, requires that any person using the term “doctor” should designate the authority of his or her title and further defines nine main authorities under which a person can be registered as a doctor.

-HB 1641 by Rep. Scott Inman, creates the Oklahoma Trust for Pets Act of 2009.

-HB 1757 by Rep. Scott Martin, prevents a health benefit plan that provides prescription drugs from limiting, reducing or denying coverage for a prescription drug if, prior to the limitation, the insured was using the drug, the insured was covered under the health benefit plan.

-HB 1963 by Rep. Chris Benge, creates the Task Force on the Mutualization or Privatization of CompSource Oklahoma.

-HB 2026 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Health Care for Oklahomans Act.

-HB 2056 by Rep. Mike Thompson, creates the Fair Practices of Equipment Manufacturers, Distributors, Wholesalers and Dealers Act.

-HB 1600 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, modifies the workers compensation time extension period relating to surgery recommendations for soft-tissue injuries.

-HB 1754 by Rep. Scott Martin, increases from three to five the membership of the Public Employees Relations Board.

-HB 1061 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, increases from $25 to $30 the maximum costs and fees that a municipality may allow a court to charge.

-HB 1682 by Rep. Seneca Scott, creates the Green Jobs Act and directs the State Board of Career and Technology Education to consult with the secretary of energy and establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.

-HB 1508 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, modifies language related to the teacher shortage employment incentive program created by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to include students who have completed an undergraduate degree and are enrolled in a graduate level mathematics or science study who declare their intent to teach at a regional university or two-year college within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for a minimum of five years in math or science.

-HB 1882 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, modifies language related to the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990.

-HB 2158 by Rep. Don Armes, authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to issue a permit to a person who holds a big game commercial hunting area license issued to engage in the management of depredating animals by use of aircraft only on land listed in the commercial hunting area license.

-HB 1952 by Rep. Chris Benge, removes language related to compliance with exhaust emissions standards.

-HB 1953 by Rep. Chris Benge, creates the Oklahoma Wind Power Act.

-HB 2211 by Rep. Ryan Kiesel, directs the Legislature to create a system for preservation of a legislative history for each bill and resolution introduced in each regular or special session.

-HB 1888 by Rep. Phil Richardson, replaces reference to the Rural Ambulance Service Districts Act.

-HB 1574 by Rep. Ann Coody, changes the definition of a “person requiring treatment” under the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Wednesday, February 25

• The Senate passed the following measures on Wednesday:

-SB 1205 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, modifies the exception allowing all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles to be operated on streets and highways.

-SB 582 by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires the State Department of Education to issue alternative placement teaching certificates to individuals who meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Troops to Teachers program and individuals who meet certain other requirements defined by statutes.

-SB 260 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, creates the Intractable Pain Treatment Act.

-SB 300 by Sen. Brian Bingman, removes language relating to duties and rules of the Corporation Commission that are to be in compliance with federal guidelines.

-SB 309 by Sen. Susan Paddack, modifies language relating to income eligibility under the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.

-SB 310 by Sen. Susan Paddack, makes scholarships established through the Oklahoma Health Care Workers and Educators Assistance Fund subject to available funds.

-SB 390 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, directs the Department of Human Services to establish a drug-testing program for people applying for or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

-SB 421 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, transfers from the State Board of Education to individual school districts the authority for setting the time for administering criterion-referenced tests.

-SB 469 by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, expands the purposes for which additional funds may be used by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to include scientifically research-based instructional strategies for teachers of English language learners and children in poverty.

-SB 487 by Sen. Susan Paddack, includes volunteers at a federally recognized community health center under the Governmental Tort Claims Act.

-SB 511 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, directs that highway remediation and cleanup service operators be from the licensed highway remediation and cleanup service operator located nearest the hazardous condition.

-SB 576 by Sen. Harry Coates, increases the membership of the Construction Industries Board from seven to eight.

-SB 676 by Sen. Susan Paddack, directs the State Department of Education to issue a deficiency in the accreditation report for any district with a percentage of ninth-grade students who opt out of the college preparatory/work ready curriculum that exceeds 20 percent of total ninth-grade enrollment.

-SB 684 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, clarifies language related to county boards of adjustment.

-SB 697 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, creates the Children’s Cabinet.

-SB 823 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, modifies language related to the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

-SB 871 by Sen. Steve Russell, modifies membership of the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Council.

-SB 967 by Sen. Mike Schulz, provides an excise tax exemption on motor fuel used solely and exclusively by vehicles for rural irrigation districts organized under the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act.

-SB 1157 by Sen. Mike Schulz, exempts vehicles fertilizer, cottonseed, cotton, livestock, peanuts, canola, sunflowers, soybeans, and any other raw agriculture products, and any other unprocessed agriculture products from the prohibition that no department or agency of this state or any country, city, or public entity thereof shall pay for any material that exceeds the legal weight limits moving in interstate or intrastate commerce in excess of the legal load limits of the state.

-SB 286 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, directs the warden to invite the lead law enforcement officer who investigated the crime or testified in a court or clemency proceeding related to the crime to be present at an execution.

-SB 1181 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act.

• Senate committees approved no legislation on Wednesday.

• The House met Wednesday and approved the following measures:

-HB 1595 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, prohibits a person from knowingly or recklessly performing an abortion with knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion solely on account of the unborn child’s gender.

-HB 1756 by Rep. Scott Martin, directs school districts to permit a principal or teacher to use in a public school building, classroom or school event any grade-level appropriate excerpts or portions of documents, writings, speeches, proclamations or records relating to the history, heritage or foundation of the United States or the state of Oklahoma and provides a list of possible documents that may be used.

-HCR 1011 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, declares Feb. 25, 2009, “Ronald Reagan Day” in the state and urges all citizens to take cognizance of the event and participate fittingly in its observance.

-HR 1011 by Rep. Ann Coody, states that the House recognizes teen dating violence is an important issue facing young people today.

-HB 2087 by Rep. Charles Joyner, authorizes municipal fire districts to conduct criminal history background checks before appointing a paid employee.

-HB 2030 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Silver Alert Act, directing the Department of Public Safety to develop a statewide silver alert system to be activated on behalf of missing senior citizens in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Human Services, any law enforcement agency, the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters and any other appropriate agencies.

• House committees approved a number of bills on Wednesday including the following:

-HJR 1001 by Rep. David Dank, proposes a constitutional amendment modifying the eligibility requirements for persons age 65 and older whose homes are exempted from increases in fair cash value.

-HB 1512 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, exempts certain schools meeting certain standards from liability for not providing necessary services to autistic children.

-HB 1479 by Rep. Eddie Fields, requires local school districts to study and assess ways to eliminate, reduce, consolidate and simplify the type, number and length of reports, data, statistics and other information required by federal and state law.

-HB 1530 by Rep. Ann Coody, creates the Health Education Act.

-HB 2068 by Rep. Skye McNiel, stipulates that beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2009-2010 school year, a student who did not elect to enroll in the core curriculum prior to entering the ninth grade may enroll in the core curriculum at any time prior to entering the 11th grade.

-HB 2013 by Rep. Kenneth Miller, directs the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules for an online verification system for motor vehicle liability policies.

-HB 1625 by Rep. Anastasia Pittman, designates Kelly’s Law as the prohibition of any record or confidential information distributed by the Department of Human Services to any agency or outside service provider from containing Social Security numbers.

-HB 1781 by Rep. Sue Tibbs, disallows private prisons in Oklahoma operating at 25 percent or less capacity to contract with federal or other state governments to house other minimum or medium security inmates.

-HB 1057 by Rep. Larry Glenn, adjusts the corporate surety bond amount required for persons who operate, conduct or maintain livestock auction markets from a minimum of $25,000 to $100,000.

-HJR 1022 by Rep. Jason Murphey, proposes a constitutional amendment modifying terms of offices for certain statewide elected officials.

-HJR 1016 by Rep. Mike Jackson, proposes a constitutional amendment clarifying language related to property taxes.

-HB 1072 by Rep. Charles Key, reduces the number of petition signatures required to become a recognized political party to 5,000 rather than 5 percent of the votes cast in the last general election for governor or electors for president and vice president.

Thursday, February 26

• The Senate met Thursday and approved the following legislation:

-SB 595 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, establishes the Juvenile Justice Public Works Act.

-SB 1129 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.

-SB 482 by Sen. Harry Coates, establishes a state capitol commission for the rehabilitation and preservation of the Oklahoma State Capitol for its 2017 centennial.

-SB 1012 by Sen. Harry Coates, creates the Private Construction Progress Payment Act by requiring owners to make progress payments on all private construction contracts of a duration of more than 60 days.

-SB 355 by Sen. Tom Adelson, gives the right for the Attorney General or a District Attorney to subpoena a witness and examine evidence.

-SB 608 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, provides for the apportionment of specified revenues to the Tax Commission Reimbursement Fund.

-SB 301 by Sen. Brian Bingman, removes the authority for the Corporation Commission to participate in the single-state registration system.

-SB 1172 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, creates the “Oklahoma Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund Act of 2009” to provide skilled training for those unemployed by economic hardship.

-SB 598 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, defines a person requiring treatment for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

-SB 867 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, Extends 2008-2009 academic standards to 2010-2011.

-SB 887 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act.

-SB 446 by Sen. Brian Bingman, relates to the Oklahoma Brownfields Voluntary Redevelopment Act.

-SB 348 by Sen. David Myers, increases the reward for persons providing information leading to the conviction of those stealing/vandalizing county property.

-SB 349 by Sen. David Myers, increases the penalties for interfering with the remediation of a monitored site.

-SB 1169 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, modifies the method for allocating to the School Consolidation Assistance Fund.

-SB 383 by Sen. David Myers, provides for certain fees and modifies funds in the Health Spa Revolving Fund.

-SB 354 by Sen. David Myers, changes the standard requirements of OHLAP to cover families who are close to the average by allowing them eligibility.

-SB 830 by Sen. Bill Brown, excludes severance pay from inclusion in base pay of the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System.

-SB 257 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, allows for the transfer of surplus equipment from school districts to skills centers under the umbrella of CareerTech.

-SB 698 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, establishes a law about procedures for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in vehicle and property seizures.

-SB 659 by Sen. Ron Justice, provides for a rebuttable presumption that a person participating in a judicial proceeding as a post-adjudication review is acting in good faith.

-SB 1013 by Sen. Dan Newberry, modifies definitions by making it a crime to steal or embezzle or copy without authority certain business records and customer lists.

-SB 490 by Sen. Brian Crain, relates to fraudulent claims and suits instituted by taxpayers and modifies the number of people required to file suit from ten to 100 registered voters or 5 percent of the registered voters, whichever is less.

-SB 880 by Sen. John Ford, makes the primary purpose of retired teacher organizations to represent the interests of retired teachers in this state and to provide member benefits.

-SB 745 by Sen. Clark Jolley, changes requirements for protecting from liability a person using an automated external defibrillator for emergency care.

-SB 562 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, sets dates of retirement and maximum contribution amounts for elected officials.

-SB 521 by Sen. Jim Halligan, creates an Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Authority Revolving Fund not subject to fiscal year.

-SB 603 by Sen. John Ford, creates a Task Force on Concurrent Enrollment.

-SB 290 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, requires school districts to provide academic credit for concurrently enrolled courses on student transcripts.

-SB 714 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, applies district court procedures for unpaid fines and costs to municipal courts.

-SB 1029 by Sen. Steve Russell, would require full disclosure statements regarding adoption.

-SB 881 by Sen. Steve Russell, modifies income tax deductions for active duty service men and women.

Other News

• Leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Thursday said an audit revealed that the Department of Human Services places too many children into the custody of the state. In Oklahoma, 13.4 children of every thousand are in state custody, compared with 6.9 of every thousand children nationally.

• Oklahoma’s jobless rate continues to increase, as state trends begin to parallel national trends. Oklahoma employers cut 2,772 jobs in January according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Large employers in Oklahoma have been eliminating jobs rapidly, with 7,690 jobs being lost between November, 2008, and January, 2009.