Monday, Feb. 26, to Wed., March 1, 2018

Monday, February 26, 2018

• Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, took the oath of office Monday and joined the Senate after serving in the House since 2014. Murdock won the special election for the Senate District 27 seat previously held by former Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, who resigned in September. Murdock is a rancher and operates a cow-calf operation in southwestern Cimarron County. Murdock will serve on the following Senate committees: General Government, Agriculture and Wildlife, Appropriations, Public Safety, Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services and the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.

• The Senate took up no bills Monday but did retroactively send a request to the House asking the Senate be adjourned for more than three days due to last week's ice storms. A similar motion was made in a special session floor session where no bills were considered either.

• The Senate Education committee met on Monday and approved several bills, including the following:

-SB 929, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies the definition of terms in the State Aid Formula. It modifies the term "children with learning disabilities" to exclude learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor disabilities, of intellectual disability, of emotional disturbance or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage. It changes the term "deaf or hard of hearing" to "deafness" and defines it to mean a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification that adversely affects a child's educational performance. It changes the term "educable mentally handicapped" to "intellectual disability." The bill adds the term "hearing impairment" and defines it to mean impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of "deafness."

-SB 980, by Sen. A J Griffin, 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."

-SB 987, by Sen. John Sparks, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. The bill defines the term "career" to mean any occupation that can be reasonably expected to provide for the graduate at or above 180 percent of the federal poverty level each year for 30 years or until the age of retirement.

-SB 1105, by Sen. A J Griffin, requires each school district to provide age-appropriate instruction about HIV, AIDS and related issues and establishes requirements for teaching such subjects. The bill repeals the section of law relating to AIDS prevention education.

-SB 1190, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, 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.

-SB 1198, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies the weight assigned to each grade level in the calculation of Foundation Aid.

-SB 1301, by Sen. John Sparks, requires a private school that participates in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to provide documentation affirming its ability to provide services to students with disabilities who are participating in the scholarship program, including but not limited to a detailed list of services available.

-SB 1370, by Sen. Jason Smalley, changes reference of work ready curriculum to career ready curriculum. The bill modifies the type of information to be provided to school districts about the various curricula. The bill adds successful completion of one year of a full-time, three-hour career and technology program or any other mathematics course with content and/or rigor equal to or above Algebra I to the courses to meet the mathematics requirement for high school graduation. It adds successful completion of one year of a full-time, three-hour career and technology program to the courses to meet the science requirement for high school graduation.

-SB 1435, by Sen. Ron Sharp, allows school districts to adopt alternative disciplinary actions in lieu of out-of-school suspension.

-SB 1484, by Sen. John Sparks, removes the minimum salary schedule for teachers with National-Board-certification. It allows for an applicant for the certification to receive half of the application processing charge and assessment fee, not to exceed $2,000 and requires upfront payment.

-SB 1566, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, requires the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to coordinate with the Oklahoma Historical Society to develop educational programs and materials for Oklahoma schools that promote learning both by reading about and visiting Civil War battle sites in the State of Oklahoma.

• The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on Monday and approved the following bills:

-CS for SB 830, by Sen. A J Griffin, requires the Director of Human Services take appropriate steps to ensure rules and policies are promulgated to conduct appropriate background searches of individuals both prior to and, if necessary, during their employment with the Department of Human Services. It requires the job categories within the agency subject to background searches prior to employment be determined at the Director's discretion. It specifies the scope of said background checks.

-CS for SB 907, by Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Pat Ownbey, exempts organizations or groups which provide after-school and summer programs for young people from the provisions of the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act.

-CS for SB 1120, by Sen Ervin Yen, legalizes the possession, acquisition, use, delivery, transfer, transportation or administration of medical marijuana by a certified patient or designated caregiver possessing a valid registry identification card for certified medical use. It establishes guidelines for use and penalties for misuse. It requires an individual to be suffering of a serious condition or be terminally ill to qualify for medical marijuana use.

-CS for SB 1124, by Sen. Ervin Yen, with title stricken, requires pain management clinics to register with the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. It creates registration procedures and procedures for revocation and suspension of registration. The bill creates pain management clinic physician responsibilities and quality assurance requirements and provides for penalties for failing to meet such requirements.

-SB 1282, by Sen. Josh Brecheen and Rep. Sean Roberts, with title stricken, requires the
Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on potential ways to reduce program costs of the Medicaid program without jeopardizing vital services. It provides areas of study for the two agencies. It requires the agencies to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by Oct. 31, 2019.

-SB 1328, by Sen. Jason Smalley, increases from one to two the number of long-term care facilities for which an administrator may serve as long as the facilities maintain a certified assistant administrator.

-The committee also took up two executive nominations prior to considering any legislation, both which were advanced without much discussion and no debate. Those nominations now move to the full Senate for final approval. Karen E. Youngblood's nomination to the Board of Juvenile Affairs for a four-year term, ending July 1, 2022, was advanced. She is set to succeed herself. Yen carried the nomination of G. Rainey Williams Jr. to the University Hospitals Authority, which was also approved. Williams Jr. would serve a three-year term ending June 1, 2020, and succeeding Michael S. Samis.

• The Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee considered two bills Monday, both of which passed.

-SB 1297, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, authorizes the Risk Management Administrator to utilize a program of the Oklahoma Insurance Department for school districts to increase available competing vendors.

-SB 1056, by Sen. Adam Pugh, permits the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees to termination its Tax-Sheltered Annuity Program administered under 26 U.S.C., Section 403(b). It permits the board to do so only in a manner consistent with federal tax law and minimizes financial harm to the participants in the program. It establishes processes and procedures for termination of the program. The bill modifies requirements for retiring with a disability allowance. It eliminates the requirement that a member be employed by a participating employer for a period of at least 12 months prior to retirement in order to compute a retirement benefit using the maximum final average salary.

• The House approved several bills on Monday, including:

-HB 1034XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes a $5 million annual cap on the income tax credits for coal production for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation. It permits the credits to be carried over until fully used.

-HB 1036XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes $2 million annual cap on income tax credits for railroad reconstruction expenditures for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation. The bill's joint committee report was adopted by unanimous consent and the bill passed 72-21. The bills now move to the Senate.

-HB 2567, Rep. Ross Ford, exempts municipal, county or state law enforcement officers certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training from jury duty. The bill passed with a vote of 51 to 44.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

• The full Senate met and approved a bill Tuesday to replace funds in the Oklahoma Education Lottery Fund that were supplanted in the fiscal year 2018 budget.

-SB 1582, by Sen. Eddie Fields, Sen. Kim David, Rep. Dennis Ray Casey and Rep. Kevin Wallace, appropriates $19.9 million from the Unclaimed Property Fund to the Oklahoma Lottery Trust Fund to make up for the supplanting of education funds in FY2018 appropriations. The bill's joint committee report was adopted without discussion or debate and the bill passed 44-0 without discussion or debate. It now goes to the House for its consideration.

• The Senate held a brief second special session floor session Tuesday to read two bills passed Monday by the House:

-HB 1034XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes a $5 million annual cap on the income tax credits for coal production for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation. It permits the credits to be carried over until fully used.

-HB 1036XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes $2 million annual cap on income tax credits for railroad reconstruction expenditures for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation.

• The Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee discussed 15 bills on Tuesday, and passed the following:

-CS for SB 1374, by Sen. Jason Smalley, with title stricken, prohibits a person or entity from operating a bicycle sharing company unless the person or entity maintains a current and valid combined single-limit policy of commercial general liability insurance coverage in the amount of at least $500,000 occurrence for bodily injury and property damage. The bill defines applicable terms. It establishes requirements for each dockless bicycle made available for reservation by a bicycle sharing company.

-CS for SB 1195, by Sen. Greg McCortney, with the title stricken, authorizes existing gaming compacts to add written supplement for non-house banked table games under the State-Tribal Gaming Act. It provides a definition for nonhouse-banked table games and allows for the collection of an administrative fee. The bill provides model language for supplement to compacts and specifies its contents. It also authorizes existing gaming compacts to add written supplement for sports pool games and provides a definition. It allows the collection of an administrative fee and allows tribes to seed pools or ports. It provides model language for supplement to compact and specifies its contents.

-CS for SB 1527, by Sen. Kay Floyd, with the title stricken, makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against an employee because of the wages of the employee or another employee with someone employed by the company. The bill also authorizes the Commissioner of Labor to impose a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200 for each separate violation per pay period and to recover costs of the investigation and proceedings against the employer. It also requires the employer to pay any back pay found to be owed to the employee. It also adds that upon final determination of a violation, if an administrative fine or costs of investigation and proceedings were imposed against the employer, such fine and costs are to be payable to the Department of Labor to be deposited in the Department of Labor Revolving Fund.

-CS for SB 1388, by Sen. Greg Treat, creates the Oklahoma Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. The bill states legislative findings. It defines applicable terms. The bill establishes it is applicable only to activities of a wireless provider within the rights-of-way to deploy small wireless facilities and associated utility poles. It prohibits an authority from entering into an exclusive arrangement with any person for use of the rights-of-way for the collocation of small wireless facilities or the installation, operation, marketing, modification, maintenance, or replacement of utility poles. It permits an authority only to charge a wireless provider a rate or fee for the use of the rights-of-way with respect to the collocation of small wireless facilities or the installation, maintenance, modification, operation or replacement of a utility pole in the right-of-way, if the authority charges other entities for use of the rights of way. It permits an authority, on a nondiscriminatory basis, to refrain from charging any rate to a wireless provider for the use of the right-of-way. It establishes the rate for use of the right of way.

-CS for SB 139, by Sen. Joseph Silk, with title stricken, exempts persons or business entities that do not buy, sell or act with intent to acquire or transfer title ownership to real estate in regards to unlicensed individuals acting as real estate licensees.

-The CS for SB 473, by Sen. John Sparks and Rep. Jon Echols, with title stricken, authorizes the surcharge of bank processing fee for use of credit cards on transactions in which money is advanced or paid by credit card to the agent, and deposited in the agent's lawful trust, escrow or holding account for the purpose of facilitating the activity or transaction.

-CS for SB 1535, by Sen. A J Griffin, with title stricken, adds definitions for labor only crew and prefabricated or pre-engineered metal building assembly to the Roofing Contractor Registration Act. The bill requires any administrative or governing body with authority to enter into public contracts to require individual roof and contractor registration for purposes of such persons submitting or entering into any bid or contract involving roofing contractor work. It provides exceptions to the Roofing Contractor Registration Act.

-CS for SB 1171, by Sen. Darcy Jech, creates the Work-based Learning Program. It grants the Governor's Council on Workforce and Economic Development shall have authority over the program. It requires the Governor's Council to initiate and coordinate the program by establishing partnerships with the State Department of Education, the State Regents for Higher Education, the State Department of Career and Technology Education, and business entities throughout the state. Any established office of workforce development. It requires the council to have the official duty to develop and maintain a work-based learning program within its jurisdiction to be focused on increasing the number of registered apprenticeships and internship programs in this state to at least an aggregate of 20,000 positions by the end of the calendar year 2020. It requires the Program to continue to support and encourage all state agencies, boards and commissions in their participation and establishment of appropriate apprenticeships and internships within their respective agency, board or commission.

-The CS for SB 1571, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, with title stricken authorizes a mixed beverage license holder to sell beer in original packages only for off-premises consumption, from 8:00 a.m. until midnight on the day of any regularly scheduled football game of the university in a municipality in which a university is located. The remaining six bills received due pass recommendations by the committee without discussion or debate.

-SB 1440, by Sen. Joseph Silk, prohibits a person or entity to sell a gift certificate or gift card to a purchaser that contains an expiration date that expires less than 12 months from the date of purchase.

-SB 1475, by Sen. Adam Pugh, with the title stricken, creates the Occupational Licensing Review Act. It prohibits any Oklahoma political subdivision from imposing any occupational fees or licensing requirements on any profession if the political subdivision does not already impose occupational fees or licensing requirements on that profession, notwithstanding any other provisions of law or rule. It allows the political subdivision to continue to so regulate any profession or occupation that is subject to occupational fees or licensing requirements on or before Nov. 1, 2018, if the occupation fees do not exceed $25 per year.

-SB 1332, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, permits establishments licensed prior to October 1, 2018, to sell low-point beer which were permitted to be located within 300 feet of any public or private school or church property primarily and regularly used for worship services and religious activities to have any alcoholic beverage license in effect on Oct. 1, 2018, transferred to a mixed beverage license, provided, if such an establishment ceases to regularly be open to the public or changes ownership, this provisions will cease to apply.

-SB 1334, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, requires an employee licensee under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act to successfully complete a training program conducted by the ABLE Commission, or by another entity approved by the ABLE Commission not later than 60 days after employment. It requires the employee license of any applicant who does not complete the training within the 60-day period be immediately revoked.

-SB 1506, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, with title stricken, transfers the Construction Industries Board to the Department of Labor. The bill establishes authority to transfer personnel, committees, records, contracts, obligations equipment, funds and responsibilities. It allows transferred employees to retain leave and benefits and directs the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to coordinate transfer of employees.

-SB 1395, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, it requires a licensed alcohol distributor that possesses inventory of a brand that it is no longer authorized for distribution within Oklahoma to sell the inventory to a licensed distributor authorized to distribute the brand at a price not to exceed the total of the actual purchase price of the selling distributor plus the cost of inbound and outbound shipping to the purchasing distributor. The bill exempts inventory purchased on or after Sept. 15,
2018.

• The Senate Public Safety committee met on Tuesday and approved many bills, including the following:

-CS for SB 1163, by Sen. Kim David, repeals language related to the giving of notice regarding driver’s license invalidation. It modifies the methods by which the Department of Public Safety must give notice. It requires the giving of notice by mail to be complete upon the expiration of ten days after deposit of the notice in the United States mail. It repeals language relating to the installation of an ignition interlock device. It requires such devices in specified instances. It provides for requests by drivers not to have ignition interlock devices installed and exceptions. It directs restrictions for driving privileges and the issuance of restricted driving privileges. It requires the fee authorized for the restricted driver license to be credited to the Department of Public Safety Restricted Revolving Fund. It requires all monies accrued therein for the fund to be budgeted and expended solely for the purpose of administering the provision of the Impaired Driver Accountability Program. It provides for the establishment of the program by the Department and for the Department to promulgate rules. It allows the Department to enter into a program agreement with an individual if certain criterion is met. It requires the records of the Department to be updated to indicate the person's completion of the program without revocation upon successful completion of the program. It designates the program's length for specific individuals.

-CS for SB 1164, by Sen. Kim David, repeals language related to the surrender of driver licenses. It allows a court to require a person convicted of any offense requiring the revocation of driving privileges to surrender all proof of driving privileges held by the convicted person. It requires every court with jurisdiction over offenses listed therein to forward to the Department of Public Safety a record of conviction of any such violation, and allows the court to recommend the suspension of the driving privileges of such person. It requires prosecutors to forward a notice of any deferred prosecution agreements for such individuals. It defines terms used therein. It repeals language related to the mandatory revocation of licenses. It requires the Department to revoke the driving privilege of any person, whether adult or juvenile, who, in any municipal, state or federal court within the United States, receives a deferred sentence, or a conviction, when such conviction has become final, or a deferred prosecution, for any of the offenses specified therein.

-CS for SB 1165, by Sen. Kim David, repeals language related to the use of a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device. It prohibits the authorization or permission of any person required to have such a device in their vehicle, but does not, to drive upon any street or highway in the state. It designates a penalty for those found in violation. It prohibits any person from tampering with the proper function of such a device. It designates a penalty for those found in violation of the provision.

-SB 949, by Sen. Wayne Shaw and Rep. JJ Humphrey, excludes the Department of Corrections from conducting a presentence investigation when order by the court for an individual who has a prior felony conviction and is convicted of a nonviolent offense. The bill changes the requirement that a district attorney have investigation conducted by the Department of Corrections on each person charged with a violent felony offense and entering a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere as part of or in exchange for a plea agreement for a violent felony offense to permissive language for such investigations.

-SB 1091, by Sen. Greg Treat and Rep. Dustin Roberts, removes the authority of district attorneys to seek enhancement of certain penalties for driving under the influence.

-SB 1096, by Sen. Greg McCortney and Rep. Todd Thomsen, creates an investigations unit within CLEET under the control and direction of the Executive Director or his/her designee. The bill permits CLEETS's executive director to commission peace officers to investigate violations of any state statute or administrative rule pertaining to the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act, the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act and certain statutes. It makes records, documents, reports and evidence obtained and created by the investigations unit subject to Oklahoma Open Records Act. It permits the executive director or any staff member appointed by the executive director as a peace officer to assist any federal, state, county or municipal law enforcement officer upon request. It requires fees collected for CLEET facility usage to be deposited in the C.L.E.E.T. Peace Officer Revolving Fund.

-CS for SB 1098, by Sen. Greg Treat, establishes a felony for any, with the intent to deprive another, to take a firearm by fraud of stealth, regardless of its value. It sets the punishment as a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for not more than five years or both. The committee substitute does not substantively change the bill.

-SB 1367, by Sen. Ervin Yen, prohibits a peace officer from taking a person into custody based reasonable determination and considering the facts and surrounding circumstances.

• The House met on Tuesday and approved the following bills:

-HB 2635, by Rep. Greg Babinec, prohibits the Motor Vehicle Report, as collected by the Department of Public Safety, from being deemed a "public civil record" and not subject to expungement. The bill passed on a vote of 87 to 0.

-HB 2882, by Rep. Josh West, 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. It requires CLEET to approve or deny an application to offer courses or training offered. It requires a notice of denial to include a clear and concise statement for which the denial is based. The bill permits individuals to pay their way through CLEET rather than being sponsored by an agency or a group. The bill passed on a vote of 72 and 14.

-HB 3222, by Rep. Jadine Nollan, repeals language related to a school rewards program for monetary prizes based on obsolete academic performance data measures. The bill passed on a vote of 88 to 0.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

• The Senate met Wednesday but heard no bills. Most of the day’s activity was done in committee to meet Thursday's deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be heard in a committee of their chamber of origin.

• The House gaveled in and gaveled out Wednesday without hearing any bills on the floor. Wednesday's legislative activity focused on committee work to meet Thursday’s deadline for bills to be heard in a committee of their chamber of origin.

• The House Appropriations and Budget Committee passed the following measures on Wednesday during a late session:

-HB 2716, by Rep. Tess Teague, reauthorizes the income tax checkoff related to the Oklahoma Pet Overpopulation Fund.

-HB 2768, by Rep. Mike Osburn, with title stricken, creates the Oklahoma Commerce and Tourism Agency Reorganization Act of 2018. It combines the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Department of Recreation and Tourism. It establishes an executive director, which is to be appointed by the governor. It specifies qualifications for the position and requires confirmation by the Oklahoma State Senate. It directs the Executive director to report to the Lieutenant Governor. The bill consolidates all assets, records and personnel of the department into the new entity. The bill also creates the Advisory Board for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tourism and specifies membership. Repeals statutory language regarding the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Act.

-CS for HB 2854, by Rep. Chad Caldwell, creates the Oklahoma Energy Content Tax Act of 2018. It levies new taxes, based on the energy content of a qualified energy source, on: petroleum refineries, natural gas processing plants, electric power generation facilities and lawfully recognized businesses engaged in the production of electricity by means of solar energy or wind power. It exempts oil and gas produced at point of extraction or electricity produced by a wind turbine with a nameplate capacity of less than 50 kilowatts. It exempts a qualified energy source in the possession of a common carrier, oil pipeline company, natural gas pipeline company, or business principally engaged in the business of transporting crude oil or natural gas. It directs the Oklahoma Tax Commission to establish processes to report and remit the taxes and provides that there is to be a 10 percent penalty of the principal amount.

-HB 2990, by Rep. Marcus McEntire, as amended, provides an income tax check-off for the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund. It allows taxpayers to designate a portion of their tax liability into the Fund. It creates the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund Revolving Fund. It allows the Department of Human Services to distribute monies into the fund. It specifies the method of payment of funds. It allows a refund for certain donations. It provides a time limit for the fund.

-HB 2991, by Rep. Marcus McEntire, with title stricken, requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to report to the Legislature by March 1 of each odd-numbered year on the overall incidence of the income tax and sales and other excise taxes. It specifies required content to be included in the reports.

-HB 3143, by Rep. Jason Dunnington, modifies the definition of the term "vendor" as it relates to proofs of sales tax exemptions. It prohibits vendors from requiring a person to show additional verification to claim the exemption if the person has furnished the vendor proof of eligibility for the exemption as issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

-CS for HB 3225, by Rep. Jadine Nollan, requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to make tax credit data available on its website, free of charge and downloadable. It sets minimum standards for what type of information must be disclosed about each tax credit.

-HB 3424, by Rep. John Pfeiffer, creates the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Reimbursement and Donation Fund for the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. It requires the Fund to consist of donations, insurance reimbursements, FEMA payments and other reimbursement monies received by the Department.

• House Public Safety Committee considered several gun related measures on Wednesday, including the following:

-CS for HB 3192, by Rep. Jeff Coody, creates the Oklahoma Firearms Act of 2018. The bill passed 11-5.

-HB 2951, by Rep. Jeff Coody, expands the proper use of guns and knives to include self-defense. It expands the scope of those permitted and not permitted to carry firearms. It prohibits the carrying of handguns, rifles or shotguns into any college, university or technology center school property, except as provided. It prohibits any person not lawfully present in the United States to carry specified weapons, including any pistol, rifle or any other dangerous firearm. It provides a penalty for those found in violation of this provision. It allows any person 21 years of age or older, except a convicted felon, to transport a pistol or handgun in a motor vehicle for the purpose of self-defense, provided the person is not involved in a crime. It prohibits a person from failing or refusing to identify the fact they are in actual possession of a firearm when the person comes into contact with any state or federal enforcement officer during the course of arrest, detainment or routine traffic stop. It requires disclosure of such information to such officer to be made at the first opportunity. It prescribes a penalty for those found in violation of the provision. It prohibits any firearms lawfully carried or transported as permitted from being confiscated unless otherwise provided. It authorizes law officers who are CLEET-certified to carry a service weapon approved and issued by their employing agency as well as a personal rifle or shotgun throughout the state while on or off duty. It modifies the requirements for the officers to carry such weapons, such as the required identification while not wearing the prescribed law enforcement uniform. The bill passed 10-6.

-CS for HB 2702, by Rep. Jon Echols, provides a penalty for dumping furniture or items of a specified weight. It increases the amount of certain traffic citation. It directs funds allocated therein to be transferred to the general fund of the county of the law enforcement officer issuing the citation.

-CS for HB 2889, by Rep. Zack Taylor, 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 his fingerprints taken by the sheriff in the county of his or her residence or by any other sheriff in the state of Oklahoma.

-CS for HB 3258, by Rep. Mark McBride, grants immunity from liability to any a licensed professional engineer or architect practicing within his or her area of expertise who agrees to voluntarily produce a risk-assessment report that is provided to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management that includes: options for hardening a school; options for installation of storm shelters or safe rooms in a school; or recommendations pertaining to the best locations for refuge areas already existing in the school. It exempts immunity for injury or damage resulting from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in rendering the voluntary professional services.

-HB 2526, by Rep. Bobby Cleveland, clarifies language regarding corporal punishment. It also defines the term "seclusion" to mean involuntary confinement alone in a room or area where the student is physically prevented from leaving, usually because the door or exit is locked or obstructed.

-HB 2631, by Rep. Greg Babinec, modifies the powers and duties of the Director of the Department of Corrections. It modifies employment qualifications and duties for correctional officers. It requires the director to issue an identification card to each correctional peace officer that identifies the person as a correctional peace officer and grants the person the authority to carry a firearm and make arrests. It requires the return of thee identification card under specified circumstances. It requires the director to develop and implement a basic course of instruction for correctional officers and outlines the requirements for the course. It requires the development and implementation of annual in-service training for correctional officers and outlines the requirements for thee training. It authorizes the director to authorize other employees of the Department to carry firearms anywhere in the state. It authorizes the director to enter into contracts with media or film production companies to shoot at property under the control of the Department and requires any funds received to be deposited into the Department of Corrections Revolving Fund.

-HB 2918, by Rep. Jeff Coody, removes the ability of an individual without a handgun license to carry a loaded or unloaded firearm open and unconcealed.

-HB 2951, by Rep. Jeff Coody, expands the proper use of guns and knives to include self-defense. It expands the scope of those permitted and not permitted to carry firearms. It prohibits the carrying of handguns, rifles or shotguns into any college, university or technology center school property, except as provided. It prohibits any person not lawfully present in the United States to carry specified weapons, including any pistol, rifle or any other dangerous firearm. It provides a penalty for those found in violation of this provision. It allows any person 21 years of age or older, except a convicted felon, to transport a pistol or handgun in a motor vehicle for the purpose of self-defense, provided the person is not involved in a crime. It prohibits a person from failing or refusing to identify the fact they are in actual possession of a firearm when the person comes into contact with any state or federal enforcement officer during the course of arrest, detainment or routine traffic stop. It requires disclosure of such information to such officer to be made at the first opportunity.

-HB 3270, by Mark McBride, creates the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act. The bill allows the Department of Public Safety to establish automated traffic control systems in construction or maintenance zones established by the Department of Transportation or the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. It requires automated traffic control systems to operate only during periods when workers are present in the construction or maintenance zone where the system is located. It requires the State to prove that one or more workers were present at the time of an incident when prosecutions are based upon evidence obtained through an automated traffic control system established under the provisions of the act. It provides that the penalty for a traffic violation recorded by an automated traffic control system will be the same as otherwise provided by statute for the violation.

-HB 3304, by Rep. Harold Wright, prohibits court costs for speeding tickets from surpassing $70 for tickets from one to five miles over the limit and $90 for tickets six to 10 miles over the limit.

-HB 3306, by Rep. Harold Wright, 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.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

• No legislation was taken up during the Senate's regular session floor session before it adjourned.

• The Senate approved three bills in a second special session floor session Thursday, including one measure that completes the fiscal year 2018 budget and begins the FY2019 budget.

-HB 1022XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim
David, appropriates $31.8 million from the FY2017 General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma State Senate Health Care Authority to replace federal funds withheld due to the deferred federal financial participation expenditures claimed on the Quarterly Medicaid Statement of Expenditure. It appropriates $110.0 million from the FY2019 General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to be distributed to Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma for the benefit of the Deans Graduate Medical Education Program, in the same ratio as such funds were provided for such purpose by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority in fiscal year 2017. The joint committee report was adopted and the bill and its emergency clause passed 44-0.

-HB 1034XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes a $5 million annual cap on the income tax credits for coal production for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation. It permits the credits to be carried over until fully used. The joint committee report was adopted by unanimous consent and the bill passed 40-3.

-HB 1036XX, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Eddie Fields, and Sen. Kim David, imposes $2 million annual cap on income tax credits for railroad reconstruction expenditures for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. It requires the Tax Commission to calculate and publish annually a percentage by which the credits will be reduced so the total amount of credits used to offset tax or paid as a refund does not exceed $5 million. It establishes the formulas for the calculation. The joint committee report was adopted by unanimous consent and the bill passed 39-5.

The three bills now go to Gov. Mary Fallin for her consideration.

• The Senate Public Safety committee met on Thursday and approved the following bills:

-CS for SB 1237, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, modifies the duties of the Department of Corrections director to include the possible inclusion in a federally-funded pilot program sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission relating to the use of cellular and electronic communication devices within the statewide network of prisons in Oklahoma. It authorizes the director, in the event that the Federal Communications Commission amends the regulations relating to the use of cellular and electronic communication devices within prisons, to initiate a pilot program regarding the use of available technology to prohibit the use of cellular and electronic communication devices by incarcerated offenders within the statewide network of prisons in Oklahoma. It also authorizes the director, absent regulations of the Federal Communications Commission prohibiting the use of such technology, to use available technology to prohibit the use of cellular and electronic communication devices by incarcerated offenders within the statewide network of prisons in Oklahoma using federal or state funds.

-CS for SB 919, by Sen. Kay Floyd, removes existing guidelines for those who may be considered by the Pardon and Parole Board for a specialized parole. It provides offenders may be considered for specialized parole who are 60 years of age or older and have served, in actual custody, the shorter of 10 years of the term or terms of imprisonment, or one-third of the total term or terms of imprisonment, have not been convicted of a crime that would require the person to be subject to the registration requirements of the Sex Offender Registration Act, are not imprisoned for a crime pursuant to Section 13.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes or Section 571 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and pose minimal public safety risk warranting continued imprisonment as determined by the Pardon and Parole Board using an evidence based risk assessment. It requires eligible inmates upon application to be placed on the next available Pardon and Parole Board docket. It permits the board to recommend the offender's release if it finds the offender can live and remain at liberty without posing a substantial risk to public safety.

-SB 1024, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, adds "lawful permit residents" to the list of those who permitted to make application for a handgun license. The bill clarifies references to the welfare of the public.

-CS for SB 1025, by Sen. Lonnie Paxton, makes the limitation on driving in the left lane only for passing applicable only on an interstate highway or turnpike. The committee substitute specifies that the limitation applies only to the furthest left-hand lane.

-SB 1221, by Sen. James Leewright, expands the scope of zone of safety restrictions to include residence of victims of a sex crime.

-SB 1266, by Sen. Roland Pederson, establishes exemptions when a person driving under a commercial class A license will not be required to obtain a hazardous material endorsement pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Section 383.

-SB 1419, by Sen. J.J. Dossett, makes it unlawful for any person operating a motor vehicle on any street or highway to use a handheld electronic communications device, while the vehicle is in motion, in a school zone, during normal school hours, unless the device is used with an accessory which allows the person to communicate without the use of his or her hands, other than to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function of the device.

-SB 1474, by Sen. John Sparks, prohibits stopping, standing or parking a vehicle within a highway underway except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law enforcement or traffic-control device. It deems those found in violation to be guilty of a misdemeanor.

-The committee also gave a do pass recommendation to Gov. Mary Fallin's nomination of Greg Mashburn, from Norman, to serve on the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Commission, for a seven-year term ending Dec.31, 2025, and succeeding himself.

• The Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee met Thursday and approved many bills, including:

-SB 1489, by Sen. James Leewright, removes language prohibiting an officer, director or stockholder or an agent or owner of any establishment at which low point beer is sold from becoming bail bondsmen.

-SB 1499, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, allows the Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission to issue a license to a person who has been convicted of a felony if such conviction was more than five years prior to the issuance of the license.

-SB 1570, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, makes it unlawful for a wholesaler to discriminate, directly or indirectly, in price between one wine and spirits wholesaler and another wine and spirits wholesaler within a county.

-SB 559, by Sen. John Sparks, eliminates statutory language related to garnishment under the Consumer Credit Code.

-SB 1063, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, defines certain terms under the Massage Therapy Act. It prohibits a person from practice massage therapy unless licensed. It prohibits any person from operating, maintaining or managing a massage therapy establishment without first obtaining a license from the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It clarifies language related to injunctive relief. It clarifies language related to membership of the Advisory Board on Massage Therapy. The bill removes outdated language. The bill reduces the cost of a duplicative license fee from $10 to $5. The bill modifies licensing requirements. It requires applicants to submit to a national criminal history record check and to pay the cost of the record check. It prohibits licensure of an applicant who has been convicted of, received a deferred sentence for or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendre to certain charges.

-SB1170, by Sen. Darcy Jech, exempts specified commercial business entities and employees from the Roofing Contractor Registration Act.

-SB 1172, by Sen. Greg Treat, allows a loan database provider to charge a supervised lender a verification fee for access to the loan database and for submission of information to the database for each month that a loan payment balance is scheduled and outstanding on a supervised loan transaction. It requires all verification fee amounts charged by a loan database provider to a supervised lender to be approved by the Administrator of Consumer Affairs and established by rule.

-SB 1174, by Sen. Kim David, creates the Freedom to Work Act. It prohibits any Oklahoma political subdivision from imposing any occupational fees or licensing requirements on any profession if the political subdivision does not already impose occupational fees or licensing requirements on that profession, notwithstanding any other provisions of law or rule. It allows the political subdivision to continue to so regulate any profession or occupation that is subject to occupational fees or licensing requirements on or before Nov. 1, 2018, if the occupation fees do not exceed $25 per year. It prohibits the existing occupational fees from applying if they do not exceed $25 and requires the licensing authority to immediately reduce occupational fees in accordance with the limits set therein. It prohibits any political subdivision of the state from imposing any regulations on such professions that add additional licensing requirements to those already imposed by a state licensing authority.

-SB 1405, by Sen. Adam Pugh, removes the Lieutenant Governor as a voting ex officio member of the Oklahoma Tourism Commission. It gives the authority to appoint members to the commission to the Lt. Governor, rather than the Governor. It permits the Lt. Governor to appoint the Department of Tourism and Recreation's executive director.

-SB 1449, by Sen. Marty Quinn, specifies a municipal subdivision may choose to withdraw from a fire protection district.

• The Senate Appropriations Committee met and considered numerous bills in a lengthy session. Members approved the following:

-SB 337, by Sen. David Holt and Rep. Greg Babinec, requires each retailer or vendor making sales of tangible personal property from a place of business outside this state for use in this state that does not collect use tax shall file an annual statement for each purchaser to the Oklahoma Tax Commission on such forms as are provided or approved by the Tax Commission showing the total amount paid for Oklahoma purchases made by the purchaser during the preceding calendar year or any portion thereof, and such annual statement shall be filed on or before March 1 of each year. It allows the Tax Commission to require any retailer or vendor that does not collect use tax, and that makes total Oklahoma sales of more than $100,000 in a year, to electronically file an annual statement. It establishes penalties for those found in violation of this provision.

-SB 922, by Sen. Frank Simpson, requires the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the Oklahoma Women Veterans Program that will be housed within the office of the executive director. It provides the mission of the program will be to ensure that women veterans in the State of Oklahoma have equitable access to federal and state veterans' benefits and services. It requires the executive director to designate a women veterans’ coordinator for the State of Oklahoma. The bill establishes the program's requirements. It permits the department, on behalf of the program, to accept and spend funds appropriated to the department for the operation of the program and received from other sources, including donations and grants and to provide matching grants to assist in the implementation of the program's goals and objectives. It requires the department not later than Nov. 1 of each even-numbered year to submit to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Oklahoma Veterans Commission and the Legislature a report on women veterans in the state. The bill permits the report to be delivered electronically and establishes requirements for the report. The bill authorizes the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to promulgate necessary rules.

-CS for SB 923, by Sen. Roger Thompson and Rep. Leslie Osborn, modifies the maximum number of employees for a business to participate in the Small Employer Quality Jobs Incentive Act from 90 full-time employees to 500 full-time employees. The committee substitute originally was adopted in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance.

-SB 932, by Sen. Frank Simpson, 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.

-CS for SB0936, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, requires the State Board of Education to accept teaching experience from out-of-country schools when the person was a member of the Peace Corps. The committee substitute originally was adopted by the Senate Education Committee.

-SB 944, by Sen. Stephanie Bice, requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services' Division of Central Accounting and Reporting to establish a mandatory training program to identify and certify certain Oklahoma state agency employees as financial managers, including those who oversee purchasing, finance and other vital fiscal functions of state agencies. The bill permits the division to assess a fee to state agencies for such training that does not exceed each state agency's pro rata share of the costs the division incurs to provide the training.

-SB 1011, as amended, by Sen. Josh Brecheen, authorizes agency directors to place a moratorium on pass-through funding during a fiscal year when the agency's total appropriations are less than the prior fiscal year's total appropriations. The bill defines the term "pass-through funding" to mean appropriated state dollars which have been historically allocated to any entity or organization as part of an annual budget and which are not matched by federal funds or set out as a line item in any appropriations bill or legislation. The amendment permits proportionate reduction of the pass-throughs based on the level of budget reductions.

-SB 1131, by Sen. Darcy Jech, creates the Oklahoma State Safety Oversight Program. The bill requires the program to be overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. It requires the department to develop and enforce the Oklahoma State Safety Oversight Program Standards for all private and public rail fixed guideway systems statewide that are not administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. It gives the department complete authority to implement, enforce and oversee the Oklahoma State Safety Oversight Program in accordance with requirements outlined in the 49 CFR, Section 674 as amended. It authorizes the department to apply for, receive and expend Federal State Safety Oversight Program funds in strict accordance with applicable state and federal law, rules and regulations.

-SB 1184, by Sen. Eddie Fields and Rep. Harold Wright, removes the requirement that the Oklahoma Department of Commerce assist the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority and places that authority under the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It directs all funds currently held in the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority Fund to remain in the fund and be available for use by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) as prescribed by state law.

-SB 1241, by Sen. Josh Brecheen and Rep. Todd Russ, creates the Oklahoma Water Sustainability Act. The bill declares that to efficiently utilize and orderly develop the water resources available within each geographic region of this state for the benefit of our citizens, the public policy of Oklahoma is to promote and support the planning and development of long-term water projects to achieve this policy using programs and incentives that first seek to maximize the efficient use of water resources available within each region. The bill states that the Legislature finds that prioritizing efforts to more efficiently develop our state's water resources to meet the needs of all areas within the state is consistent with the provisions of Oklahoma Statutes, provided the act cannot be construed as amending the provisions of law pertaining to rights or permits to use water.

-SB 1270, by Sen. Adam Pugh, requires, beginning with FY 2020 and every four years, that the itemized budget request submitted by a state agency to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services justify every dollar requested by the state agency, including the base appropriated amount as well as any additional funds requested for the ensuing fiscal year. It requires the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations and Budget committee to determine the four-year schedule of agencies subject to the zero-based budgeting requirement and to submit the schedule to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for distribution to all state agencies.

• The House heard and passed five bills Thursday before adjourning for the week. It approved the following bills:

-SB 1582, by Sen. Eddie Fields, Sen. Kim David, Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, appropriates $19.9 million from the Unclaimed Property Fund to the Oklahoma Lottery Trust Fund to make up for the supplanting of education funds in FY2018 appropriations. The bill and its emergency passed 88-5. It now goes to Gov. Mary Fallin for her consideration.

-HB 2522, by Rep. Randy McDaniel and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, appropriates $6 million to the Employment Security Administration Fund used by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for the purpose of paying administrative expenses for the Employment Service Program and Unemployment Insurance Program. The measure passed 91-0.

-HB 2523, by Rep. Randy McDaniel and Sen. Julie Daniels, modifies the wage requirement for an unemployed individual's base period. It requires wage figures to determine eligibility for benefits once the alternative base period wages are determined. It deletes an exemption related to educational institutions. It adds exemptions for educational service contractors. It modifies exemptions and alters disqualification to receive benefits. It requires claim notices to contain an admonition that failure to respond to the notice could affect an employer's tax rate. The bill passed 89-0.

-HB 3124, by Rep. Carol Bush and Rep. Meloyde Blancett, creates the 14-member Oklahoma Commission on Aging with Serious Mental Illness to study, evaluate and make recommendations for any changes to state policy, rules or statutes to more efficiently and effectively serve the health and mental health needs of Oklahomans who are aging with serious mental illness. The bill establishes membership and meeting requirements. The bill and its emergency passed 76-15.

-HB2643, 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. Roberts' bill and emergency passed 92-0.

• House Common Education Chair Michael Rogers announced Thursday he will immediately step down from his chairmanship position and will not seek a second term in office. He cited his wife’s health as a primary reason for the decision. Rogers was first elected in 2014 and would not hit his term limit until 2026. Along with serving as the chair on the House Common Education Committee, he also sits on the House Appropriation and Budget Subcommittee on Health, the Banking and Business Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He is also an assistant majority whip.

Other News

• Governor Mary Fallin signed HB 1020XX, the Fiscal Year 2018 budget bill, into law on Tuesday. The $6.98 billion budget covers the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The measure cuts spending by about $44.7 million and requires every state agency to cut about 2 percent from their budgets over the next four months. It is the result of two special sessions that Fallin convened after three health-related agencies were in danger of a $214 million budget shortfall last August when a proposed smoking cessation fee was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

• Governor Fallin announced this week the reappointment of former Oklahoma Attorney General Michael C. Turpen to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Turpen, of Oklahoma City, served as Oklahoma attorney general from 1983 to 1987. Since 1987, he has been a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Pending confirmation by the state Senate, Turpen will serve a second nine-year term that expires in May 2027.

• Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz and Lt. Governor Todd Lamb met this week to discuss school security and safety. In 2012, Lt. Governor Lamb chaired the Oklahoma Commission on School Security (OCSS), which issued a detailed report of findings and recommendations on school security and safety issues. Lamb said he plans to meet again with those who served on the 2012 commission, and whose work has served as a national model for other states studying school security issues.

Pro Tem Schulz said he appreciated Lamb sharing his input and expertise earned after more than a decade of work on school security. Legislation Lamb sponsored while a member of the Senate has served as model legislation for other states reviewing school security issues. Schulz also said he wanted to further the conversation on school security as legislators consider, in the wake of the Florida tragedy, if any further action is necessary on school security.
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• Governor Mary Fallin this week announced she has selected Oklahoma Tax Commissioner Clark Jolley to serve on her executive Cabinet as secretary of finance, administration and information technology. Jolley, of Edmond, is vice chairman of the Tax Commission and a former state senator. His appointment requires Senate confirmation. He succeeds Preston Doerflinger, who resigned last month. As secretary of finance, information and technology, Jolley will be responsible for advising the governor on fiscal policies. Jolley served in the state Senate from 2004 until 2016.