Monday, Feb. 28 to Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2011

Monday, February 28

• The Senate approved the following bills on Monday:

-SB 862 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, removes language stating that a defendant is jointly and severally liable for the damages recoverable by a plaintiff in the percentage of responsibility attributed to the defendant with respect to a cause of action greater than 50 percent and if at the time the incident occurred that gave rise to the cause of action, a joint tortfeasor acted with willful and wanton conduct or with reckless disregard and the conduct proximately caused the damages legally recoverable by the plaintiff, the liability damages shall be joint and several.

-SB 2 by Sen. John Ford, requires the State Board of Education to adopt expected alternate year percentage growth targets for all public secondary schools and school districts based on high school graduation rates and establishes procedures for calculating their targets.

-SB 4 by Sen. Jim Wilson, modifies language related to the Sales Tax Relief Act.

-SB 96 by Sen. Harry Coates, modifies the Public Competitive Bidding Act, increasing the maximum construction contract amount that may be negotiated with a qualified contractor.

-SB 122 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, delays apportionment of gross production taxes to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board Rural Economic Action Plan water projects until the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014.

-SB 123 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies language related to certification of qualification for certain income tax credits.

-SB 127 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, modifies the definition of “public construction contract”.

-SB 154 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, clarifies language related to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs
Act.

-SB 235 by Sen. Eddie Fields, requires the commissioner of public safety to consult with the Department of Transportation when issuing special permits to any person allowing the movement of a house or building on state and federal highways.

-SB 256 by Sen. John Ford, allows any charter school which chooses to lease property to be eligible to receive current government lease rates.

-SB 280 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, eliminates the requirement of ongoing weekly telephonic communication between teacher and student and monthly telephonic communication between teacher and parent from the rules the State Board of Education is required to adopt for the implementation of online courses.

-SB 377 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, requires the Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System to establish an investment committee.

-SB 426 by Sen. Bill Brown, permits the governing body of a technology center to delegate approval of change orders up to $40,000 or 10 percent of any contract, whichever is less, to the chief administrative officer or their designee with any approved change orders reported to the governing body at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

-SB 729 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies requirements for applications for certificates of title for salvages and unrecovered theft vehicles.

-SB 730 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, authorizes the Oklahoma Tax Commission to use available cash funds from the unclassified taxes account to pay income tax refunds if current collections from the same source are insufficient.

-SB 733 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, states that all statutes in the Oklahoma Tax Code shall become operational according to the effective date or emergency clause provided in the enacting act or 90 days after sine die adjournment unless the Legislature has expressed the intent of retroactive operation.

-SB 744 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, allows a purchaser of advertising and promotional direct mail to provide the seller with either a direct pay permit, a certificate of exemption claiming promotional direct mail or information showing the jurisdictions to which the promotional direct mail is to be delivered.

-SB 850 by Sen. Greg Treat, requires agencies filing rules under the Administrative Procedures Act to provide the citation to any federal or state law, court ruling or any other authority requiring the new rule or amended rule at the beginning of each rule.

• Senate committees approved the following measures on Monday:

-SB 16 by Sen. Don Barrington, modifies language related to the salary of county officers, allowing, rather than requiring that they be increased from the basic salary.

-SB 90 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies language related to municipal sinking funds, decreasing from one-third to one-fifth the amount that may be used for outstanding judgments against the municipality.

-SB 145 by Sen. Mike Schulz, clarifies language related to the Oklahoma Energy Independence Act.

-SB 172 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, modifies language relating to owners of land petitioning a municipal governing body for improvement of any street, alley, lane or avenue.

-SB 184 by Sen. Harry Coates, removes language requiring the state construction administrator to file an annual report to the Legislature summarizing cost information for each construction management project completed in the preceding year.

-SB 204 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, provides procedures for notification of bidders and the public by public agencies entering into an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.

-SB 286 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Municipal Tax Enforcement Revolving Fund.

-SB 637 by Sen. Charles Wyrick, disapproves permanent rules of the Oklahoma Board of Commercial Pet Breeders.

-SB 773 by Sen. Eddie Fields, prohibits the executive director of the State Board of Commercial Pet Breeders from being eligible to be elected as an officer of the board.

-SB 58 by Sen. Eddie Fields, exempts an apiary, colony, hive, apiary equipment or premise inspected by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and issued a certificate of inspection from Department of Health inspection procedures if the beekeeper is producing and selling honey or a similar product.

-SB 228 by Sen. Ron Justice, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Agriculture Environmental Permitting Act.

-SB 420 by Sen. Eddie Fields, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Agricultural Environmental Permitting Act.

• The House approved the following measures on Monday:

-HB 1002 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, removes reference to the Reserve for Investment Fluctuations Fund and the Membership Annuity Reserve Fund from the list of assets under the Teachers’ Retirement System.

-HB 1225 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, directs parties submitting an initiative petition that requires a funding source to submit to the secretary of state and the attorney general a statement outlining all sources of funding to be used in the measure.

-HB 1051 by Rep. Mike Sanders, designates each elected officer of a county, rather than the county clerk alone, as the custodian and repository of all inventory records, files and reports, and gives each officer authority to destroy such records.

-HB 1374 by Rep. Cory Holland, modifies language related to the State Textbook Committee.

• House committees met Monday and approved the following legislation:

-HB 2128 by Rep. Kris Steele, reduces from $400,000 to $300,000 the cap on noneconomic damage awards for bodily injury.

-HB 1748 by Rep. Jason Nelson, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Adoption Code.

-HB 2024 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, creates the Oklahoma Lawsuit Reform Act.

-HB 2038 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, modifies language related to the Workers’ Compensation Act.

-HB 1446 by Rep. George Faught, creates the Oklahoma Immigration Act of 2011.

-HB 1552 by Rep. Sally Kern, makes a ruling or contract by any court, arbitration, tribunal or administrative agency void and not enforceable in Oklahoma courts if the court, arbitration, tribunal or administrative agency bases its rulings or decisions in the matter at issue in whole or in part on any law, rule, legal code or system that would not grant the parties affected by the ruling or decision the same fundamental liberties, rights and privileges granted under the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions.

-HB 1209 by Rep. Dan Kirby, exempts from liability for damages, except acts of gross negligence or willful or wanton negligence, any physician acting as a ring official at an event sanctioned by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission who renders or attempts to render emergency care to an injured participant in need of immediate aid.

-HB 1211 by Rep. Dan Kirby, modifies language related to underage drinking.

-HB 1361 by Rep. Ron Peters, modifies the definition of “Oklahoma assets” under the Family Wealth Preservation Trust Act.

-HB 1507 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, creates Aaron’s Law.

-HB 1555 by Rep. Fred Jordan, creates the Oklahoma Veterans’ Treatment Court Act.

Tuesday, March 1

• The Senate approved the following bills on Tuesday:

-SB 865 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, provides the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions applicable in a civil case will include an instruction notifying the jury that no part of an award for damages for personal injury or wrongful death is subject to federal or state income tax.

-SB 10 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, exempts county treasurers who also serve as school district treasurers from a requirement that school district encumbrance clerks and treasurers complete at least 12 hours of instruction on school finance laws.

-SB 38 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, adding a definition of “rebodied vehicle.”

-SB 54 by Sen. Ron Justice, removes language regarding qualifications for district attorneys prior to July 1, 1990.

-SB 117 by Sen. Roger Ballenger, requires a candidate for the office of county commissioner to have been a registered voter within the county commissioner district and a resident in such district at least six months prior to the first day of the candidate filing period.

-SB 214 by Sen. Sean Burrage, requires any person disqualified as a member of a county election board or absentee voting board due to candidacy or employment by a candidate to resign the office no later than 10 days after the date on which candidacy was filed.

-SB 253 by Sen. Bill Brown, designates Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day.

-SB 304 by Sen. David Holt, designates the southbound bridge on U.S. 722/U.S. crossing the Red River as “President George W. Bush Bridge.”

-SB 328 by Sen. John Ford, states legislative intent that the current Oklahoma Election Management System be replaced with a new system consistent with the federal Help America Vote Act.

-SB 395 by Sen. Bill Brown, requires the Honor and Remember Flag to be displayed under the flag of the United States at the south plaza of the state Capitol building upon notification to the governor by the adjutant general of the death of any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is either killed in the line of duty in a combat zone or dies of wounds inflicted in the combat zone and who was a resident of Oklahoma.

-SB 406 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, increases the time limits for picketing at funerals from one hour before and after the funeral to two hours before and after the funeral, and extends the distance from 500 to 1,000 feet from the service.

-SB 576 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, authorizes the Department of Human Services to release a delinquent or missing parent “Most Wanted” type list of individuals who are in arrears in their district or administrative court-ordered child support obligations or who are sought for the purpose of establishing a child support order.
-SB 577 by Sen. Bill Brown, states that the Oklahoma Police Pension Retirement System is in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as it applies to the system if the system complies with a reasonable and good faith interpretation of certain provisions.

-SB 584 by Sen. Bill Brown, allows the spouse of a member of law enforcement to have a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer of any portion of such beneficiary’s distribution from the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System to a Roth IRA.

-SB 693 by Sen. Andrew Rice, creates the Oklahoma Congressional Redistricting Act of 2011.

-SB 783 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, creates a Drug Court and Community Sentencing Reform Task Force.

-SB 808 by Sen. David Holt, moves the date of presidential primary elections from the first Tuesday of February to the first Tuesday of March.

-SB 821 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the State Senate Redistricting Act of 2011.

-SB 822 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the State Senate Redistricting Act of 2011.

-SB 823 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the State Senate Redistricting Act of 2011.

-SB 824 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the State Senate Redistricting Act of 2011.

• Senate committees approved the following bills on Tuesday:

-SB 969 by Sen. Dan Newberry, creates the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

-SB 21 by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, directs individual and corporate tax return forms to contain a provision allowing a donation from a tax refund for the support of music festivals held in the historic Greenwood District.

-SB 46 by Rep. Don Barrington, exempts the surviving and un-remarried spouse of a deceased 100 percent disabled veteran from sales tax on personal property.

-SB 216 by Sen. Susan Paddack, creates a Task Force on the Collection, Distribution and Enforcement of Municipal Sales Tax.

-SB 748 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Military Reservist Economic Injury and Veteran-Owned Small Business Act.

-SB 885 by Sen. Cliff Branan, establishes that the production of oil and gas from horizontally drilled wells shall be taxed at a rate of 1 percent for the first 48 months of production.

-SJR 16 by Sen. John Sparks, proposes a constitutional amendment allowing a disabled veteran to claim a homestead exemption for the full amount of a manufactured home used as his or her principal residence whether the home is located on real property owned by the veteran if he or she has been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Oklahoma National Guard and has a 100 percent permanent disability sustained through military action or accident or resulting from disease contracted while in active service.

• The House convened Tuesday and approved the following measures:

-HB 1007 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, creates the Pension Funding Accountability Act of 2011.

-HB 1363 by Rep. Ron Peters, creates the Oklahoma Choices for Long-Term Care Act.

-HB 1918 by Rep. Ann Coody, requires the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to develop and administer mathematics professional development programs.

-HB 1034 by Rep. Jason Murphey, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act.

-HB 1197 by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, creates a Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force.

-HB 1230 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, modifies requirements for applications for certificates of title for salvaged theft vehicles.

-HB 1274 by Rep. Emily Virgin, allows any special education teacher who becomes certified to teach through the completion of an accredited teacher preparation program to be certified in early childhood or elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject portion of the examination.

-HB 1338 by Rep. Brian Renegar, lowers from age 35 to 30 the minimum age at which a person may purchase or receive a hunting license or license tag unless he or she possesses or can exhibit a certificate of competency and safety in the use of handling firearms from the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

-HB 1382 by Rep. Donald Condit, modifies language related to aggravated circumstances for murder, replacing reference to “guard” with “correctional employee” of a Department of Corrections institution.

-HB 1489 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, modifies the Taxpayer Transparency Act.

• House committees met Tuesday and approved the following measures:

-HB 1684 by Rep. Tom Newell, allows the Board of Health to promulgate rules that establish a schedule of family cost participation fees for early intervention services.

-HB 1571 by Rep. Steven Vaughan, establishes that all persons are created free and have inalienable rights.

-HB 1411 by Rep. Charles Joyner, directs the Rails Program Division of the Department of Transportation to become known as the Oklahoma Railways Commission.

-HB 1087 by Rep. John R. Bennett, increases from 13.5 to 15 feet the maximum height of any vehicle, with or without load.

-HB 1495 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, creates the Transportation Infrastructure Reform Act of 2011.

-HB 1814 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, increases from $250,000 to $500,000 the maximum amount a special maintenance project can cost without requiring the Transportation Commission to render a judgment.

-HB 2022 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, authorizes the Oklahoma Tax Commission to design and issue the Juvenile Diabetes Research License Plate.

-HB 1854 by Rep. Jabar Shumate, states legislative intent that the State Regents for Higher Education adopt a policy for each institution within the State System of Higher Education that has a teacher education program that will require equal access for statewide professional educators’ associations to students enrolled in the program.

-HB 1930 by Rep. Jerry McPeak, modifies language related to what documents employees of public educational institutions may keep confidential.

-HB 1422 by Rep. Dennis Casey, directs the plan year established under the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to begin on the first day of July for education employees effective for the plan year beginning Jan. 1, 2012.

-HB 1218 by Rep. Dan Kirby, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Children’s Code.

-HB 1969 by Rep. Glen Mulready, creates the Oklahoma Insurance Code.

-HB 1821 by Rep. John Trebilcock, creates the Wind Energy Generation and Transmission Act.

-HB 2003 by Rep. Joe Dorman, requires the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to bear the entire cost of locating utility lines under a turnpike for qualified economic development utility line projects requiring such location within the limits of municipalities.

-HB 1909 by Rep. Mike Jackson, directs the Corporation Commission to find ways in which the drilling of certain horizontal wells in shale formations can be done in order to modify the oil and gas regulatory scheme in Oklahoma.

-HB 1821 by Rep. John Trebilcock, creates the Wind Energy Generation and Transmission Act.

-HB 2003 by Rep. Joe Dorman, requires the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to bear the entire cost of locating utility lines under a turnpike for qualified economic development utility line projects requiring such location within the limits of municipalities.

-HB 1909 by Rep. Mike Jackson, directs the Corporation Commission to find ways in which the drilling of certain horizontal wells in shale formations can be done in order to modify the oil and gas regulatory scheme in Oklahoma.

-HB 1001 by Rep. Mike Reynolds, creates the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act.

-HB 1402 by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, creates the Women’s Health Defense Act.

-HB 2020 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Public Health Code.

-HB 2130 by Rep. Kris Steele, provides for the members of the Health Care for the Uninsured Board and provides that the board will hold its first meeting no later than Dec. 15, 2011.

-HB 1377 by Rep. Corey Holland, directs the Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to promulgate rules and standards to certify a facility or organization as a mental illness service program for three years, subject to renewal.

-HB 1429 by Rep. Doug Cox, directs the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to develop a cost-neutral or cost-positive plan to provide bariatric surgery coverage for eligible employees.

-HB 1503 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, requires all prescriptions communicated by electronic transmission to be transmitted directly to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in a licensed pharmacy of the patient’s choice with no intervening person having access to the prescription.

-HB 1638 by Rep. Charles Ortega, allows the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to enter into a contract for professional services at any time with a registered nurse or pharmacist or person meeting the definition of “licensed mental health professional.”

-HB 1826 by Rep. John Trebilcock, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act.

-HB 1894 by Rep. Seneca Scott, modifies language related to district attorneys representing people in court proceedings related to mental health law.

-HB 1994 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, creates the Oklahoma Healthcare Professionals Act of 2011.

-HB 1585 by Rep. Todd Thomsen, extends the current academic standards for high school students.

-HB 1269 by Rep. Ann Coody, requires all public school reading teachers who teach kindergarten through third grade to incorporate into instruction the five elements of reading instruction, which are phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

-HB 1744 by Rep. Jason Nelson, modifies the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.

-HB 1380 by Rep. Corey Holland, removes the definition of “career teacher” in language related to teacher contracts.

-HB 1268 by Rep. Ann Coody, requires students entering the ninth grade in the 2011-2012 academic year to complete four units of mathematics prior to graduation instead of three units.

-HB 1001 by Rep. Mike Reynolds, creates the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act.

-HB 1270 by Rep. Ann Coody, creates the Health Education for Middle Schools Act of 2011.

-HB 1332 by Rep. Charles Key, creates the Bill of Rights Education Act of 2011.

-HB 1430 by Rep. Jerry McPeak, requires a person applying as a substitute teacher to have a national criminal history record check every three years.

-HB 1465 by Rep. Dennis Johnson, states that children who reach age 5 on or before June 1 and who are under age 21 on or before June 1 are entitled to attend school free of charge in their residential district.

-HB 1914 by Rep. Skye McNiel, modifies language related to the requirement that each school district providing driver education prescribe regulations determining who can receive instruction under the program.

Wednesday, March 2

• The Senate approved the following measures on Wednesday:

-SB 3 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, allows qualified aerospace employers to qualify for and receive a tax credit equal to 50 percent of tuition reimbursement.

-SB 45 by Sen. Earl Garrison, designates the bridge over the Arkansas River on U.S. Highway 62 within the city limits of Muskogee the “Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge.”

-SB 102 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, modifies loan repayment conditions under the Oklahoma Energy Independence Act.

-SB 270 by Sen. Sean Burrage, requires any person who performs any audit to be performed in accordance with Statements on Auditing Standards.

-SB 289 by Sen. Kim David, eliminates the requirement that cost of attorneys, appraisers, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants or an accounting firm or individuals holding a permit to practice public accounting, certified financials examiners or other professionals and specialists as examiners to perform examinations under the authority of the Commissioner of Insurance be borne by the company subject to the examination.

-SB 379 by Sen. Frank Simpson, prohibits any owner or operator of a homemade amusement ride from operating or offering to operate the ride in a public or group setting without a state permit and certificate of inspection from the Department of Labor.

-SB 417 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, prohibits those involved in the collection and disposal of solid waste or recycling material from stopping, standing or parking a vehicle on a sidewalk, within an intersection, alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.

-SB 595 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, directs the secretary of transportation to complete a feasibility study of alternative highway advertising programs.

• Senate committees passed numerous bills on Wednesday, including the following:

-SB 820 by Sen. Mark Allen, requires any prisoner in the custody of the Department of Corrections that is subject to an order of deportation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to also have any person related within the third degree by affinity or consanguinity to the prisoner and who is receiving any state assistance and are determined to maintain an illegal presence subject to deportation and done so without prejudice to nationality, color, race, religion or gender.

-SB 908 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, makes it unlawful for a person to intentionally engage in the smuggling of human beings for profit or commercial purpose.

-SB 683 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, removes language granting resident tuition to students who cannot provide documentation of U.S. nationality or an immigration status permitting study at a postsecondary institution in the United States.

-SB 55 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to adopt a policy that allows a student to enroll in a higher education institution and be eligible for resident tuition if he or she satisfies admission requirements and has enrolled in the institution.

-SB 80 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, removes language that required that a school district’s State Aid be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of carryover in its general fund as of June 30 of the preceding fiscal year that is in excess of certain standards.

-SB 89 by Sen. Clark Jolley, directs the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority to develop the Oklahoma Public Events Network.

-SB 108 by Sen. Ron Justice, prohibits the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s fee for annual groundwater permit administration for the submittal of water use reports from exceeding $10 per permit.

-SB 137 by Sen. John Ford, allows an inmate to earn 200 credits for completing his or her bachelor’s degree and 100 credits for completing an associate’s degree.

-SB 141 by Sen. Clark Jolley, provides the same criteria in evaluating transferred students enrolled in online courses as students regularly enrolled at school when calculating school funding.

-SB 180 by Sen. Susan Paddack, allows the Department of Corrections to contract with the physicians and other providers of inpatient and outpatient health care services.

-SB 250 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, creates the Chanda Turner Reform Act.

-SB 251 by Sen. Steve Russell, creates the Armed Services Tuition Fairness Act.

-SB 259 by Sen. Harry Coates, allows the Oklahoma Tourism, Parks and Recreation Commission to issue negotiable bonds not to exceed $10 million to construct, improve, better or extend any properties which it is authorized to maintain or operate.

-SB 260 by Sen. John Ford, removes language prohibiting the governing body of a charter school from issuing bonds.

-SB 264 by Sen. Clark Jolley, recreates the Quality Assessment and Accountability Task Force.

-SB 275 by Sen. Eddie Fields, permits federal grant money applied for on behalf of a school district to be disbursed directly to an interlocal cooperative with the consent of the school districts that comprise the interlocal agreement.

-SB 278 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, permits a charter school to be sponsored by the State Board of Education for the purpose of establishing a statewide only charter school in which all students within the state are eligible to enroll.

-SB 279 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, expands the list of purposes for which school districts may issue bonds to include the maintenance of school furniture, fixtures or equipment.

-SB 285 by Sen. Kim David, exempts the Governor’s Mansion and its grounds from requirements to be posted with signs warning against trespass.

-SB 333 by Sen. John Sparks, creates the Terri Paden Equitable Recognition Act.

-SB 346 by Sen. Clark Jolley, states legislative intent that each district school board’s policies facilitate that each student’s academic progression be determined, in part, by reading proficiency and that each student and their parents be informed of the student’s academic progress.

-SB 348 by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires the State Department of Education to prepare annual reports of the results of the statewide assessment program to describe student achievement in the state, each district and each district charter school.

SB 408 by Sen. Susan Paddack, implements a $150 reinstatement fee for any person seeking reinstatement as a police or peace officer whose certification was revoked, suspended or voluntarily surrendered for any reason, including failure to comply with mandatory education and training requirements.

-SB 411 by Sen. Bill Brown, requires the Insurance Department to establish and maintain a health care information system that will be published on a website and will permit consumers to see approximately pricing information from different types of providers and pharmaceuticals.

-SB 412 by Sen. Bill Brown, requires any entity that provides health insurance to accept the Health Care Authority Right of Recovery.

-SB 487 by Sen. Andrew Rice, creates the Oklahoma Bicyle Safety Awareness Act.

-SB 509 by Sen. Ralph Shortey, allows a school district board of education to award contracts for the sale of advertising on the exterior of transportation equipment.

-SB 567 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, requires CLEET to include in its required courses of study for law enforcement certification a minimum of eight hours of evidence-based domestic violence and stalking investigation training.

-SB 599 by Sen. Susan Paddack, requires the State Board of Education to establish and administer the school administrator professional development pilot program.

-SB 605 by Sen. John Ford, creates the Charter School Sponsoring Commission.

-SB 608 by Sen. Steve Russell, allows any person or entity entitled to receive digital or electronic copies of statues or session laws to request printed copies in lieu of such digital or electronic copies.

-SB 610 by Sen. John Ford, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award.

-SB 633 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, changes from classified to unclassified personnel appointed as state employees in the Military Department.

-SB 664 by Sen. Eddie Fields, decreases from 6 percent to 5 percent the cap on administrative services a school district with an average daily attendance of more than 1,500 students may expend.

-SB 685 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, directs the Forestry Division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry shall administer the Rural Fire Coordinator Program.

-SB 687 by Sen. Don Barrington, requires fireworks retailers to conspicuously post permit on their premises.

-SB 688 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, grants the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors the power to impose the payment of costs expended by the board for any legal fees and costs as part of any disciplinary action.

-SB 711 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to file an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to assume all, or part, of the National Environmental Policy Act.

-SB 772 by Sen. Clark Jolley, adds language revising the mission of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

-SB 825 by Sen. Susan Paddack, provides for payment of tuition or resident tuition under the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program for certain students.

-SB 844 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, requires an individual or entity to have the appropriate Oklahoma license or permit to conduct outdoor fireworks displays.

-SB 852 by Sen. Clark Jolley, defines “multi-unit structure” for the purposes of the Sex Offender Registration Act.

-SB 923 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, increases the penalty for willfully aiding, encouraging or recruiting a minor for a criminal street gang from one year to five years in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

-SB 939 by Sen. Clark Jolley, makes the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf school districts for the purposes of the state aid formula.

• The House met Wednesday, approving numerous appropriations shell bills and the following substantive legislation:

-HB 2139 by Rep. Kris Steele, directs the state superintendent of public instruction to have control of and direct the State Department of Education.

-HB 1010 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, modifies language related to members of the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges.

-HB 1226 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, requires any unused portion of real property acquired by a state entity by eminent domain to be offered for resale to the original owner or heirs at the appraised value or original price, whichever is less.

-HB 1441 by Rep. Doug Cox, modifies language relating to maintenance of emergency medication kits.

• House committees on Wednesday approved the following bills:

-HB 1971 by Rep. Randy Grau, allows the board of county commissioners or any other county officer to solicit bids or quotes to publish proceedings, minutes, notices, advertisements or other documents on the website of a qualifying newspaper.

-HB 1802 by Rep. Sue Tibbs, requires a nonviolent offender to be confined in his or her home and be supervised by electronic monitoring administered by the sheriff of the county if all correctional facilities reach maximum capacity.

-HB 1354 by Rep. Al McAffrey, allows licenses of the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission to advertise or offer happy hours only during the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.

-HB 1005 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, creates a Task Force on Pension Benefit Funding and Security.

-HB 2033 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, modifies language related to the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act.

-HB 1615 by Rep. Gary Banz, moves from the last Tuesday in July to the last Tuesday in June the date of the primary election in even-numbered years for Oklahoma offices.

-HJR 1020 by Rep. Gary Banz, calls a constitutional convention to be convened July 15, 2013, for the purpose of altering, revising, or amending the Constitution or to propose a new Constitution.

-HB 1702 by Rep. Lee Denney, creates a DNA Collection, Storage, and Analysis Task Force to study the policies and procedures regarding the collection, storage, and analysis of DNA, costs and feasibility of collecting DNA from persons arrested for misdemeanor and felony offenses and improvements to the system of collection, submission, documentation and tracking of DNA samples.

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

-HB 1951 by Rep. Skye McNiel, creates the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act.

-HB 1952 by Rep. Skye McNiel, creates the Oklahoma Weights and Measurements Reform Act.

-HB 1796 by Rep. Sue Tibbs, creates a referendum to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry a weapon in a manner that is concealed or unconcealed.

-HB 1652 by Rep. John Enns, exempts technology center school property from the places in which it is unlawful to carry a handgun.

-HB 2087 by Rep. Randy Terrill, prohibits a person in possession of a valid concealed handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act from carrying the handgun into or on any college or university property except for in certain circumstances.

-HB 1235 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, moves pseudoephedrine from Schedule V of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act related to narcotics to Schedule III, which includes substances having a potential for abuse associated with a stimulant or depressant effect on the central nervous system.

-HB 1352 by Rep. Al McAffrey, allows the next of kin of any person whose death is investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to have the opportunity to ask the examiner or a designee in an open hearing questions related to the cause of death and all other relevant information concerning the death.

-HB 1690 by Rep. Todd Russ, establishes the right to own any legal shotgun, rifle, handgun or weapon to any person who has previously been convicted of a violent felony in any court of this state or of another state and has received a full and complete pardon from the proper authority and has not been convicted of any other felony offense which has not been pardoned.

-HB 1797 by Rep. Sue Tibbs, prohibits any person from duplicating any record of the Department of Motor Vehicles open to public inspection during office hours.

-HB 1849 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, requires the chief medical examiner, or designee, to promptly investigate all deaths that fall within the subject of investigation.

-HB 1820 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, requires a fiscal impact statement for any bill or resolution that is determined to have a potential direct adverse fiscal impact on the correctional system in Oklahoma.

-HB 2119 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, eliminates the requirement that priority for vending facilities be given to licensed blind operators and established by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services in buildings under the management and control of the Legislature.

HB 2032 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, modifies language related to counties establishing retirement funds.

-HB 1634 by Rep. Charles Ortega, reduces from $150 to $75 the annual fee for each coin-operated music or amusement device and each coin-operated device requiring a coin or thing of value of 25 cents or more.

Thursday, March 3

• The Senate met Thursday, approving the following bills:

-SJR 37 by Sen. Mike Schulz, requires the Governor to prepare a fiscal analysis of the subject matter of a petition which must appear on the ballot when the Governor issues a proclamation setting the date on an election.

-SB 587 by Sen. Brian Bingman, changes the termination date for the Corporation Commission Plugging Fund from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2016.

-SB 95 by Sen. Eddie Fields, removes the requirement that vehicles transporting livestock not for hire display “Not for Hire” on both sides of a vehicle.

-SB 738 by Sen. Mike Schulz, authorizes the Marketing and Safety Commission to employ personnel or contract them for services as deemed necessary to fulfill their duties.

Other News

• According to a report out of California released Thursday, Oklahoma Indian gambling revenues rose nearly 7 percent in 2009, defying a national trend that saw tribal gambling revenues decline for the first time in recorded history, Oklahoma's tribes generated more than $3.1 billion in gambling revenue in 2009 — an increase of $200 million over the previous year, according to the 2011 edition of the “Indian Gaming Industry Report.”

• The Senate dedicated a portrait Tuesday of Oklahoma-native Admiral Joseph James “Jocko” Clark. The portrait, commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund and sponsored by Sen. and Mrs. Cliff Branan, was painted by world-renowned artist and Oklahoma City resident Mike Wimmer. In 1913, Admiral Clark, who was of Cherokee decent, received an appointment to and was the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. He remains the most highly decorated Native American Naval officer in U.S. history.

• State entities issued nearly $2 billion in new debt in 2010, the most since 1997, according to a report by the state bond adviser's office. Local issuers - school districts, cities, counties and local governmental authorities - also took on almost $2 billion in new obligations, which was a slight increase over 2009's record level. The report noted the state's credit rating remains relatively high - AA, according to Standard and Poor's - but could be damaged by a failure to meet obligations or improve the soundness of its pension funds.

• State Treasurer Ken Miller appointed a committee this week to advise him on investment of the state’s $5 billion investment portfolio. Miller said the goal of the five-member committee is to examine the state’s portfolio structure and provide recommendations to maximize investment returns given changing market conditions. Former State Treasurer Scott Meacham will chair the committee. Other members of the committee include: Bob Neville, Executive Vice President of Investments for BancFirst; Gordon Sellon, PhD, former Federal Reserve economist and professor of economics at Oklahoma City University; Robert Thomas, Chief Investment Officer for George Kaiser Family Foundation and James Wilbanks, PhD, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System.

• The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower appeals court ruling that Westboro Baptist Church’s picketing of military funerals is constitutionally protected speech. The church located in Topeka, Kansas said they would step up protests at the funerals of slain soldiers following the ruling in their favor