Monday, February 23, to Thursday, February 26, 2015

• The full Senate met on Monday and approved these bills.

-SB 820 by Sen. Clark Jolley and Sen. Greg Treat re-appropriates $2,856,257.00 of the original appropriation of $5 million, appropriated to the Office of the Attorney General from the Special Cash Fund in 2012 for the original purpose of prosecuting and defending of claims related to water and water rights in Oklahoma.

-SB 57, by Sen. Patrick Anderson, provides that letters of guardianship are valid for no longer than 15 months unless renewed by the court according to statute. The bill passed 45 to 0.

-SB 134, by Sen. Corey Brooks, allows an OHP officer, upon retirement, to purchase the shotgun or riffle issued to them at the original price paid for the firearm. The bill passed 44 to 0.

-SB 455, by Sen. Bill Brown, modifies various provisions of the Oklahoma Insurance Code. The bill passed 44 to 1.

• Senate committees met and approved the following measures on Monday:

- SB 559, by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, modifies the term assault to include the act of causing a child to be born addicted or harmed by a narcotic drug when the harm was caused by the child's mother while pregnant. The bill requires a person who commits assault to be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or by a fine of no more than $500.

-SB 642, by Sen. Mark Allen, requires any physician who performs an abortion on a child who is less than 14 years of age at the time of the abortion procedure to preserve fetal tissue extracted during such abortion and to submit the tissue to the State Department of Health.

-SB 46, by Sen. Ron Sharp, requires applicants for examinations for licenses to practice the fitting and dealing of hearing aids to be responsible for the full cost of examinations, re-examinations, and background checks relating to licensing and certification.

- SB 249, by Sen. David Holt, requires the State Board of Behavioral Health to promulgate emergency rules for the provision of counseling services following a declaration of emergency or catastrophic health emergency issued by the Governor or Legislature. The bill states said rules will only be valid during the declaration of emergency.

- SB 697, by Sen. A J Griffin, creates the Family Support Accountability Act. The bill requires that any department or agency of this state implementing home visiting programs provide a framework for service delivery and accountability across all home visiting programs to promote a continuum of care

- SB 133, with title stricken, by Sen. Randy Bass, permits public agency administrators and other members to award a construction contract in which they or a family member has stock ownership or business interests in if these interests have been publically disclosed or have been awarded through a competitive bidding process.

-SB 784, by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires the State Board of Education, prior to the 2017-2018 school year, consider and review a standards-based system of assessment that monitors progress toward college and career readiness for grades 3 through 10. The bill states if the standards developed are at least 80 percent similar to those adopted by the state, the standards mentioned in this act will be replaced by those adopted.

-The CS for SB 414, by Sen. Rick Brinkley, requires adherence to the policies and procedures for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant for the following institutions: Bacone College, Family of Faith College, Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Oral Roberts University, Southern Nazarene University, Southwestern Christian University, St. Gregory's University, the University of Tulsa, and Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College.

-SB 785, as amended, by Sen. Clark Jolley, establishes a Student Reading Proficiency Team.

-SB 296, by Sen. Ron Sharp, repeals language related to misrepresentation of standard weights and measures in the agricultural code.

• House committees met and approved the following measures:

- HB 1263, by Rep. Ken Walker, requires the court to order the reimbursement of all filing fees and court costs incurred by a petitioner as a result of filing the expungement request if the person qualifies for an expungement under the provisions listed in the bill.

-HB 1900, by Rep. Dennis Johnson, eliminates the requirement for semimonthly sales tax remittance by certain vendors.

-HB 2161, by Rep. Mark McCullough, excludes per diem allowable under the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations, guidelines, and publications from being included in any calculation of workers' compensation insurance premiums.

- HB 1691, by Rep. Lee Denney, allows a board of education of any school district, residing at least partially in a county with a population of at least 500,000, with an average daily membership of at least 30,000 to contract with a public or private nonsectarian entity to provide educational and administrative services for the school district. The bill suggests what those services may include.

- HB 1522, by Rep. Katie Henke, clarifies language related to the annual reports of the Oklahoma School Testing Program.

- HB 1589, by Rep. Ann Coody, modifies the curricular requirements for mathematics for high school graduation beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2015-16 year, and permits the substitution of certain technology courses.

• Before the House adjourned early on Monday due to inclement weather, the following bills were passed by the House:

- HB 1045, by Rep. Scott Biggs, modifies the procedures for filing petitions for post-conviction relief. The bill states that unless extraordinary cause is shown, a petition may not be filed more than two years after the sentence was imposed. The bill passed by a 91-6 vote.

- HB 1114, by Rep. Chuck Hoskin, modifies language related to criminal procedures concerning insane persons. The bill also clarifies that the term "court" means the court that made the original determination that the person was insane. The bill passed 96-0.

- HB 1437, by Rep. John Pfeiffer, modifies the purpose of the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Act. The bill passed 90-6.

Tuesday, February 24

• The Senate met Tuesday and approved the following bills:

-SB 229, by Sen. Ron Justice, authorizes the State Board of Agriculture to create a pollinator protection plan to promote the health of honeybees and other managed pollinators. The measure passed 40 to 6.

-SB 415, by Sen. Rick Brinkley, requires the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to establish a defined contribution system for those persons who become employed on or after November 1, 2015 in a full-time-equivalent position or less but more than a half-time position that qualifies for employee benefits, including health insurance. The bill passed 43-0.

-SB 462, by Sen. Rick Brinkley, removes language regarding payment of funds by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System as a result of qualified domestic orders. 45-0.

-SB 164, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies language related to mandatory preclusions for handgun licenses. The bill provides the preclusive period for a misdemeanor conviction related to illegal drug use or possession will be 10 years from the date of completion of a sentence. The bill passed 47 to 0

-SB 101, by Sen. Mark Allen, permits a person who holds an ownership interest in a restaurant establishment where alcoholic beverages are lawfully sold incidental to the sale of food or who is an officer, director or stockholder of a corporation that owns or operates a restaurant where alcoholic beverages are lawfully sold incidental to the sale of food to be a licensed bail bondsman. The bill passed 45-1.

• The House of Representatives convened Tuesday and heard the approved these bills:

- HB 1965, by Rep. Terry O'Donnell, modifies the scope of the unlawful use of cellular telephones or any other electronic communication device in moving motor vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, or public transit. The measure passed 96-2.

-HB 1825, by Rep. Scott Martin, removes the authority of state agencies that provide health care or medical services to make a claim against a taxpayer's individual income tax refund for delinquent balances. The bill and its emergency clause passed 69-29.

-HB 1747, by Rep. Casey Murdock, Rep. Charles Ortega, Rep. Dennis Johnson, Rep. Jeff Hickman, Rep. John Pfeiffer, Rep. Mike Sanders, Rep. Scott Biggs, and Rep. Tom Newell, exempts from taxable income for five taxable years 100 percent of income received by a person who was a resident of any other state or jurisdiction and becomes a resident of a county within the state that is projected by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to decline in population by 2075. The bill passed 64-11.

• The following bills were passed by House committees Tuesday:

-House Bill 1775, by Rep. Charles McCall, would allow counties to address the severance of the non-renewable resources of rock, sand, gravel, granite, and limestone.

-House Bill 1454, by Rep. David Brumbaugh, would prohibit electric utilities or cooperatives from installing an advanced metering infrastructure system unless requested by the customer.

-HB1598, by Rep. Sally Kern, creates the Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act. As amended, the measure prohibits state government entities from restricting any mental health provider from providing counseling or any patient or client from receiving counseling intended to aid patients or clients in their self-determined objectives of reducing, eliminating, resolving, or addressing unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, identity, or sexual and/or gender-identity expressions. The bill also grants parents the right to obtain such counseling services.

-HB 1854, by Rep. Wade Rousselot, requires all counseling expenses and living expense be paid through a child-placing agency directly to a third-party provider of service or good under the provisions of this bill.

-HB 1918, by Rep. John Jordan, permits a court, in a paternity action prior to genetic testing to establish paternity under the Uniform Parentage Act, to award custody to the presumed father if it would be in the best interests of the child.

HB 1600, by Rep. Sally Kern, requires every physician, surgeon or other health care professional, and every teacher, administrator or other school employee to promptly report suspect child abuse or neglect to the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the report.

-HB 2067, by Rep. Jason Nelson, alters the amount of time custody of a child may be transferred to someone else, by power of attorney, to a maximum of 40 days.

-HB 1617, by Rep. David Derby, would prohibit a private or state-sponsored health benefit plan from denying coverage for medically necessary treatment prescribed by a physician based solely on an insured person's life expectancy.

-HB 1388, by Rep. Casey Murdock, establishes the Public Health and Safety Act.

-HB 1614, by Rep. Katie Henke, creates the Oklahoma Transportation Network Company Services Act. The bill regulates transportation network companies, services and drivers.

-HB 1458, by Rep. Dustin Roberts, allows a peace officer to place a written hold order on a gem or precious metal he or she has probable cause to believe is stolen or embezzled and is in possession of a dealer.

-HB 1828, by Rep. Scott Martin, modifies membership requirements of the Construction Industries Board. This bill establishes the Oklahoma Professional Residential and Commercial Builders Registration Act.

-HB 1002, by Rep. Randy McDaniel, creates the Oklahoma Employment Security Amendments Act of 2015.

-HB 1067, by Rep. Charles Joyner, modifies the exemptions for those included in the Alarm and Locksmith Industry act to include an individual who installs home automation systems.

-HB 1969, by Rep. Terry O'Donnell, creates the Oklahoma Employment First Act. The bill requires all state agencies to coordinate effects and collaborate within and among such agencies to ensure that state programs, policies, procedures and funding support competitive integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.

- HB 2165, by Rep. Mark McCullough, assesses against the party demanding a jury trial all court costs including reasonable attorney if the party demanding the jury trial does not receive a verdict that is at least 10 percent more than the assessment award of the appraisers.

-HB 1163, by Rep. David Perryman, creates the Oklahoma Municipal Fire Protection District Act.

-HB 1589, as amended, by Rep. Ann Coody, modifies the curricular requirements for mathematics for high school graduation beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2015-16 year, and permits the substitution of certain technology courses.

- HB 1271, by Rep. Dennis Ray Casey, amends provisions of the Omnibus School Act of 2015.

- HB 1604, by Rep. Ben Sherrer, requires information of school dropouts, including the name, address, race and age of any school dropout, available to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma for use in the youth educational programs provided by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Health.

• The following bills were passed by Senate committees Tuesday:

-SB 788, by Sen. Dan Newberry, prohibits those who are authorized by law to perform or solemnize a marriage from being required to perform or solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion and no church will be required to participate in a ceremony it disagrees with for religious reasons.

-SB 715, by Sen. Jason Smalley, requires the suspension of a criminal proceeding if a person who is found to be incompetent because he or she requires treatment but capable of achieving competence through treatment be committed to the legal custody of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or be remanded to the county detention facility.

-SB 802, by Sen. Brian Crain, creates requirements for the appointment of a discovery master and identifies certain items as grounds for disqualification from the position. It states the order in which the discovery master is appointed and the bill allows the court to have the discretion to direct the discovery master to circulate a proposed appointing order to the parties and provide for the parties to comment prior to the order's entry.

-SB 725, by Sen. Mike Schulz, prohibits an individual who has been convicted of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult from inheriting funds or receiving any interest in the estate of the victim.

-SB 378, with its title stricken, by Rep. Dan Newberry, requires an affidavit of exemption for workers' compensation insurance used by an exempt roofer be attached to the contract and used for new construction projects. The bill requires all commercial roofing projects to have workers covered by workers' compensation insurance, with some exception for day workers.

-SB 445, by Sen. Mike Mazzei, prohibits the amount of child support ordered to be paid by a parent to exceed the amount which would otherwise be ordered if the parent was not eligible for the parenting time adjustment.

-SB 410, with its title stricken, by Sen. Corey Brooks, modifies the inclusions related to youthful offender guidelines. The bill now includes accessory to murder in any degree and accessory to any offense listed within the bill.

SB 448, by Sen. Brian Crain, requires a district attorney to be domiciled in the appropriate district for his or her entire term of office. It also requires any person of the district in which a district attorney serves to have standing to bring an action in the nature of an action quo warranto to determine if the district attorney has proper authority.

-SB 215, by Sen. AJ Griffin, modifies the requirements for the application for a notary commission. The bill requires the availability of blanks for bonds and oath of office to be available on the Secretary of State website on a specified website. The bill prohibits a notary public from performing any notarial act until his or her bond, official seal, oath of office and loyalty oath has been approved by the Secretary of State.

SB 609, by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the Oklahoma Education Empowerment Scholarship Act, received a do pass as amended recommendation from the committee with its title stricken. The bill would create an education savings account funded with state dollars for students who transfer out of public schools to private schools.

-SB 498, by Sen. Mike Mazzei, increases from to$1 million from $250,000 the net increase in payroll in order for an electric power generation entity to qualify for the five-year ad valorem waiver.

-SB 501, by Sen. Mike Mazzei, requires for facilities placed in operation on or after January 1, 2007, and before January 1, 2016, to be charged $0.0050 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by zero-emission facilities the amount of the credit for the electricity generated on or after January 1, 2007.

-SB 502, by Sen. Marty Quinn, modifies self-referential language. The bill also prohibits any credit allowed by a taxpayer engaged in electric power generation by means of wind, as described by the North American Industry System No. 22119.

-SB 387, by Sen. Dan Newberry, allows manufacturing facilities the option to exclude from its payroll any nonrecurring bonuses, exercise of stock option or stock rights or other nonrecurring items included in total payroll numbers.

-SB 338, by Sen. Robert Standridge, authorizes the Oklahoma Tax Commission to disclose specific information to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for purposes of determining eligibility for current or potential recipients of assistance from the Oklahoma Medicaid Program.

-SB 499, by Sen. Anthony Sykes, creates the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015.

-SB 339, by Sen. Kyle Loveless, provides an exception to the requirement of a notarized signature on a certificate of title when there is a transfer of the ownership of a vehicle to an insurer resulting from the settlement of a total loss claim.

-SB 824, by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the time frame for distribution of gross production tax revenue from oil reported to the Tax Commission having escaped and then was recovered from streams, lakes, ponds, ravines and other natural depressions.

Wednesday, February 25

• Several bills were approved in Senate committee, including:

-SB 23, by Sen. Marty Quinn, removes outdated language from the Open Records Act. The bill adds higher education institutions to a list of entities exempt from disclosing certain business information.

-SB 114, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, authorizes any state agency that obtains change of address information from the United States Postal Service to provide it to the State Election Board.

-CS for SB 158, with title stricken, by Sen. A J Griffin, modifies procedures for circulation of petitions for signatures.

-SJR 31, by Sen. Anthony Sykes, proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that states that methods of execution can be changed. The amendment also states that the death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment.

-SB 707, by Sen. John Ford, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with multiple other entities, to develop recommendations for the requirements a student must met to earn a high school diploma. The bill requires the Board to hold public meetings and solicit public input, designate assessments to determine college
readiness, and consider alternative assessments.

-SB 784, by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires the State Board of Education, prior to the 2017-2018 school year, consider and review a standards-based system of assessment that monitors progress toward college and career readiness for grades three through 10.

-SB 177, by Sen. Jim Halligan, modifies the income level for participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access program. The bill changes the measure of the income to federal adjusted gross income from income from taxable and nontaxable sources and increases the amount to $55,000 from $50,000.

-SB 90, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, permits agencies authorized by statute to conduct national criminal history background checks for individuals to participate in the Federal Rap Back Program administered by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. It authorizes the OSBI to collect all Federal Rap Back Program fees from eligible agencies wishing to participate and remit such fees to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

-SB 208, by Sen. Ron Justice creates a total fee of not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 per year for injection of drinking water treatment residuals into a Class V underground injection well.

-SB 141, by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, establishes that the Department of Public Safety shall collect a sum of $15 for each Motor Vehicle Report they furnish for a commercial driver license. It requires $10 of the fee be deposited in the General Revenue Fund and $5 be deposited in the Department of Public Safety Revolving Fund.

-SB 211, by Sen. Patrick Anderson, changes language related to enhanced sentences for second and subsequent offenses from life imprisonment to 20 years in prison.

-SB 297, by Sen. Ron Justice, creates the Heritage Preservation Act and the Heritage Preservation Grant Program, within the Oklahoma Historical Society.

-SB 398, by Sen. Frank Simpson, establishes a program, through the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, to assist in the burial of honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The bill provides for a burial grant for any indigent veteran or any person who qualifies for financial assistance.

-SB 404, by Sen. John Ford, creates the Oklahoma Career Promise Act.

-SB 726, by Sen. Brian Crain, allows any county with a population over 500,000 to administer a five-year pilot program of a Family Safety Center to provide certain domestic violence program services, contingent on funding. The bill establishes the services to include assistance obtaining emergency protective orders, assistance and resources to children exposed to domestic and family violence, forensic medical documentation, basic medical assessments and legal support.

SB 738, by Sen. Randy Bass, decreases the apportionment of income tax revenue from 85.66 percent to 84.66 percent for fiscal years which the total deposits to the Ad Valorem Reimbursement Fund equal less than $35 million.

-SB 790, as amended, by Sen. Anthony Sykes, eliminates the requirement of a $25 sum resulting from a criminal conviction to be assessed and credited to the Oklahoma Court Information System Revolving Fund.

• The Senate convened on Wednesday afternoon and approved several bills, including the following:

-Floor substitute for SB511 by Sen. Kay Floyd creates the Advisory Council on Child Homelessness. The floor substitute requires the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth's office of planning and coordination to include information concerning homeless children and youth in certain reports. The bill and its emergency clause passed 46 to 0.

-SB 817, by S General Government (S),permits a municipality or public trust with a municipality as its beneficiary to charge a convenience fee for the use of debit cards. The bill and its emergency clause passed 46 to 0.

-SB 5, by Sen. Ron Sharp, exempts education employees and people volunteering for a school from liability for the use of necessary and reasonable force to control and discipline a student during the time the student is in attendance at the school or in transit to or from the school, or any other function authorized by the school district. The bill and its emergency clause passed 46 to 1.

-SB 20, by Sen. Ron Sharp, modifies language related to teacher certification. The bill requires the State Board of Education to issue a teaching certificate to a person who hold a valid out-of-state certificate and who meets the requirements to be considered highly qualified. The bill and its emergency clause passed 47 to 0.

-SB 38, by Sen. Wayne Shaw, modifies the conditions under which the Department of Corrections director may recommend an offender for medical parole by changing the requirement that an inmate no longer be a threat to public safety to that inmate no longer be "an unreasonable" threat. The bill passed 47 to 0.

-SB0072, by Sen. Mike Mazzei requires the Department of Commerce to initiate on or before Jan. 1, 2017, the annual publication of a report to forecast for the 10-year period following the publication of each report the direct state revenue costs and benefits of certain tax credits. The measure passed 47-0.

-SB0189, by Sen. Ron Sharp creates Oklahoma Performance Informed Budget and Transparency Act of 2015. The bill changes references to "zero-based" budgeting to "performance-informed" budgeting. The bill passed 40 to 6 with its title restored and with its enacting clause and emergency clause restored.

• Several bills were passed in House committees on Wednesday, including:

-HB1738, by Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Arcadia, establishes the Oklahoma Privacy Protection Act.

-HB1074, by Rep. Richard Morrissette states an eligible patient must be diagnosed with a
terminal illness, have considered all treatments currently approved, has been unable to participate in a clinical trial, received a recommendation from a physician and given written consent for the use of the investigational drug. This legislation has been named, "The Right to Try" bill.

-HB1129, by Rep. Todd Russ, creates the Energy Revenue Stabilization Fund. The bill provides that money in the Energy Revenue Stabilization Fund will be subject to appropriation if the amount of gross production tax revenues from a combination of both natural gas and oil apportioned to the General Revenue Fund for the most recently completed fiscal year declined by 5 percentage points or more compared to the immediately preceding fiscal year

-HB1379 by Rep. Dan Fisher, establishes the Protection of Human Life Act of 2015.

-HB1562, by Rep. Elise Hall, expands the list of licensed health care providers permitted to determine if mechanical restraint is required by the medical needs of the consumer. It also requires that the consumer receives a face-to-face examination with 1 hour with an approved health care provider after the restraint is applied.

-HB1813, by Rep. Lee Denney, modifies the requirements for formation of a recognized political party, requiring a petition to include the signatures of a minimum of 5,000 registered voters. The bill was laid over at the request of the author.

--HB1693, by Rep. Lee Denney, modifies provisions related to the allocation of tax credits in regard to the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

-HB1679, by Rep. Mike Brown, establishes the Oklahoma Clean Energy Finance Program Act. The bill directs the Governor's Energy Office to oversee the program and establishes the Clean Energy Program Fund.

-HB1387, by Rep. Casey Murdock, increases the time a person convicted of cattle theft may spend in the custody of the Department of Corrections from a maximum of 10 years to 15. The bill also triples the penalty for such a crime.

-HB1743, by Rep. Lewis Moore, clarifies the county assessor as the proper party defendant in any appeal to the district court brought by the taxpayer and vice versa. The bill states in either case the county board of equalization will not be considered a party in any litigation from an appeal brought pursuant to this section.

• The House met on Wednesday and the following bills were heard:

-HB1051, by Rep. Dan Kirby, creates the Safe Sports School Act, requiring each public school district to review the Safe Sports School criteria as published by a nationwide association of athletic trainers. The bill passed by a vote of 65 to 26.

-HB1081, by Rep. Pat Ownbey, modifies the duties of the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. The bill allows the Board to impose a corrective action to a licensed person who violates certain rules. The bill passed by a vote of 94 to 0.

-HB1113, by Rep. Chuck Hoskin, adds a Department of Transportation maintenance vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal or flashing lights, or of a Turnpike Authority maintenance vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal or flashing lights to the list of vehicles to which drivers of other vehicles must yield the right-of-way. The bill passed by a vote of 96 to 0.

• HB1347, by Rep. Wade Rousselot, requires payment for any prescription drugs prescribed by the treating physician be continued during the appeal of a workers' compensation case. The bill passed by a vote of 54 to 40.

-HB1860, by Rep. Harold Wright, authorizes the submission of notarized affidavit in purposes related to the issuance of driver licenses. The bill passed by a vote of 95 to 0.

Thursday, February 26

• The Senate met Thursday morning and approved several bills, including:

-SB 81 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the time period and condition under which certain tax credits are allowed. Passed 39-0.

-SB 207 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, repeals certain provisions relating to the Oklahoma Union Soliders Home, Oklahoma Memorial Hospital and disabled certificates. Passed 42-0.

-SB 308 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, modifies procedures for legislative review and proves for amendment and instructions. Passed 39-2.

-SB 336 by Sen. John Ford, provides sales tax exemption for certain non-profit entities or organizations for certain purposes. Passed 38-0.

-SB 346 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, addresses the Governor's Transparency Act of 2015. Passed 39-0.

-SB 449 by Sen. Corey Brooks, requires notice to certain people in adult guardianship and protective proceedings. Passed 39-0.

-SB 659 by Sen. Randy Bass, modifies definitions of the Home Bakery Act. Passed 34-4.

-SB674 by Sen. Jim Halligan, creates the 24/7 Tobacco-free Schools Act. Passed 32-11.

Other news this week

• State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister commended both the House and Senate Education Committees this week for approving bills aimed at reducing seven end-of-instruction (EOI) exams. Senate Bill 707, authored by state Sen. John Ford, and House Bill 1272, authored by state Rep. Dennis Casey direct the State Board of Education to develop recommendations for high school graduation requirements, as well as one or more assessments that colleges and universities utilize to determine college-readiness.

• Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt secured a judgment in a suit against a Miami, OK restaurant owner accused by employees of widespread predatory sexual harassment. The judgment is the first of its kind under the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act since the 1970s. Pruitt indicated it sends a strong message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated in Oklahoma.
The consent judgment, which will remain in effect for five years, requires Yun Chang, owner of Chinese Chef's Buffet, Inc., to comply with the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act (OADA). Chang has agreed to pay $21,000 to resolve the suit. Along with the payment, Chang will be required to provide harassment and discrimination prevention training for all employees of his restaurant to ensure compliance with the OADA.

Chang also must adopt legally compliant anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures, post a notice in the workplace regarding the judgment and regarding his duty to comply with the law, and submit periodic reports to OCRE to prove ongoing compliance efforts for five years. Following satisfactory compliance with the five-year term of the judgment, OCRE will dismiss the proceedings against Chang and Chinese Chef Buffet.