Monday, Mar. 9 to Thursday, Mar. 12, 2009

Monday, March 9

• The Senate approved the following measures on Monday:

-SB 452 by Sen. Mike Schulz, limits the power of state political subdivisions concerning the care and handling of livestock.

-SB 766 by Sen. Susan Paddack, requires the State Department of Education to adopt new standards to better prepare middle school students for future coursework.

-SB 387 by Sen. Tom Ivester, clarifies language pertaining to Medicaid eligibility.

-SB 1056 by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires licensing of four years for any physical therapist and physical therapist assistant appointed to the Physical Therapy Committee.

-SB 789 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, states that anyone who knowingly makes a false statement in the course of an internal agency investigation shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.

-SB 633 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to adopt policies providing resident tuition for certain students.

-SB 1123 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, removes liability for certain bodily injury of another person at a gun range.

-SB 810 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, establishes the Oklahoma Sleep Diagnostic Testing Regulation Act.

-SB 1135 by Sen. Randy Bass, creates the Healthy Choices Act, requiring food facilities to disclose certain nutritional information in a specified manner.

-SB 1034 by Sen. John Sparks, creates the Department of Wildlife Conservation Licenses, Permits and Fees Task Force.

-SB 461 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, gives a tax credit to people who purchase low-emission vehicles.

-SB 1146 by Sen. Clark Jolley, states that every manufacturer shall report to the Oklahoma Tax Commission in writing, monthly, no later than the tenth of each month on all sales of beverages.

-SB 721 by Sen. Don Barrington, creates opportunity for donation of income tax refund to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Program.

-SB 718 by Sen. Don Barrington, clarifies language and lengthens the time period for military members and their dependents returning from overseas deployment to be able to cast a provisional ballot.

-SB 1071 by Sen. Don Barrington, modifies definitions related to the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, specifying that limitations are not applicable to certain members.

-SB 829 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, declares employees of nonprofit corporations ineligible for travel reimbursement.

-SB 723 by Sen. Don Barrington, modifies state sales tax exemptions to include school supplies, school art supplies or school instructional materials.

-SB 1153 by Sen. Don Barrington, specifies the duties of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security regarding certain communications within the state.

-SB 1076 by Sen. John Sparks, authorizes disclosure of medical and social history under specified circumstances by the Department of Human Services.

-SJR 5 by Sen. Jim Reynolds, refers to a vote of the people a Constitutional amendment limiting increases in fair case value of properties to be tied to the Consumer Price Index.

-SB 353 by Sen. Andrew Rice, requires that a trained health care provider must be licensed before providing care in a volunteer capacity, and the sponsoring organization must and cover fee of individual.

-SB 907 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, clarifies limitations on expenditures and carryover for the Economic Development Generating Excellence Trust Fund.

-SB 1073 by Sen. Brian Crain, adds county in which claim arose to the list of counties in which actions are allowed to be filed.

-SB 292 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, deletes additional TANF benefits for children born more than ten months after the recipient qualifies for assistance.

-SB 953 by Sen. David Myers, creates the Oklahoma Clean Energy Independence Commission to find clean energy sources.

-SB 413 by Sen. Bill Brown, expands the definition of “consumer” to include any natural person who is a resident of Oklahoma and any business association, partnership, firm, corporation and its affiliates or subsidiaries.

-SB 1059 by Sen. Mike Johnson, directs money to be placed into Judicial Retirement Fund to pay employer contributions for all active members.

-SB 1020 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, prohibits the transmission of child pornography by Internet.

-SB 553 by Sen. Ron Justice, clarifies language and sets eligibility standards about the Insurance High Risk Pool Act.

-SB 346 by Sen. Brian Crain, creates an advanced directives registry to be maintained by the State Department of Health.

-SB 1075 by Sen. Brian Crain, relates to drug court programs by modifying requirements for reviews.

-SB 912 by Sen. John Sparks, prohibits nuisance actions to be brought against agricultural activists on farm or ranch land.

-SB 822 by Sen. Cliff Branan, establishes the Task Force on the Review of Health Insurance Mandates.

-SB 1115 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, requires local rule of a district court to not be in conflict with any state statute or any rules of a superior court.

-SB 767 by Sen. Clark Jolley, clarifies when elections may or may not take place on the calendar.

-SB 1161 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, modifies procedures for the Department of Public Safety.

-SB 950 by Sen. Don Barrington, requires commercial motor vehicles and buses to stop within 50 feet of, and not closer than 15 feet to, railroad tracks until checking to ensure train is not approaching.

-SB 1152 by Sen. Don Barrington, relates to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation by authorizing the sale of property.

-SB 641 by Sen. Bill Brown, prohibits alcohol on all public high school campuses.

-SB 817 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, clarifies language relating to statutes and reports.

• Senate committees took no action on Monday.

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

-HB 2175 by Rep. Jason Nelson, modifies language related to conditions under which elected or appointed state, county or municipal officers or employees must forfeit retirement benefits.

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

-HB 1032 Rep. Jason Murphey, creates the Oklahoma State Government Modernization Act of 2009.

-HB 1511 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, directs the State Board of Education to develop and implement an end-of-instruction test of “computer science”.

-HB 1888 by Rep. Phil Richardson, replaces reference to the Rural Ambulance Service Districts Act, removing “rural resident” and “rural area”.

-HB 1952 by Rep. Chris Benge, grants the Department of Central Services the power to construct, install, acquire, operate and provide alternative fueling infrastructure for use by the state agencies and political subdivisions of the state for leasing and transferring to political subdivisions.

-HB 1953 by Rep. Chris Benge, adds certain administrative facilities that provide support, repair and maintenance service activities for the wind industry to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act.

-HB 2031 by Rep. Kris Steele, establishes a sales tax holiday for energy efficient appliances.

-HB 2247 by Rep. Randy Terrill, creates an income tax credit for 40 percent of the installation of a wind energy system on residential and nonresidential property for tax years 2010 and 2014.

-HB 1682 by Rep. Seneca Scott, creates the Green Jobs Pilot Program Act.

-HB 2159 by Rep. Don Armes, exempts the sale of fireworks from emergency drought conditions and burning prohibitions.

-HB 2250 by Rep. Randy Terrill, allows the director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to purchase motor vehicles and prohibits violators of the Drug Money Laundering and Wire Transmitter Act from receiving deferred sentences.

• House committees took no action on Monday

Tuesday, March 10

• The Senate met Tuesday and approved numerous shell bills in addition to the following substantive legislation:

-SJR 6 by Sen. Harry Coates, requests congressional action to reform immigration policies.

-SB 615 by Sen. Brian Crain, relates to the Nontestamentary Transfer of Property Act, establishing a nine month period in which no lien shall be effective against the grantee until the expiration of said nine month period.

-SB 283 by Sen. Harry Coates, creates the Task Force on Youth Transitioning into Adulthood.

-SB 428 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, prohibits glass bottles in a scenic river area.

-SB 597 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, allows for the transportation of the mentally ill for assessment or detention to accredited out-of-state facilities if the closest in-state facility is in excess of 50 miles from the county seat of the person’s home county.

-SB 1185 by Sen. Don Barrington, gives dates for revocational periods for persons who refused to submit to testing and sets times for incarceration.

-SB 571 by Sen. Brian Bingman, establishes a statewide nine-one-one advisory board to oversee the operation and development of all emergency nine-one-one systems in the state.

-SB 665 by Sen. Harry Coates, creates the Oklahoma Online Construction Registry Act.

-SB 1120 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, includes all law enforcement boards, bureaus, commissions and task forces to the list of entities allowed to use executive sessions.

-SB 1125 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, gives persons reporting terrorist activity immunity from liability.

-SB 610 by Sen. David Myers, creates the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide Act.

-SB 957 by Sen. Brian Bingman, modifies language relating to the comprehensive state water plan.

-SB 760 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, requires safety equipment on wheelchairs when operated on public roadways.

-SB 411 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies membership of the Domestic Violence Review Board from 18 to 19 members.

-SB 486 by Sen. Clark Jolley, includes sales to certain health and human service providers as being tax exempt in compliance with IRS Code.

-SB 643 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, relates to management and control of space by the the Legislature, modifying space under such management and control.

-SB 1137 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Oklahoma Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission.

-SB 888 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, relates to motor license agents by deleting the population threshold relating to appointment procedures for motor license agencies.

-SB 586 by Sen. John Ford, authorizes sponsorship of charter schools by federally recognized Indian tribes.

-SB 834 by Sen. John Ford, establishes the School District Empowerment Program, allowing board members to make decisions based on the needs of their students and circumstances.

-SB 503 by Brian Bingman, creates the Household Goods Act to regulate intrastate transportation for public safety.

-SB 1103 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Use of Force for the Protection of the Unborn Act by allowing pregnant women to use force to protect their unborn children.

-SB 609 by Sen. Todd Lamb, amends rules for the Workers’ Comp court.

-SB 646 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Accountability, Innovation and Privatization Act.

-SB 313 by Sen. Brian Bingman, extends the time period during which gross production tax exemptions may be claimed by oil and gas companies.

-SB 831 by Sen. Brian Bingman, establishes the Nuclear Energy Incentive Act.

-SB 899 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, requires forfeiture of all benefits for officers whose crime is for bribery, corruption, forgery, or perjury.

-SB 932 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the “Temporary Emergency Concealed Weapons License” and provides steps that must be taken to receive such order.

-SB 1111 by Sen. Clark Jolley, creates the Educational Accountability Reform Act.

-SB 4 by Sen. John Ford, sets procedures for identification requirement at elections.

-SB 991 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, addresses title issues, adding “in good faith code”, and defining responsibilities of obligors.

-SB 692 by Sen. John Ford, clarifies language about elections and absentee voting.

-SB 820 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, establishes the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act.

-SB 1242 by Sen. John Sparks, relates to Oklahoma public employees and sick leave credits, increasing the amount of unused sick leave that may be used for certain credit from 130 to 200.

-SB 384 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, clarifies language pertaining to state employees and payroll deduction.

-SB 979 by Sen. Bill Brown, modifies entity responsible for registration of dealers related to the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor Registration Act and creates the Marine Vessel Advisory Committee.

-SB 1167 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, relates to higher education and requires examination of certain bonds by the Attorney General.

-SB 901 by Sen. Bill Brown, authorizes the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to determine the average weekly rate once every year.

-SB 904 by Sen. Bill Brown, defines concurrent funding as an increase in employer contributions, apportioned tax revenues or a legislative appropriation to pay the annual normal cost of a retirement system bill.

-SB 1022 by Sen. Bill Brown, clarifies duties and responsibilities of the Insurance Commission, requiring insurers to file certain statements with the Insurance Commissioner.

-SB 645 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, relates to the Home Inspection Licensing Act by modifying certain exemptions.

-SB 894 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, requires the reporting of certain sex crimes.

-SB 479 by Sen. Brian Crain, clarifies language for long-term care facilities and qualifications to serve as an administrator of such facilities.

-SB 541 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, clarifies the applications process for long-term care facilities.

-SB 920 by Sen. John Sparks, modifies definitions related to the Service Warranty Insurance Act.

-SB 909 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, allows any establishment qualified for quarterly payments to receive credit and must pay average annualized wage which equals or exceeds the average state wage.

-SB 938 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, creates the “21st Century Quality Job Incentive Act” to provide incentives to attract growth industries and sectors to Oklahoma.

-SB 378 by Sen. Andrew Rice, requires insurance to cover certain vaccinations at 120% of retail cost charged by physicians.

• Senate committees took no action on Tuesday.

• The House convened Tuesday and approved numerous measures including the following:

-HB 1734 by Rep. Ron Peters, modifies the definition of “child care facility” under the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act, excluding facilities operated by the Department of Human Services and licensed by the Oklahoma Commission of Children and Youth.

-HB 1570 by Rep. Colby Schwartz, establishes that in any civil action for professional negligence, the plaintiff shall attach to the petition an affidavit saying the plaintiff has consulted with and obtained a written opinion from a qualified expert.

-HB 1505 by Rep. Lee Denney, creates Juli’s Law, requiring anyone arrested for certain felony offenses for which conviction would require that someone serve 85 percent of their imprisonment sentence or any sex offense provided for in the Sex Offenders Registration Act to submit to DNA testing at the time the person is booked into the detention facility or detention.

-HB 2204 by Rep. John Trebilcock, levies an excise tax on eligible foods and beverages at a rate of 4 percent for fiscal year 2010.

-HB 1864 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, modifies calculation of the school year, requiring that it include at least 1,080 hours.

-HB 2004 by Rep. Harold Wright, includes methods on mental illness symptoms identification and mental health issues in preservice programs developed by the Commission for Teacher Preparation.

-HB 1795 by Rep. Chuck Hoskin, allows a motorcycle or bicycle rider to proceed through a steady red traffic signal if the rider has stopped and the signal has not identified the cycle and has thus not changed.

-HB 1097 by Rep. David Dank, creates a nine-member Task Force for the Study of Transferable Tax Credits until Jan. 1, 2010, to study all tax credits that are transferable to any person or entity.

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

-HB 1576 by Rep. Charles Joyner, defines “amateur mixed martial artist,” “amateur mixed martial arts,” “combative sports” and “professional mixed martial arts” under the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission.

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

-HB 1737 by Rep. Ron Peters, establishes the Oklahoma School for the Visual and Performing Arts and a board of trustees for the school.

-HB 1740 by Rep. Ron Peters, declares the uses and purposes of the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Authority to be in furtherance of a public function and purpose and vital to the public welfare of the people of the state.

-HB 1834 by Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, outlaws female genital mutilation.

-HB 1934 by Rep. Mike Jackson, modifies fees under the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act, increasing from $1,250 to $2,000 the shop review fee and $50 to $100 the licensing fee for repair, service and install and makes the installer technician fee due biennially.

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

-HB 2015 by Rep. Kenneth Miller, creates the Oklahoma State Finance Act.

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

-HB 2154 by Rep. Don Armes, increases from $1,000 to $10,000 the fine for taking or attempting to take wildlife or cervidae from a commercial hunting facility without permission.

-HB 2174 by Rep. Jason Nelson, requires rather than allows proceedings for adoption to be brought in the district court in the county where the petitioners reside or the child to be adopted resides.

-HB 2245 by Rep. Randy Terrill, creates the Oklahoma Criminal Illegal Alien Repatriation Act of 2009 which allows the director of the Department of Corrections to release a prisoner to the custody and control of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

-HB 2246 by Rep. Randy Terrill, modifies language related to referendum and initiative petitions.

• House committees took no action on Tuesday.

Wednesday, March 11

• The Senate passed the following measures on Wednesday:

-SB 380 by Sen. Charles Laster, authorizes the OCIA to purchase property for the purpose of Zink Dam improvements on the Arkansas River in Tulsa.

-SB 1088 by Sen. Dan Newberry, provides qualifications for credit transfers, limits liability, defines terms and makes exceptions for recapture events.

-SB 929 by Sen. Jim Halligan, provides that payroll requirements be waived for claims previously denied if the applicant meets certain requirements.

-SB 891 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, expands the definition of animal slaughtering for the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act.

-SB 218 by Sen. Mike Johnson, is an omnibus appropriations measure.

-SB 219 by Sen. Mike Johnson, makes an appropriation to the State Department of Education.

-SB 220 by Sen. Mike Johnson, makes an appropriation to the State Department of Education.

-SB 222 by Sen. Mike Johnson, makes an appropriation to the State Regents for Higher Education.

-SB 757 by Sen. Sean Burrage, creates the Oklahoma Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration to evaluate potential barriers to the exchange of electronic information.

-SB 1201 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, gives parental rights to grandparents if grandparents have custodial rights over children.

-SB 24 by Sen. John Ford, provides exemption for dual office holding for any member of a board of regents of any institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who is elected to a municipal governing body.

-SB 726 by Sen. Don Barrington, relates to the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, modifying requirements for fire departments to report certain information.

-SB 54 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, relates to the Oklahoma Highway Remediation and Cleanup Services Act by stating exceptions for spills and discharges during the course of rail transportation and from stationary facilities owned by utilities.

-SB 672 by Sen. Brian Crain, clarifies the process for appeals for persons in custody of the Department of Corrections.

-SB 678 by Sen. Charles Laster, requires the Secretary of Energy to create an energy policy by Dec. 1, 2009.

-SB 530 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, adds assault and battery on a police officer as a crime qualified for mandatory minimum sentencing and defines the exception.

-SB 344 by Sen. Brian Crain, requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to provide coverage for hospice services for terminally ill beneficiaries under the state medical program.

-SB 455 by Sen. Anthony Sykes, requires a list of agency or lobbyist request bills to be posted online as part of the Taxpayer Transparency Act.

-SB 994 by Sen. John Sparks, adds an exception to physician-patient privilege.

-SB 1064 by Sen. Don Barrington, amends language pertaining to the possession of cell phones or electronic devices in prison.

-SB 805 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, establishes the Oklahoma New Development Impact Fee Act.

-SB 524 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, allows spouse, daughters, and sons to take one week of paid or unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act if a member of their family is on leave from deployment.

-SB 467 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, provides undergraduate resident tuition waivers for all members of the armed forces.

-SB 959 by Sen. Glenn Coffee, creates the Task Force on Investment Practices of the Oklahoma Statewide Pension Systems.

-SB 1178 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, modifies records kept by the Board of Medical Licensure to include applications for reinstatement of license.

-SB 565 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, modifies the method of demanding a jury trial and prohibits an interest rate charge against a party related to the acquisition of land.

-SB 1042 by Sen. Clark Jolley, includes the elderly to the list of entities exempt from certain requirements.

-SJR 12 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, seeks to send a ballot issue to a vote of the people to limit the term of Corporation Commissioners to 12 years, Governor to 8 years and other statewide elected officials to 8 years.

-SB 328 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, transfers money in the Oklahoma Opportunity Fund into the General Reserve Fund.

-SB 47 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, prohibits the state from participating in or paying dues or fees to the North America SuperCorridor Coalition, Inc.

-SB 1102 by Sen. Jonathan Nichols, adds a list of misdemeanor offenses to those who must submit to DNA testing for law enforcement identification purposes.

-SB 982 by Sen. John Ford, deletes the grade point average requirement for retention of eligibility in OHLAP.

-SB 1182 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, creates the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to build communication between various adoption authorities and between those authorities and the industry.

-SB 875 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, modifies the individual income tax rate to be adjusted to reflect price inflation for the preceding year as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for all goods and services.

-SB 852 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, requires a gist statement to be submitted to Secretary of State for initiative and referendum petitions.

-SB 1142 by Sen. Connie Johnson, requires completion of all terms and conditions of a sentence for the expungement process to take place.

-SB 431 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to provide enforcement of certain regulation and set penalties.

-SB 839 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, directs health benefit plans to provide coverage for orally administered anticancer medications.

-SB 1035 by Sen. John Sparks, increases penalties for trespassing on private lands.

• Senate committees approved no legislation on Wednesday.

• The House met Wednesday and approved numerous bills including the following:

-HJR 1042 by Rep. Randy Terrill, proposes a constitutional amendment designating English as the official language of the state.

-HB 1037 by Rep. Sue Tibbs, requires voters to provide proof of identity when voting.

-HJR 1016 by Rep. Mike Jackson, puts to a vote of the people a measure that would cap increases on the taxable fair case value for locally assessed real property which has qualified for the homestead exemption at 3 percent per year.

-HB 2252 by Rep. Randy Terrill, strikes a provision allowing for Spanish-language driver license examinations.

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

-HB 1755 by Rep. Scott Martin, designates CompSource Oklahoma as an enterprise agency for three years to grant the agency relief from certain statutory provisions or agency rules to realize projected savings.

-HJR 1041 by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, proposes a constitutional amendment related to the appointment of judges.

-HB 1330 by Rep. Mike Ritze, creates the Ten Commandments Monument Display Act.

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

-HB 1072 by Rep. Charles Key, modifies language related to the number of petition signatures required to become a recognized political party.

-HB 1786 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, creates the Local Government Infrastructure Cost Recovery Payment Act.

• House committees took no action on Wednesday.

Thursday, March 12

• The Senate met Thursday and approved the following legislation:

-SB 1175 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, creates the Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Security Act of 2009.

-SB 902 by Sen. Bill Brown, lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the crime of boating under the influence, prohibits a child under 12 from operating personal watercraft and increases the fine for those who aid children in operating watercraft.

-SB 481 by Sen. Todd Lamb, extends tax credits to contractors building energy-efficient residential buildings to Jan. 1, 2010.

-SB 254 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, exempts biological grandparents from court costs in relation to adopting grandchildren.

-SB 1138 by Sen. Mary Easley, creates vehicle-related child endangerment offenses and the crime of child endangerment by driving under the influence.

-SR 19 by Sen. Joe Sweeden, endorses the selection of Oklahoma as the site of PRCA Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping.

-SB 1141 by Sen. Constance N. Johnson, creates the Domestic Violence Registration Act to create a system of registration for persons who commit acts of domestic abuse or who cause others to seek protective orders against acts of such persons.

Other News

• Despite having ending his professional sports career over 20 years ago, state Sen. Randy Bass remains a celebrity in Japan. When a Colonel Sanders statue meant to represent his likeness emerged from the Dotonburi River in Osaka this week, positive memories were sparked for fans of the Hanshin Tigers, and Bass was once again in the news in Japan and around the world. After Bass’ play sparked the Hanshin Tigers to a national championship in 1985, fans crowded the Osaka streets in celebration. The statue of the Kentucky Fried Chicken mascot was taken from a nearby restaurant and thrown into the river in celebration, as fans thought Bass resembled the Colonel. Having not won another national championship since 1985, some fans of the Hanshin Tigers have attributed their championship drought to the “Curse of the Colonel”. With the statue having been retrieved, both Tiger fans and Sen. Bass hope the “Curse” will be lifted.

• Oklahoma is the only state in the nation to improve two grade levels in two years in mental health services, according to a report recently released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In 2006, the group gave Oklahoma a “D” for its mental health service system. The most recent report gave Oklahoma a “B”, citing the state’s expansion of drug courts, creation of mental health courts and improved service and coordination between agencies.