Monday, March 28 to Thursday March 31, 2005

Monday, March 28

• The Senate convened to consider two resolutions and then adjourned to committee meetings. The deadline to report from committee of the opposite house is Thursday, April 7th.

-SR 13 by Sen. Daisy Lawler declares March 30, 2005 as “Ag Day,” memorializing Oklahoma citizens to recognize the importance of agriculture. The resolution was adopted.

-SCR 9 by Sen. Kenneth Corn and Rep. Neil Brannon designates Teresa Farrington, also known as the “Okie Artist,” as the State Okie Caricature Artist. The resolution was adopted.

-HB 1313 by Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Ray McCarter would modify requirements for formation of farmers’ mutual fire insurance associations to provide for inclusion of municipal property only in communities, towns, and cities classified by Insurance Service Organizations as class five towns and/or cities with populations of 10,000 people or less, and class six communities in a territory not exceeding 50 counties. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1657 by Sen. Harry Coates and Rep. Danny Morgan would authorize package stores to sell Oklahoma wine at festivals. The bill failed a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1986 by Sen. Richard Lerblance and Rep. Terry Ingmire would create the Gift Certificate Disclosure Act to make it unlawful for a person or entity to sell a gift certificate that contains an expiration date and a service fee including a service fee for dormancy, except under certain circumstances. The bill was laid over.

-HB 1511 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Mike Wilt would expand the definition of “landscape architect” to include planning and arranging of land for plazas, streetscapes, water features, public parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities and trail systems. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1655 by Sen. Earl Garrison and Rep. Danny Morgan would require that forms of the caption for signatures for municipal initiative petitions sheets be in no smaller than 10-point font. The bill received a do pass recommendation with the title stricken.

• The House of Representatives convened to consider legislation and also adjourned to committee meetings.

-SB 618 by Sen. Mary Easley and Rep. Ben Sherrer creates a “Dustin Rhodes CPR Training Act” to require local boards of education, subject to availability of funds, to ensure that at least one certified teacher and one non-certified staff member at each school receives training in CPR each year. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HCR 1010 by Rep. Mike Mass directs the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission to change the class hour requirements for hunter education courses. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

-SJR 5 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. Trebor Worthen would give voters the chance to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to prevent legislators convicted of a crime from receiving a state paycheck. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-SB 326 by Sen. Susan Paddack and Rep. Wes Hilliard would prohibit school districts from transferring funds to a local foundation or rendering services or providing any thing of value to a local foundation without receiving documented adequate payment or reimbursement according to written contract. The bill passed committee.

-SB 440 by Sen. David Myers and Rep. Dale DeWitt would direct that a copy of the sex offender registry be provided to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and authorizes the State School Superintendent to copy and distribute certain information to schools.

-SB 700 by Sen. Angela Monson and Rep. Barbara Staggs would require the District Attorney to notify the superintendent upon filing of information or the indicting of an employee providing services to the school. The bill passed committee.

Tuesday, March 29th

• The Senate met on Tuesday to consider appropriations measures and also held committee hearings. The following measures were approved:

-HB 1191 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, Sen. Cal Hobson and Rep. Todd Hiett creates an Oklahoma Higher Education Promise of Excellence Act of 2005 authorizing the Boards of Regents of institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to issue bonds for capitol projects for institutions in a manner similar to that used in the private sector. The bill and emergency passed 43-2.

-HB 1598 by Sen. Earl Garrison and Rep. Jerry McPeak would prohibit driving a vehicle on a turnpike faster than the reduced-speed limit in a properly marked toll booth zone and would authorize the fine to be doubled in appropriate situations.

-HB 1304 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. John Trebilcock would prohibit waiving fines for driving while a person’s license is suspended, canceled, denied or revoked. The measure also makes the installation of an ignition interlock device mandatory for a person found guilty of a second or subsequent violation of driving while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance.

-HB 1720 by Sen. Owen Laughlin and Rep. Chris Benge would modify language providing for destruction of fingerprints of minors upon reaching the age of 16 to require a written request from the parent. The bill also requires consent of a legal parent or guardian before issuance of a driver license to an unemancipated minor under the age of 18.

-HB 1944 by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre and Rep. Mike Shelton would prohibit the location and establishment of inmate transitional living centers within 2,500 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school, state training school or residential neighborhood.

-HB 1603 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Paul Wesselhoft would allow state employees to become candidates for office and specifies requirements for such candidacy.

-HB 1013 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Larry Glenn would increase the statute of limitations from seven years to 12 years for rape, sodomy, child abuse, and lewd behavior involving children.

• The House approved the following legislation in committee:

-SB 823 - by Sen. Wilson, Rep. Miller would create the Oklahoma Tourism, Parks and Recreation Enhancement Act for the purpose of creating the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

-SB 682 - by Sen. Corn, Rep. Lamons would expand the scope of the crimes of assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm while committing a felony to include use of a paintball gun or tazer weapon.

-SB 432 - by Sen. Pruitt, Rep. Morgan modifies provisions relating to search warrants to add an exception for searches of dwellings for the trafficking of methamphetamine.

-SB 816 - by Sen. Easley, Sen. Eason McIntyre, Rep. Shumate would make it illegal to communicate false information concerning a missing child to a law enforcement agency that causes or encourages the activation of an early alert warning system.

-SB 412 - by Sen. Anderson, Rep. Armes expands the term "prescription" for purposes of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act, t include medical supplies intended to be dispensed by a wholesaler or distributor.

-SB 643 - by Sen. Riley, Rep. Peters would require the Department of Health to provide educational materials, in written and electronic forms, on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hepatitis C to all physicians and other health care providers.

Wednesday, March 30th

• The Senate focused on committee action to ensure that House bills receive a hearing before the April 7th deadline.

-HB 1492 by Sen. Susan Paddack and Rep. Fred Morgan would provide a tuition waiver for college students who serve in the Oklahoma National Guard. The bill received a do pass recommendation from the committee.

-HB 1326 by Sen. Daisy Lawler and Rep. Ray McCarter would provide for recognition of certification of school counselors under the Education Leadership Oklahoma Act and would remove the requirement that teachers serving on the Applicant Review Committee for National Board certification be classroom teachers. The bill received a do pass recommendation with the title stricken.

-HB 1506 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Paul Roan would create the Sean Skelley and Shane Gilmore Act to provide a tuition waiver for resident and nonresident tuition for children of emergency medical technicians killed in the line of duty. The bill received a do pass recommendation with the enacting clause stricken.

-HB 1621 by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson and Rep. Sally Kern would require the State Board of Education to adopt core curriculum requirements for students in kindergarten through third grade that include standards for instruction focused on reading/language arts and mathematics and provide for development of motor skills and inclusion of physical activity, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. The title was stricken and the bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1347 by Sen. Susan Paddack and Rep. Randy Terrill would expand the program for transferring unused prescription drugs from nursing facilities to pharmacies operated by City/County Health Departments or county pharmacies for distribution to the medically indigent. The title was stricken and the bill was approved.

-HB 1853 by Sen. Susan Paddack and Rep. Kris Steele would create an Rx for Oklahoma Act authorizing community action agencies, the Department of Human Services, County Health Departments and other entities and agencies to establish a statewide program to assist medically indigent state residents with receiving prescriptions from drug manufacturers through assistance programs. The bill was approved.

-HB 1611 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. Curt Roggow would grant civil and criminal immunity for child advocacy centers accredited by the National Children’s Alliance and acting in good faith while participating in an investigation process. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1435 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield and Rep. Wes Hilliard raises the pay of teachers at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and the Oklahoma Schoo for the Blind. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

-HB 1753 by Sen. Randy Bass and Rep. David Braddock provides creation of an Oklahoma Military Base Protection Grant Program and states legislative intent to create a program pursuant to which local communities may apply to the state for a matching grant for critical infrastructure improvements, encroachment issues, transportation and access needs, utilities, communications, housing, environment and security in order to prevent adverse realignment or military base closure. The bill was approved.

• The House convened to consider legislation and then adjourned to focus on committee action.

-SB 228 by Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, Sen. Mike Morgan, Rep. Chris Benge and Rep. Jim Newport appropriates $500,000 from the special cash fund to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission for startup expenses. The bill passed 65-31 and the emergency passed 74-23.

-SB 4 by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson and Rep. Paul Wesselhoft makes hourglass selenite crystal the official state crystal. The bill and emergency passed 92-3.

-SB 513 by Sen. Cliff Branan and Rep. Kenneth Miller requires professional computer technicians to report obscene material involving children under the age of 18. The bill and emergency passed 96-0.

-SB 644 by Sen. Jim Reynolds and Rep. Paul Roan would increase the maximum fine from $100 to $500 for pumping gasoline and leaving without payment. The bill passed 98-0.

-SB 759 by Sen. Owen Laughlin and Rep. Gus Blackwell limits the participation in the Delayed Sentencing Program for Young Adults to nonviolent offenders. The measure increases the time allowed after an offender is committed to a program for the Department of Corrections to prepare and file with the court clerk a specialized offended accountability plan from 30 days to 90 days. The bill and emergency passed 96-2.

-SB 705 by Sen. Kenneth Corn and Rep. Gary Banz would adjust and recalculate the salaries of correctional teachers and vocational instructors employed by the Department of Corrections. The bill received a do pass recommendation.

Thursday, March 31st

• The Senate convened briefly. The full Senate will reconvene Monday, April 4th at 1:30 p.m.

Other News

• Wednesday was Agriculture Day at the Capitol. Several vendors were set up in the 4th floor Rotunda to display the importance of Oklahoma’s agriculture industry.