Monday, May 21 to Thurs, May 25, 2012

Monday, May 21

• The Senate approved the following bills on Monday:

-SCR 22 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, approves the transfer of real and personal property of the area known as Boggy Depot State Park owned by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to the Chickasaw Nation.

-SB 110 by Sen. Harry Coates, removes current language regarding out-of-state licensed chiropractic physicians and directs the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to promulgate rules and establish reasonable fees for a temporary license to allow chiropractic physicians licensed in another state to assist chiropractic physicians licensed in the state in treating patients in their practice.

-SB 456 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies language related to manufacturing facilities that qualify for the five-year ad valorem tax exemption.

-SB 1235 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the definition of basic industry under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act.

-SB 1464 by Sen. Brian Bingman, adds oil and gas drilling to the list of qualified industries under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act.

-SB 1336 by Sen. Cliff Branan, requires the administrator of the Petroleum Storage Tank Indemnity Fund to notify the Oklahoma Tax Commission if the fund falls below the required maintenance level on or before Dec. 31, 2022.

-SB 1887 by Sen. Steve Russell, provides that a court may treat disposable retired or retainer pay payable to a military member either as property solely of the member or as property of the member and the spouse of the member.

-HB 2390 by Rep. Guy Liebmann, modifies language related to the Petroleum Storage Tank Indemnity Fund.

-HB 2391 by Rep. Guy Liebmann, modifies apportionment of the 1 cent per gallon assessment on motor fuel used or consumed in the state.

-HB 2684 by Rep. Gary Banz, modifies the definition of “school personal” as it relates to eligibility for benefits.

-HB 2689 by Rep. Charles Joyner, makes a student eligible for in-state status regardless of the residency of the student if they are the dependent child of a person currently serving as a member of the actively uniformed military services of the United States.

-SB 1866 by Sen. Dan Newberry, transfers all powers, duties, responsibilities, employees, records and equipment of the State Board of Health, the State Department of Health and the state commissioner of health relating to the regulation of locksmiths, closed circuit televisions, access controls, burglar alarms, fire alarms and sprinkler and nurse calls to the Department of Labor.

• Senate GCCA advanced the following measures Monday:

-HB 3061 by Rep. Kris Steele, reduces the Oklahoma income tax.

• The House met Monday, approving the following measures:

-HB 3134 by Rep. Kris Steele, directs the Department of Human Services to eliminate the Field Operations Division and to vertically integrate all program divisions and staff.

-HB 2582 by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, adds definitions to the Long-term Care Security Act.

-HB 1985 by Rep. Chuck Hoskin, provides that any veteran who meets the basic qualifications for a position be interviewed in person in order to allow the veteran to demonstrate any transferable skills acquired in military service.

-HB 2510 by Rep. Ann Coody, prohibits a person from claiming a sales tax exemption granted an organization to make a purchase exempt from sales tax for his or her personal use.

-HB 2535 by Rep. Mark McCullough, repeals the Oklahoma Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities Act.

-HB 2563 by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, modifies qualifications for the Native American liaison.

-HB 2607 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, prohibits the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Conservation Commission and the Department of Wildlife Conservation from entering into or approving a conservation easement or setback for purposes related to energy or agricultural structures and regarding the lesser prairie chicken that is more restrictive than that in federal law, rules or guidelines.

-HB 2646 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, increases the number of members on the State Use Committee from five to seven and designates those members to be the director of the Department of Human Services, a designee, and a certified procurement officer of any state agency appointed by the state purchasing director who will represent the customer agencies of the state of Oklahoma.

-HB 2647 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, requires leased vehicles, in addition to those owned by a state agency, to be affixed with the “State of Oklahoma” designation.

-HB 2683 by Rep. Gary Banz, modifies the definition of “motorized bicycle”.

-HB 2714 by Rep. Mike Jackson, prohibits the Department of Commerce from entering a contract with a community action agency until the agency submits and the department approves a budget work program for the expenditure of funds and requires that each contract require audits of expenditures under rules to be promulgated by the department.

-HB 2787 by Rep. Charles Ortega, allows a bank or credit union to inventory and transfer or release the contents of a safe deposit box rented in the name of a sole individual without designation of a payable-on-death beneficiary or successor upon the death of the owner if the amount of the contents is $20,000 or less to the known heirs of the deceased upon receipt of an affidavit sworn to by the known heirs of the deceased.

-HB 2939 by Rep. David Derby, clarifies the duties of a state agency to keep, maintain and open to any person all records of the agency in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

-SB 259 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, directs the Tourism and Recreation Department to develop and maintain a website and provide written information for the public available on location that allows the public to check the water quality.

• House GCCA approved the following measures Monday:

-HB 3058 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program.

-SB 1434 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires in each fiscal year the first $1.35 million of an excise tax on petroleum oil that would have otherwise been apportioned to the General Revenue Fund be transferred to the Oil and Gas Division Revolving Fund of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

-SB 1868 by Sen. Dan Newberry, adds to the exemption from the definition of the term “roofing contractor” a person working on their own property, whether actually performing the work or using the assistance or labor of family members, relatives, neighbors or employees.

-HB 3056 by Rep. Kris Steele, requires the Legislature each fiscal year to appropriate adequate funding to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education to provide a flexible benefit allowance to school district employees.

-HB 2248 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, increases from $41,700,000 to $56,700,000 the amount to be allocated to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.

-HB 2249 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, modifies apportionment of fees, taxes and penalties collected under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.

-SB 1159 by Sen. Tom Adelson, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board.

Tuesday, May 22

• The Senate approved the following measures on Tuesday:

-SB 1975 by Sen. Clark Jolley, appropriates $6.8 billion to the various executive, legislative and judicial agencies.

-SB 1968 by Sen. Clark Jolley, abolishes the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority.

-SB 1973 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies language related to the collection of fees on criminal court cases.

-SB 1974 by Sen. Clark Jolley, adds to the list of unclassified employees a public information officer and information systems operations specialist of the Information Services Division of the Office of State Finance.

-SB 1979 by Sen. Clark Jolley, directs the Department of Human Services to expend $25 million of the amount appropriated in enrolled SB 1975 to implement Phase One of the Pinnacle Plan.

-SB 1980 by Sen. Clark Jolley, directs the University Hospitals Authority to transfer $500,000 of the funds appropriated in enrolled SB 1975 to the University Hospitals Authority Dispersing Fund.

-SB 1983 by Sen. Clark Jolley, prohibits penalties for delinquent vehicle registration from being waived by the Oklahoma Tax Commission or any motor license agent, except as provided in law.

-SB 1985 by Sen. Clark Jolley, clarifies language related to the three year period for filing a claim for the refund of sales or use taxes.

-SB 1988 by Sen. Clark Jolley, requires the Department of Corrections to use $2.9 million of the funds appropriated by SB 1975 for security enhancements, population reduction and renovation at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

-SB 1984 by Sen. Clark Jolley, defines “noncompliant taxpayer”.

-SB 132 by Sen. Ron Justice, directs the tax exemption for retirement income derived from any component of the U.S. Armed Forces in an amount not to exceed the greater of 75 percent of such benefits or $10,000 to end by Jan. 1, 2016.

-SB 134 by Sen. Kim David, permits a physician assistant licensed to practice in Oklahoma to respond to medical care during an emergency that the assistant is capable of providing under the supervision of a physician.

-SB 1436 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, provides that corporations and others subject to the franchise tax shall pay an Oklahoma Business Activity Tax for tax year 2013 equal to the amount they were required to pay for the tax year 2013 equal to the amount they were required to pay for the tax year ended Dec. 31, 2010.

-SB 1533 by Sen. Clark Jolley, removes language that required facilities at or through which a combative sport’s closed circuit telecast is shown other than a cable system operator’s pay-per-view facilities to pay an assessment equal to 4 percent of the total gross receipts from the broadcast, excluding state or federal taxes.

-SJR 52 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting intangible personal property from being subject to ad valorem tax or to any other tax in lieu of ad valorem tax in Oklahoma beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

-HJR 1114 by Rep. Gary Banz, approves the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission’s permanent rules.

• Senate GCCA advanced the following measures Tuesday:

-HB 3058 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program.

-SB 1242 by Sen. Don Barrington, allows the court to order a defendant to reimburse the Oklahoma attorney general for costs incurred by that agency during its investigation of a crime for which the defendant pleaded guilty.

-SB 1816 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, modifies the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, allowing the State Board of Education to sponsor a charter school when the applicant of the charter school is the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board created in the act and the charter school is for the purpose of establishing a full-time statewide virtual charter school.

-SB 1820 by Sen. Jim Halligan, requires that the weighted membership of nonresident, transferred pupils enrolled in online courses be determined by multiplying the actual enrollment as of Aug. 1 by a 1.333 weight.

-HB 3056 by Rep. Kris Steele, requires the Legislature each fiscal year to appropriate adequate funding to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Career and Technology Education to provide a flexible benefit allowance to school district employees.

-HB 3136 by Rep. Kris Steele, requires the Department of Human Services to develop a workforce improvement plan for child welfare specialists that will increase the number of staff, reduce turnover and continue to improve the experience level and practice competencies of staff responsible for day-to-day work on child welfare cases.

• The House approved the following bills Tuesday:

-HB 3137 by Rep. Kris Steele, removes the authority of the Commission on Human Services to appoint the Department of Human Services director and grants that authority to the governor, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

-HB 2494 by Rep. Lee Denney, modifies language regarding the A-through-F grading system for schools.

-HB 2522 by Rep. Steve Martin, allows the attorney general or any assistant attorney general to carry a firearm on his or her person anywhere in the state.

-SCR 41 by Sen. Brian Bingman, establishes legislative procedures for the 54th Oklahoma Legislature.

-HB 2248 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, increases from $41.7 million to $59.7 million the amount to be allocated to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.

-HB 2249 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, modifies apportionment of fees, taxes and penalties collected under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.

-HB 2254 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, creates the Local Law Enforcement Mental Health Empower Act.

-HB 2306 by Rep. Ann Coody, requires school districts with one or more sites identified for school improvement to electronically submit certain plans to the State Board of Education.

-HB 2320 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, modifies language related to deferred option plans of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

-HB 2392 by Rep. Guy Liebmann, decreases from 12 to nine the membership of the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission.

-HB 2645 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, requires each member of the county excise board to attend and successfully complete a course of instruction consisting of at least six hours within 18 months of appointment for the first four years of service on the board.

-HB 2676 by Rep. Jabar Shumate, directs the State Board of Education to establish the Oklahoma Bridge to Literacy Program.

-HB 2741 by Rep. Ron Peters, modifies language under the Oklahoma Juvenile Code.

-HJR 1129 by Rep. Don Armes, disapproves the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture’s permanent rules.

-SB 1743 by Sen. Steve Russell, creates the Landowner’s Hunting Freedom Act.

-SB 1464 by Sen. Brian Bingman, adds oil and gas drilling to the list of qualified industries under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Programs Act.

• House GCCA advanced the following measures Tuesday:

-SB 1820 by Sen. Jim Halligan, addresses State Aid funding for online students.

-HB 2523 by Rep. Steve Martin, establishes a one-day fishing license for nonresidents for a $14 fee.

-HB 3090 by Rep. Jason Nelson, states that the amount of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship be prorated to reflect the number of remaining days in the current school year.

Wednesday, May 23

• The Senate met Wednesday, approving the following measures:

-SB 1989 by Sen. Brian Bingman, authorizes a $20 million bond issue for the Popular Culture Museum in Tulsa.

-SB 397 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, amends enrolled SB 1704 to require that courses and programs offered online for continuing education credit provided by insurance companies to insurance producers and customer service representatives or by professional associations be designed to present materials in a way that allows the participant to complete the entire material without a proctor or monitor for either the course or program or the written examination.

-SB 1067 by Sen. Don Barrington, clarifies that a Department of Public Safety officer, or an officer of any other political subdivision, is authorized under certain circumstances to tow vehicles found upon public roads that provide access to one or more single or multi-family dwellings.

-SB 1159 by Sen. Tom Adelson, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board.

-SB 1314 by Sen. Brian Crain, allows a deponent to have his or her attorney present to counsel and render advice during deposition, provided opposing counsel may object to excessive use of such counsel and advice.

-SB 1320 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, designates a portion of U.S. Highway 169 from 86th Street North to 96th Street North as “Sergeant Schuyler B. Patch Memorial Highway.”

-SB 1355 by Sen. David Holt, prohibits any person registered as a sex offender of any level from being removed from the Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry without a court order.

-SB 1434 by Sen. Brian Bingman, requires in each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2013, the first $1.35 million of the excise tax on petroleum oil that would have otherwise been apportioned to the General Revenue Fund be transferred to the Oil and Gas Division Revolving Fund of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

-SB 1451 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, requires state agency strategic plans to include an analysis of the appropriation level required to achieve the duties of the agency for each of the five years of the plan.

-SB 1520 by Sen. Brian Bingman, modifies language related to the Workers’ Compensation Court.

-SB 1618 by Sen. Bill Brown, requires an insurer to provide to any insurance producer authorized to sell life, accident or health insurance products, information relating to the policy of the person who purchased a product from such producer if the insured has signed a form authorizing the release of the information.

-SB 1716 by Sen. John Sparks, establishes a crime for person who maliciously and knowingly cuts or damages a fence used for the production of livestock.

-SB 1728 by Sen. Dan Newberry, requires a party to file a complaint with the attorney general or charge of discrimination in employment with the attorney general’s office within 180 days from the last date of alleged discrimination in order to have standing in a court of law to allege discrimination.

-SB 1868 by Sen. Dan Newberry, adds to the exemption from the definition of the term “roofing contractor”.

-SB 1889 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, requires all campus police department to notify the district attorney in the county where the campus police department is located of any complaint received by the campus police on any alleged crime of rape or child abuse that is to have occurred within the jurisdictional boundaries of the campus within three days of receiving the complaint.

-SB 1890 by Sen. Randy Bass, exempts state-owned vehicles from the motor vehicle excise tax and the motor vehicle rental tax.

-SB 1969 by Sen. Clark Jolley, removes language regarding the Board of Investors of the Economic Development Generating Excellence Fund.

-SB 1971 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies apportionment of the Tobacco Settlement Fund.

-SB 1991 by Sen. Clark Jolley, modifies duties of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

-HB 1985 by Rep. Chuck Hoskin, provides that any veteran who meets the basic qualifications for a position be interviewed in person in order to allow the veteran to demonstrate any transferable skills acquired in military service.

-HB 2198 by Rep. Steven Vaughan, creates a misdemeanor for taking, possessing or transporting processed or unprocessed paddlefish.

-HB 2392 by Rep. Guy Liebmann, decreases from 12 to nine the membership of the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission.

-HB 2646 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, increases the number of members on the State Use Committee from five to seven.

-HB 2647 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, requires leased vehicles to be affixed with the “State of Oklahoma” designation.

-HB 2563 by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, modifies qualifications for the Native American Liaison.

-HB 2582 by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, adds definitions to the Long-term Care Security Act.

-HB 2683 by Rep. Gary Banz, modifies the definition of “motorized bicycle”.

-HB 2939 by Rep. David Derby, clarifies the duties of a state agency to keep, maintain and open to any person all records of the agency in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

-HB 3134 by Rep. Kris Steele, directs the Department of Human Services to eliminate the Field Operations Division.

• Senate GCCA advanced the following measures Wednesday:

-HB 2616 by Rep. Dennis Johnson, modifies language regarding direct payment permits for the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

-HB 3093 by Rep. Cory Williams, exempts canoes and paddleboats from the vessel registration tax and instead subjects them to the sales tax of 4.5 percent.

-HB 3119 by Rep. Jeff Hickman,

• The House met Wednesday, approving several budget-related bills, and the following measures:

-HB 3079 by Rep. Jason Murphey, changes references to the Office of State Finance to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

-HB 3053 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Government Administrative Process Consolidation and Reorganization Reform Act of 2012.

-HB 2242 by Rep. Lee Denney, requires the license fee of a wrecker or tow vehicle to be based on the gross weight of the wrecker or tow vehicle alone without any inclusion of weight for a vehicle towed by the wrecker or tow vehicle.

-HB 2288 by Rep. Emily Virgin, expands the conditions under which a state employee may opt out of the basic health insurance plan to include employees who will be covered by a separate group health insurance plan at or before the beginning of the next plan year.

-HB 2330 by Rep. Lewis Moore, allows an agency to contract with a third-party vendor to perform any and all employment screenings.

-HB 2576 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, requires the excise tax levied on low-point beer to be due and payable on or before the 20th day of the month rather than the 10th day.

-HB 3056 by Rep. Kris Steele, requires the Legislature each fiscal year to appropriate adequate funding to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Career Technology Education to provide a flexible benefit allowance to school district employees.

-HB 3058 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program.

-HB 3108 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, designates a portion of State Highway 11 as the “U.S. Border Patrol Chief Donald R. Coppock Memorial Highway”.

-SB 456 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies language related to manufacturing facilities that qualify for the five-year ad valorem tax exemption.

-SB 1159 by Sen. Tom Adelson, modifies language related to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board.

-SB 1235 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, modifies the definition of basic industry under the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act.

-SB 1336 by Sen. Cliff Branan, requires the administrator of the Petroleum Storage Tank Indemnity Fund to notify the Oklahoma Tax Commission if the fund falls below the required maintenance level on or before Dec. 31, 2022.

-SB 1588 by Sen. Don Barrington, allows the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement Board to permit the use of electronic media to provide applicable notices and make elections and consent.

-SB 1887 by Sen. Steve Russell, provides that a court may treat disposable retired or retainer pay payable to a military member either as property solely of the member and the spouse of the member.

• House GCCA approved the following measures Wednesday:

-HB 3038 by Rep. Leslie Osborn, proposes cutting the top income tax rate.

-SB 1816 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, permits charter schools to be sponsored by the State Board of Education when the applicant of the charter school is the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Thursday, May 24

• The Senate approved the following measures Thursday:

-HJR 1092 by Rep. Kris Steele, proposes a constitutional amendment repealing language relating to the Oklahoma Public Welfare Commission and the director of public welfare.

-HB 3137 by Rep. Kris Steele, removes the authority of the Commission on Human Services to appoint the Department of Human Services director.

-SB 671 by Sen. Dan Newberry, prohibits any state court from enforcing foreign law.

-SB 1102 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, creates the Oklahoma State Retirement Systems Revolving Fund.

-SB 1242 by Sen. Don Barrington, provides that a plaintiff’s refusal to testify against a defendant in a petition for a protective order in which the court finds that the petition was filed frivolously and that no victim exists will not constitute grounds for assessing costs and fees against the plaintiff.

-SB 1280 by Sen. Mike Schulz, creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program.

-SB 1638 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, modifies the removal date of non-conforming signs.

-SB 1795 by Sen. Kim David, removes the Bill Willis Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Center in Tahlequah and the Norman Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in Norman from the facilities within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services that may be maintained for residents of the state.

-SB 1816 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski, permits charter schools to be sponsored by the State Board of Education.

-SB 1820 by Sen. Jim Halligan, requires that the weighted membership of nonresident, transferred pupils enrolled in online courses be determined by multiplying the actual enrollment.

-HB 2242 by Rep. Lee Denney, requires the license fee of a wrecker or tow vehicle to be based on the gross weight of the wrecker or tow vehicle alone without any inclusion of weight for a vehicle towed by the wrecker or tow vehicle.

-HB 2248 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, increases from $41.7 million to $59.7 million the amount to be allocated to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.

-HB 2249 by Rep. T.W. Shannon, modifies apportionment of fees, taxes and penalties collected under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.

-HB 2254 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, creates the Local Law Enforcement Mental Health Empower Act.

-HB 2320 by Rep. Randy McDaniel, authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System to invest no more than 10 percent of the total assets of the system in real property owned or acquired by the state.

-HB 2330 by Rep. Lewis Moore, allows an agency, board, commission, higher education institution, career technology or common education institution to contract with a third-party vendor to conduct employment screenings.

-HB 2510 by Rep. Ann Coody, prohibits a person from claiming a sales tax exemption granted to an organization to make a purchase exempt from sales tax for his or her personal use.

-HB 2535 by Rep. Mark McCullough, repeals the Oklahoma Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities Act.

-HB 2576 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, requires the excise tax levied on low-point beer to be due and payable on or before the 20th day of the month rather than the 10th day.

-HB 2607 by Rep. Gus Blackwell, prohibits the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Wildlife Conservation from entering into or approving a conservation easement or setback for purposes related to energy or agricultural structures and regarding the lesser prairie chicken that is more restrictive that than in federal law, rules or guidelines.

-HB 2645 by Rep. David Brumbaugh, requires each member of the county excise board to attend and successfully complete a course of instruction consisting of at least six hours within 18 months of appointment for the first four years of service on the board.

-HB 2676 by Rep. Jabar Shumate, directs the State Board of Education to establish the Oklahoma Bridge to Literacy Program.

-HB 2790 by Rep. Charles Ortega, modifies eligibility criteria for a superintendent of public schools.

-HB 3053 by Rep. Kris Steele, creates the Government Administrative Process Consolidation and Reorganization Reform Act.

-HB 3079 by Rep. Jason Murphey, changes references to the Office of State Finance to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

• Senate GCCA approved the following bills Thursday:

• The House met Thursday, approving several bills, including the following:

-SB 1975 by Sen. Clark Jolley, appropriates $6.8 billion to various executive, legislative and judicial agencies.

-SJR 52 by Sen. Mike Mazzei, proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting intangible personal property from being subject to ad valorem tax or to any other tax in lieu of ad valorem tax in Oklahoma beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

-HB 2746 by Rep. Dan Kirby, creates George Clinkscale’s Law.

-SB 1320 by Sen. Rick Brinkley, designates a portion of U.S. Highway 169 from 86th Street North to 96th Street North as “Sergeant Schuyler B. Patch Memorial Highway”.

-SB 1533 by Sen. Clark Jolley, removes language that required facilities at or through which a combative sport’s closed circuit telecast is shown other than a cable system operator’s pay-per-view facilities to pay an assessment equal to 4 percent of the total gross receipts from the broadcast.

• House GCCA advanced the following measures Thursday:

-SB 1664 by Sen. Don Barrington, would provide a tax credit for qualified projects in counties that experienced extensive damage as a result of the tornado that hit the state on April 15.

-SB 1644 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, adds over-length vehicles engaged in harvest operations as long as the length of the truck-tractor two trailer combination does not exceed 81-feet, six inches.

-HB 2653 by Rep. Dustin Roberts, requires every retail dealer permit issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission to have printed on its face whether it is for consumption on premises.

Friday, May 25

• The Senate approved the following measures Friday:

-SB 1664 by Sen. Don Barrington, allows the Oklahoma State University Center for Local Government Technology to administer the computer-assisted mass appraisal program.

-HB 3152 by Rep. Earl Sears, specifies chief executive salaries for agencies, boards, commissions, departments and programs.

-HB 3160 by Rep. Earl Sears, appropriates funding to the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

-HB 3159 by Rep. Earl Sears, appropriates funding to the Department of Consumer Credit.

-HB 3157 by Rep. Earl Sears, authorizes the transfer of five million dollars from the state judicial revolving fund to the to the supreme court administrative revolving fund.

-HB 3151 by Rep. Earl Sears, appropriates funding to the Department of Health.

-HB 3150 by Rep. Earl Sears, appropriates funding to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

-HB 3149 by Rep. Earl Sears, appropriates funding to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

-HB 2288 by Rep. Emily Virgin, adds an exception for opting out of the state’s basic plan if coverage is at or before beginning of next plan.

-SB 1253 by Sen. Tom Ivester, requires funds received from continuing professional education provided by the state auditor and Inspector to be deposited in the state auditor and inspector revolving fund.

-HB 2494 by Rep. Lee Denney, adds to the data to be added to the Oklahoma School Testing Program.

-HB 2306 by Rep. Ann Coody, removes authority of the State Department of Education to review plans for construction of public school buildings.

-HB 3108 by Rep. Jeff Hickman, designates sections of highways, bridges and expressways for dedication.

-SB 1616 by Sen. Harry Coates, establishes the Controlled Insurance Program Act.

-HB 2714 by Rep. Mike Jackson, extends the sunset clause for the oversight committee for state employee charitable contributions.

-HB 3058 by Rep. Kris Steele, establishes the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program.

-HB 3056 by Rep. Kris Steele, modifies plan year dates of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act and the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Act.

-HB 2746 by Rep. Dan Kirby, brings combative sports practitioners and events under the jurisdiction of the State Athletic Commission.

-SB 447 by Sen. Don Barrington, changes the hearing date on petitions of protective orders to 14 days.

-SB 1040 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, states that the Board of Directors for the Grand River Dam Authority will serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

-SB 1644 by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, adds an exception for in and out-of-state harvesting transportation concerning tractor trailers.

-HJR 1129 by Rep. Don Armes, disapproves permanent rules at the Department of Agriculture.

-SB 1535 by Sen. Clark Jolley, appropriates funding to the State Department of Education for the purchase of textbooks.

-HB 2258 by Rep. Ben Sherrer, directs the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Worker’s Compensation Court and Employment Security Commission to share information.

-HB 2396 by Rep. Wade Rousselot, increases the fixed period of protective orders to five years.

-HB 3133 by Rep. Mike Sanders, transfers any judges employed to preside over Office of Client Advocacy hearings concerning child welfare and foster care complaints or allegations to the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

-HB 3135 by Rep. Jason Nelson, allows DHS to release information under certain exemptions.

-HB 2300 by Rep. Pam Peterson, allows a child to be removed from the home if the parent has been found to have committed sexual abuse against the child or if the parent must register as a sex offender pursuant to certain codes.

-HB 3090 by Rep. Jason Nelson, states that the amount of Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships shall be prorated to reflect the number of days remaining in the current school year.

-HB 3093 by Rep. Cory Williams, exempts canoes from registration and excise tax.

-HB 2469 by Rep. Richard Morrissette, creates the Oklahoma Transportation Infrastructure Bank Act.

Other News

• More than 2,000 people who were falsely convicted of serious crimes have been exonerated in the United States in the past 23 years, according to a new archive compiled at two universities. There is no official record-keeping system for exonerations of convicted criminals in the country, so academics set one up. The new national registry, or database, painstakingly assembled by the University of Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law, is the most complete list of exonerations ever compiled.

• A recent nationwide survey of entrepreneurs provided a generous helping of good news as the state achieved an overall rank of third. The report card from Thumbtack.com and the Kauffman Foundation awarded Oklahoma an A+ for overall small-business friendliness. The survey considered the ease of starting a small business, the regulatory environment, and awareness of training and networking programs. With mostly A’s across the 12 categories, Oklahoma’s lowest mark was a B for tax code friendliness. Oklahoma and Virginia are the only two states whose lowest grade is as high as a B. The survey of entrepreneurs also evaluated 40 cities, and Oklahoma City took the top prize. Of the 12 graded categories, Oklahoma City got 11 A+ marks and nine No. 1 rankings. The lowest grade, again, was for tax code friendliness, but the A was still enough to earn sixth place.

• This week, the Senate said farewell to several of its members who are either leaving office due to term limits (Senators Jim Wilson and Jonathan Nichols) or simply to pursue other interests (Senators Judy Eason McIntyre, Richard Lerblance, Charlie Laster, Steve Russell and Tom Adelson).