Monday, May 7 through Thursday May 10, 2007

• The Senate met Monday and approved the following bills:

-SB 861 by Sen. Don Barrington, would provide a sales tax exemption for sales of clothing or footwear priced at less than $100 during the first weekend in August.

-SB 103 by Sen. Susan Paddack, would require a minimum of one lockdown drill to be conducted at each public school each school year and would allow additional drills to be conducted at the discretion of the school board.

-SB 563 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, would modify the calculation of reimbursement for new public mass transportation programs under the Department of Transportation.

-SB 620 by Sen. Andrew Rice, would modify the requirements for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner.

-SB 691 by Sen. Tom Adelson, would allow retired county employees to return to work on a part-time basis after the first month of retirement and continue to be eligible for their retirement benefits.

-SB 814 by Sen. James A. Williamson, would authorize the Department of Human Services to file claims with the Tax Commission for payment of spousal support.

-SB 930 by Sen. Susan Paddack, would authorize the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to enter into agreements with charitable health care providers.

-SB 945 by Sen. James A. Williamson, would modify enforcement for contempt for failure to make child support arrearage payments.

• Senate committees took no action on bills on Monday.

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

-HB 1686 by Sen. Andrew Rice, would require persons under age 18 to wear a crash helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle on public lands.

-HB 1960 by Sen. Bill Brown, would modify the Property and Casualty Competitive Loss Cost Rating Act, allowing an insurer or filer to keep information confidential subject to approval by the Insurance Commissioner.

• House committees took no action on Monday.

Tuesday, May 8

• The Senate met Tuesday and approved the following legislation:

-SB 95 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would require that individuals have permission to hunt or fish on private land devoted to farming, ranching or forestry and defines hunting or fishing without such permission as trespassing.

-SB 63 by Sen. Brian Crain, would increase the county retirement system contribution percentages.

-SB 145 by Sen. Brian Crain, would authorize a district judge or an associate district judge licensed to carry a concealed handgun to carry or use weapons in a courthouse.

-SB 151 by Sen. Brian Crain, would authorize expenditure of monies in the Community-based Substance Abuse Revolving Fund for contracting with statewide substance abuse organizations to provide training and establish a collaborative network of providers.

-SB 494 by Sen. Andrew Rice, would prohibit the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services from entering into contracts with uncertified community mental health centers.

-SB 590 by Sen. Owen Laughlin, would provide for the destruction of certain records by counties.

-SB 664 by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, would modify language relating to the Office of the Attorney General’s establishment of a 24-hour statewide telephone communication service for victims of sexual assault.

-SB 889 by Sen. Brian Crain, would create an Oklahoma Medicaid False Claims Act to prohibit the filing of claims for fraudulent Medicaid Services.

-SB 929 by Sen. Susan Paddack, would modify the property description of state-owned land to be used for the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training in Ada.

-SB 984 by Sen. John Sparks, would enact the Interstate Compact on Licensure of Participants in Live Horse Racing with Pari-mutuel Wagering.

-SB 1016 by Sen. Randy Bass, would allow a mixed beverage or beer and wine licensee to permit persons under 21 in a designated bar area only when they are incidentally passing through.

• Senate committees took no action on bills on Tuesday.

• The House met Tuesday and approved the following resolution:

-HCR 1036 by Sen. Charles Laster, would designate May 8, 2007, as Water Day at the state Capitol and acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

• House committees took no action on Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 9

• The Senate met Wednesday and approved the following legislation:

-SB 47 by Sen. Brian Crain, would prohibit the forced implantation of a microchip in humans and establish penalties.

-SB 69 by Sen. Randy Bass, would allow any public body to hold public meetings by videoconference.

-SB 119 by Sen. Brian Bingman, would modify the requirement for the sale of electricity to an operator of an oil well using enhanced recovery methods to qualify for a sales tax exemption to remove language limiting the well to 10 barrels per day before the use of such methods.

-SB 410 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would direct fees collected monthly in excess of the first $1.216 million in permit fees and overweight permit fees be deposited into the Weigh Station Improvement Revolving Fund to be used for motor carrier permitting systems and motor carrier safety and enforcement.

-SB 447 by Sen. Brian Bingman, would increase from 10 to 11 the number of Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) accounts.

-SB 485 by Sen. Todd Lamb, would authorize the Commission for Rehabilitation Services to use funds from the Social Security reimbursement program for a direct service delivery staff incentive program.

-SB 747 by Sen. Brian Bingman, would set the tire recycling assessment for tires for use on motor vehicles to provide for a $2.50 per-tire waste tire recycling fee for tires with a rim diameter greater than 17.5 inches but less than or equal to 19.5 inches that are sold by a tire dealer.

-SB 787 by Sen. Andrew Rice, would remove authority of the Office of Child Abuse Prevention to designate child abuse and neglect prevention planning districts and establish guidelines for the establishment of district child abuse prevention task forces.

-SB 796 by Sen. Clark Jolley, would repeal a section relating to agreements for development and construction of information technology and telecommunications facilities.

-SB 1130 by Sen. Todd Lamb, would require the Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Pardon and Parole Board, to implement a method for tracking the success and recidivism of persons who are required to have a two stage parole consideration process for the first three years following their individual release from incarceration or release to parole.

• Senate committees took no action on Wednesday.

• The House met Wednesday and approved no substantive bills.

• House committees took no action on Wednesday.

Thursday, May 10

• The Senate met Thursday and approved the following bills:

-SB 833 by Sen. John Sparks, would require certain information regarding noncommunicable diseases to be kept confidential.

-SB 678 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would increase from 15 to 17 the membership of the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission, adding a representative from the Department of Corrections and a representative of a faith-based organization specializing in reintegration of inmates.

-SB 533 by Sen. Earl Garrison, would designate certain highways to honor Col. Albert Hill, Officer Danny Martinez, Sergeant Buddy Hughie and PFC John Reece, Jr.

-SB 1076 by Sen. Jim Wilson, would modify language relating to the Oklahoma Sales Tax Code relating to telecommunications services subject to taxation.

-SB 990 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would create a 12-member Judicial and District Attorney Redistricting Task Force.

-SB 695 by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would modify certain procedures for payment of health insurance premiums.

Other News

• On Tuesday, national and state business and education leaders briefed members of the Senate and House Education Committees on Oklahoma’s poor showing in a recent education study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The report, called “Leaders and Laggards,” gave Oklahoma an overall grade of “D”. Burns Hargis, Vice Chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, called the report “disturbing.” Lawmakers were told that Oklahoma was one of only 10 states to receive an “F” in academic achievement and one of only two states to receive an “F” for truth in advertising about public education.

• Governor Brad Henry on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties due to flooding and tornadoes. Heavy rains and storms caused water levels to rise, and weather service issued flood warnings for creeks and rivers throughout the state.

• Fundraising efforts for “The Greatest Generation Project” succeeded in raising enough money to send more than 50 World War II veterans in southeastern Oklahoma to the nation’s capitol to tour the WWII memorial. The project was organized by Sen. Kenneth Corn, Reps. Neil Brannon and Glen Bud Smithson and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.