State Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, and Representative Rebecca Hamilton, D-OKC, have co-authored legislation to give families more peace of mind when looking at nursing homes for loved ones.

Sen. Leftwich is principal author of Senate Bill 870. Her legislation would require local law enforcement officials to provide nursing homes with copies of the state’s sex offender registry. Those facilities would then be required to display the list in an area accessible to residents, employees and visitors.
read more.

Fighting for the rights of the 703,000 Oklahomans who are without health insurance, Senator Tom Adelson won passage of a bill requiring hospitals to extend discounts for certain income eligible patients. Under the “Hospital Discount for Qualified Self-Pay Patients Act,” a family of four at or below 400% of the federal poverty level will not be charged more than the insured population for their hospital care.

The $500 million Higher Education Bond Issue cleared another legislative hurdle today, passing out of the Appropriations Committee with a bi-partisan unanimous 46-0 vote.

“Today’s vote puts us a step closer to making a critical investment in education that will make a better tomorrow for our children,” Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan said. “We anticipate a vote on the Senate Floor as early as next week.”

Morgan, D-Stillwater, said swift action is needed on the bill in order to save money on low interest rates and avoid rising construction costs.
read more.

“Governor Henry is right. We have tremendous transportation infrastructure needs in Oklahoma. I applaud his willingness to devote additional growth revenue in the next fiscal year to transportation issues, including the Heartland Flyer, but I think we need to do more.
read more.

A bill to expand a prescription assistance program has cleared the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services, Senator Susan Paddack, author of the measure said.
read more.

Dem Freshmen Adelson, Bass, Garrison and Wyrick vote in favor of bill

This week, the six Republican members of the Senate Committee on General Government – joined by just a single Democrat senator – defeated Senate Bill 662, by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, that would have legalized voting in Oklahoma for convicted felons who are on parole or probation.

The measure was defeated on a 7 to 4 vote.

“Governor Henry and his bi-partisan task force spent months developing a comprehensive package of workers compensation reform. In the end this diverse group unanimously approved a progressive plan which will reduce costs for business without compromising the rights of injured workers.
read more.

Republican members of the Senate General Government Committee killed a measure Monday that would have allowed added fire protection for Oklahomans who live in rural sections of incorporated municipalities.

Senator Debbe Leftwich announced today that a measure to extend the Oklahoma Quality Investment Act that was signed by the Governor during the last legislative session, has cleared its first legislative hurdle. Senate Bill 755 also renames the Act that was specifically geared toward keeping Dayton Tire Company from uprooting its multi-million dollar industry and moving to another state to the Oklahoma Specialized Quality Investment Act.
read more.

State Senators celebrated “Higher Education Day” at the State Capitol Tuesday by sending Governor Brad Henry’s $500 million bond issue proposal for the state’s colleges and universities to the Oklahoma House of Representatives with a third straight unanimous vote.

Senators voted 47-0 in favor of Senate Bill 745, which contains the governor’s higher education bond proposal. The measure now goes to the House for consideration.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson praised Tuesday’s bi-partisan passage of the measure.
read more.