Thanks to the efforts of two state legislators, Oklahoma's elderly and disabled will now be better protected from financial scams and solicitations. Governor Henry has signed Senate Bill 1793, by Senator Ron Justice and Representative Phil Richardson, into law. It will now be a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of individuals 62 years of age or older or those who are disabled.
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A bill to protect students and victims of violent crime from their attackers was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1597 by Sen. Charlie Laster, will protect the rights of juvenile victims by limiting contact between attackers and school-age victims of violent crime.

“This law ensures that victims of violent crime will be notified if an adjudicated juvenile offender returns to school, and gives the student the option of telling the school they wish to avoid contact with their attacker,” said Laster, D-Shawnee.

Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“I, too, believe Oklahomans deserve to know where their leaders stand on critical issues – like the issues of making significant investments in education, healthcare and public safety.

“In the Senate we are going to focus on these crucial policy issues that are important to every Oklahoman and we won’t allow ourselves to get bogged down in an ideological debate.”

Senator Clark Jolley on Monday praised the Senate's unanimous passage of a measure that would prohibit public utilities from distributing the social security numbers of their customers.

Jolley noted public utilities are currently forced to release social security numbers when requested, adding that a recent local newscast indicated they had obtained the social security number of a House member by simply requesting the information.
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The latest attack news release from the Speaker of the House is “deceptive at best” about actions of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel’s chairman said Wednesday.

In a news release, Republican Speaker Todd Hiett lamented the Senate Finance Committee’s defeat of the so-called “Come Home Oklahoma” act, a tax giveaway to individuals who may have never set foot in Oklahoma – part of the REDI initiative.
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Two key members of the Senate budget team said Wednesday that the General Appropriations bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week would lead to another severe funding shortfall at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the furloughing of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers.
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The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services Thursday questioned why House leaders appear to be stalling on providing extra funding to help rural fire departments repair and replace worn out equipment.

Governor Brad Henry signed into law Tuesday a measure that provided a total of $9 million for rural fire departments, which included setting aside $2 million immediately to help with equipment needs.
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The Senate Finance Committee killed legislation earlier this week that would have helped boost economies in rural communities. House Bill 3126, authored by Senator Ron Justice (R-Chickasha) and Speaker of the House Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville), would have helped broaden Oklahoma’s tax base and attract out-of-state residents into communities that have declining populations.
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Note to Editor: Senator Jay Paul Gumm, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a Democrat from Durant, made the following statement in response to a press release from Senator Ron Justice on the so-called “Come Home Oklahoma” Act.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Rebecca Hamilton are calling for a house committee to vote on legislation to give victims of sexual assault or domestic violence some economic protection. Senate Bill 935 was approved unanimously by the full Senate last year. It eventually was assigned to the House Rules committee but no further action was taken during the 2005 session. The lawmakers are asking for the bill to be heard before the final deadline for House committee action in two weeks.