Legislation to address the growing crisis in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS) is now on its way to Gov. Brad Henry for his consideration. That’s after the full Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 357 on Monday. Sen. Mike Mazzei and Sen. Kenneth Corn co-authored the measure. They agreed passage of the bill was a critical move toward addressing the system’s $7 billion unfunded liability.
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A group of legislators from southwest Oklahoma are planning a special homecoming celebration at the State Capitol for Miss America Lauren Nelson. The delegation includes Nelson’s hometown legislators from Lawton, Senator Don Barrington and Rep. Ann Coody along with Senator Randy Bass also from Lawton and Reps. T.W. Shannon of Lawton, Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, Dennis Johnson of Duncan, David Braddock of Altus, Ray McCarter of Marlow and Don Armes of Faxon.
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Senate Co-Floor Leader Charlie Laster announced Wednesday that he has been selected the designee of the Senate Democratic Caucus to become the next President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma State Senate.
Laster, D-Shawnee, said he secured the support of a majority of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate Tuesday. Laster will succeed Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, when the current Senate leader leaves office in November 2008.
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Two lawmakers who co-authored a measure on behalf of Gov. Brad Henry to keep teens in school until they graduate say they are gratified that the full Senate has now approved that measure. Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson and Sen. Kenneth Corn agreed that passage of SB 519 sends an important message.

“This says that we cannot afford to lose a single child—that we understand how important it is to keep them in school and make sure they earn their high school diploma,” said Sen. Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City.
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The full Senate has voted unanimously in favor of legislation that will help Oklahomans see exactly how their tax dollars are being used. Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Randy Brogdon, would create an online database to show where every single penny of the public’s money is being spent.

“It is important to remember that every dollar that gets appropriated comes from our citizens,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso. “The public should have the ability to track how each and every single dollar is spent, because the bottom line is that it’s their money.”
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The full Senate has given its approval to a bill that would identify registered sex offenders on their state driver license. Sen. Brian Crain is the author of Senate Bill 35, which would give convicted sex offenders 180 days after being notified by the Department of Corrections to get a new license reflecting their status as a sex offender.
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The full Senate has given approval to a measure that would allow an income tax deduction for taxpayers who support a relative over the age of 70.

Sen. Andrew Rice, author of Senate Bill 725, said the measure was authored to ease the burden on middle class families who care for both their children and their elderly parents.

A delegation from Muskogee was at the State Capitol Monday to help raise awareness of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and museum. Sen. Earl Garrison welcomed the entourage from the floor of the Senate and praised their efforts to promote Oklahoma musicians.
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A measure that will ensure that the state meets its financial obligations to reimburse counties and school districts for ad valorem tax revenue lost as a result of economic development incentives passed the Oklahoma State Senate Monday on a 25-23 vote.

The full Senate has given approval to a measure that would make it a felony to report a false Amber Alert. Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, is the author of Senate Bill 371. Aldridge said of 13 Amber Alerts that have been filed in Oklahoma, four turned out to be false, including one in his district.
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