It is estimated that 1,880 Oklahomans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. Of those, 720 will die. That’s according to the American Cancer Society, which also reports that regular colorectal cancer screening could reduce deaths from that disease by as much as 80 percent. That’s why Sen. Debbe Leftwich has authored SB 14, which would require insurance companies to cover colorectal cancer screening. The bill was approved by the Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee on Thursday.
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Statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan

“I believe, in light of the revised revenue estimates approved by the Oklahoma Tax Commission today, that caution should continue to be our watchword as we proceed in the budgeting process.”

“Over the last two years we have seen sustained economic growth and, as a result, have made great strides in our investments in education and health care and in lowering taxes for all Oklahomans.”

The Republican leaders of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate said the Legislature must proceed very cautiously on the FY 2008 budget following Thursday’s recommendation by the Oklahoma Tax Commission that tax revenue estimates be significantly reduced compared to estimates made last December.

A bill changing the policy of a few “bad actors” in the payday lending business was the first approved by an Oklahoma Senate evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

Senate Bill 693 by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, would prevent payday lenders – those that make high-interest, high-risk short term loans with a post-dated check – from cashing the check of a customer who dies before the loan matures. The measure passed without opposition 47-0 Thursday. read more.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm’s effort to end forever the concept of forced school consolidation picked up steam Monday with a unanimous, bipartisan vote in the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 1 would give Oklahoma voters a chance to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit any school from consolidating unless approved by a majority of voters in each of the affected school districts. In short, Gumm explained, the measure would prevent “politicians, judges or bureaucrats” from forcing any school district to consolidate.
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The Senate Education Committee passed legislation Monday to protect teachers and school employees from facing lawsuits for doing their jobs. The legislation had been blocked by Senate leaders in past years, but it received a committee hearing this year thanks to the Senate’s new 24-24 tie.

Senate Bill 1024, authored by Republican Floor Leader Owen Laughlin, received a “do pass” recommendation from the committee on a bipartisan 9 to 5 vote. The committee is evenly divided with 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats.
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The full Senate has given its support to a bill aimed at protecting the custody rights of deployed military parents. Sen. Randy Bass is the author of Senate Bill 158 which was approved unanimously by the Senate on Monday. The measure would postpone child custody proceedings until after a parent serving in the military had returned from deployment.

"The people who serve our country do so at tremendous sacrifice to themselves and to their families,” said Bass, D-Lawton. “They need our support, and they need laws that are supportive of them as well.”
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A measure providing a permanent dedicated funding source for the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program was approved by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday and is headed for the floor of the Oklahoma State Senate.

“This bill will make certain that every student who qualifies for an Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship will receive it,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, author of the measure. The legislation is part of the 2007 legislative agendas of the Senate Democrats’ and Governor Brad Henry.
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A significant reduction in the amount of revenue expected to flow into state coffers in Fiscal Year 2007 signals a need for a Constitutional amendment that will help stabilize the state budget, a veteran State Senator said Tuesday.

When the State Board of Equalization certified the final FY 2008 revenue projections Tuesday, the estimate of funds available for the coming fiscal year was about $270 million less than the amount the board initially certified in December.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee has given approval to a measure that would clarify how Oklahoma law defines child neglect. Senate Bill 790, by Senator Debbe Leftwich, was approved on Tuesday. Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, said the legislation is supported by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth and is designed to close a loophole in the statutes that can prevent neglect charges from being filed against parents, even when their lack of supervision is the cause of a child’s death.
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