A pre-school child left unable to walk or talk after a day care center accidentally left him in a hot van has resulted in the Senate passage of a bill to help families who could face a similar tragedy in the future. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is author of House Bill 2863, known as Demarion’s Law, which would require day care facilities to carry liability insurance.

The Oklahoma State Senate today approved a proposal to establish an office within the Governor’s cabinet to addresses Native American issues and state-tribal relations. Authored by State Senator Charlie Laster (D-Shawnee) the measure calls for the creation of the Secretary of Native American Affairs in the Governor’s office.

Laster said the newly created position would oversee agency consultation and collaboration with the state’s 39 tribal governments and to be in charge of relations between the executive branch and tribal nations.

The State Senate took steps today that will send several insurance proposals to conference committee for further consideration. The move allows for more time to study the cost and effects of the proposed measures.

These various measures addressed reforming the State Medicaid program, requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for autism and requiring insurance companies to cover any procedure deemed to be medically necessary.

The Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance (ODSA) has honored Sen. Kenneth Corn with the 2008 TRiO Achiever Award. The annual award is designed to recognize and honor former Oklahoma TRiO participants who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in their professional pursuits and for whom TRiO played a fundamental role in their educational achievements.

The TRiO Programs were established by Congress under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in our country’s economic and social life.

Wilson Implores Republicans to Lay Politics Aside to Make Healthcare More Affordable for Oklahoma Families

A conversation about insurance reform and affordable healthcare in Oklahoma will continue with the approval of a patient's bill of rights amendment authored by State Senator Jim Wilson. The amendment, which will require insurance companies to pay for health care procedures deemed medically necessary by a physician was attached to HB 2531 and now moves to the House of Representatives for an up-or-down vote.

On the same day some Democrat senators held a news conference to complain that a few of their bills are not being heard in the House of Representatives, Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins broke a tie to help Senate Democrats block consideration of a workers compensation reform amendment in the State Senate.

The amendment, authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman James A. Williamson, would have required Senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments of judges to the Workers Compensation Court.

The full Senate approved a measure to review current adoption law and practices in the state of Oklahoma. House Bill 2749, by Sen. Mike Mazzei and Rep. Susan Winchester was approved unanimously on Monday, bringing it one step closer to consideration by Gov. Brad Henry.

Oklahoma has not had an in-depth examination of our adoption laws since 1994, said Mazzei, R-Tulsa. HB 2749 creates a task force that will examine those laws and ensure were doing the best job we can to encourage the adoption of infants and children into loving homes.

A large-scale painting of “The California Road” by Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper was unveiled today in the Oklahoma State Senate. The California Road was a trail through Indian Territory used by those heading west to California in search of gold. The painting was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund and sponsored by former State Senator Joe and Carol McGraw of Tulsa.

“The California Road” is one of many large-scale landscapes Cooper has done at the Capitol and it will hang on the second floor near the Supreme Court.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn said he was embarrassed that the Senate Education Committee had failed to approve the nomination of a former Speaker of the House. Monday morning, the nomination of Larry Adair to the State Board of Education died in a tie vote of 7-7 that fell along party lines.

Senate Education Co-Chair Kathleen Wilcoxson said she did not support the nomination of former House Speaker Larry Adair to the State Board of Education because that nomination was in violation of state law. The nomination failed on a tie vote of 7-7 to win the full support of the Senate Education Committee. Wilcoxson said the committee’s decision not to confirm the nomination was not about personality or politics, but was about public policy and the rule of law.