Oklahoma State Senate
President Pro Tempore DESIGNATE
Senator Glenn Coffee, ROklahoma City
State Capitol Room
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 30
0 23
For Immediate Release: November , 200
Senator Glenn Coffee

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In 2006, nearly 73,000 Americans died of Alzheimer's disease and 411,000 citizens were diagnosed with the disease, and that number is expected to skyrocket as Baby Boomers get older. State Sen. Mary Easley wonders why, based on these numbers, the federal government is not spending more to research the disease. She authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 urging Congress to increase federal funding for Alzheimer's disease research. read more.

Governor Brad Henry has signed Senate Bill 2 into law. Senator Jay Paul Gumm is the principal author the legislation which would require the governor to order flags on state property to be flown at halfstaff on the day of the memorial service for Oklahomans who are killed in combat. In addition, all state agencies, interested organizations, groups and individuals would be authorized and requested to fly the flag at half staff. The director of the Department of Central Services is charged with implementing the new law.

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On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs held its fourth and final meeting studying the states seven veterans centers. Sen. Frank Simpson, who requested the study, said he was pleased by the insight gained from veterans, their families, center staff and members of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the War Veterans Commission and the many others who testified at the meetings.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – During his first week on the job, Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Justin Brown joined Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, to tour the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Friday morning and learn about how hunger is affecting Oklahoma families.  

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State Sen. Kevin Matthews, Chair of the 1921 Race Massacre Centennial Commission, announced Friday that Tulsan Phil Armstrong had been chosen to serve as project director. The Commission will facilitate actions, activities, and events that commemorate and educate citizens in Oklahoma and throughout the nation about the history surrounding the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in an area that was once known as the nation’s Black Wall Street.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed legislation Tuesday to ensure men and women serving in the Oklahoma National Guard are only deployed as directed by the United States Constitution.

Known as the “Defend the Guard” act, SB 1101 is aimed at making sure the Oklahoma National Guard could not be deployed overseas unless Congress fulfilled the constitutional requirements of declaring war as seen in article one, section eight, clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution and insurrections as seen in article one, section eight, clause 15.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – As of November 1, sex offenders residing with any minor child must now report to the statewide centralized Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) hotline. Previously, only the parent, stepparent or grandparent of a minor had to report to the hotline. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authored the bill at the request of DHS to better protect all of Oklahoma’s children.

“This was an oversight in our law that needed to be addressed to ensure law enforcement and DHS are aware of who sex offenders are living with when it comes to minors,” Pugh said.

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OKLAHOMA CITY- Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed legislation Wednesday to create an income tax credit for Oklahoma citizens who successfully complete the gun safety training course required to get a concealed carry permit.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, says Oklahoma ranks among the weakest in the nation when responding to Open Records and Freedom of Information Act requests. On Monday, he filed two bills, Senate Bills 1137 and 1154, to tackle this issue and bring the state up to standard.

SB 1154 would require any request under the Open Records Act to be fulfilled within 30 days. If the request is unable to be fulfilled in that time period, the record provider could receive an additional 30 days to prepare the requested documents upon written notice to the requestor.

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