OKLAHOMA CITY – The Governor signed legislation Thursday modifying child abuse reporting requirements.  House Bill 2259, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Dell Kerbs, requires individuals, especially educators, to report suspected child abuse or neglect of minors immediately to the DHS Child Abuse Hotline and those 18 years or older to law enforcement. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp had a 100 percent voting record for the 2018 legislative session. 

“I take my job as a state Senator very seriously just as I would any other job.  The people of Senate District 17 have entrusted me with a great responsibility and I don’t ever want to let them down,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee.  “The needs of my constituents and our district are my highest priority, and I look forward to continuing to represent them.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – Student leaders and advisors representing the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and Student Council (STUCO) from DeWitt Waller Middle School recently visited the State Capitol.  Twenty three students from the NJHS Leadership class and five STUCO officers spent the day with Sen. Roland Pederson and other legislators to learn more about state government and the legislative process.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee confirmed the appointment of Charles E. “Chuck” Skillings of Shawnee to the State Board of Health Monday. Sen. Ron Sharp carried the nomination in the Senate for Gov. Mary Fallin.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee reconfirmed Nisha L. Wilson of Choctaw to the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure Monday to serve a three-year term ending October 31, 2019. Sen. Ron Sharp carried her nomination in the Senate for Gov. Mary Fallin.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Senator Micheal Bergstrom announced this week he was notified by the governor’s office that nine communities in northeastern Oklahoma have been named federal Opportunity Zones under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Transformation (OCARTA) named Sen. Ron Sharp their Legislator of the Year and presented him with the Recoveree Choice Award Tuesday. 

Oklahoma City – Three legislators from Edmond are thanking their local education community.  State Senator Adam Pugh, State Representative Ryan Martinez and State Representative Mike Osburn have released the following statement after meeting with thousands of educators and constituents: 

“I was pleased to meet with at least five groups with 10 to 20 in each group today.  I was encouraged by the positive approach about additional school funding.  I explained that teacher pay had been priority number one in our recent sessions, with the average teacher raise given last week equaling $6,100, or a 15% increase. 

On Wednesday evening, the Senate approved revenue measures (House Bill 1010XX and HB 1011XX) to fund an average $6,100 teacher pay raise (HB 1023XX).