Brooks Douglass announced on Monday that he would not seek another term in the Oklahoma State Senate. The Oklahoma City Republican was first elected to represent Senate District 40 in 1990, but now says he wants to turn his attention to private business opportunities as well as his career in the military.

(Oklahoma City) Issues ranging from daycare staffing to rural 911 service will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma State Senate in the coming months.
Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced the approval of the interim studies today, saying the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2003 legislative session.

A push to require municipalities to pay into two retirement funds for certain volunteer firefighters could severely undermine fire protection in small communities. That's according to Senator Kelly Haney, who has requested an Attorney General's opinion on that issue, as well as whether those same volunteers would have to meet the same physical and agility requirements as full-time fire fighters.

Senator Frank Shurden is urging Governor Keating to sign a bill that would authorize chemical castration for certain sex offenders in Oklahoma. The Henryetta lawmaker said if this bill becomes law, it could prevent countless sex crimes against women and children.

"In Europe, countries that already allow castration of sex offenders have shown that not only is it an effective deterrent, but it has also resulted in a dramatic reduction in repeat offenses," explained Senator Shurden.

Senator Frank Shurden said Governor Frank Keating's veto of a bill to allow castration of convicted rapists would cost Oklahoma taxpayers millions of dollars. That's because the governor said he'd rather see the sex offenders kept in prison for life even after he'd told Senator Shurden if the bill got to his desk, he would sign it.

Legislative leaders announced they would appeal an Oklahoma County District Court decision handed down last month regarding the selection of Governor Frank Keating's plan for redrawing the state's congressional districts.

Senate Bill 935, authored by Senator Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, had passed both houses unanimously before it was signed into law by Governor Keating this past week. The Norman Republican says that the sales tax at estate sales was a nuisance tax on Oklahoma families that needed to be removed.

Statement by Senator Stratton Taylor,
Senate President Pro Tempore

"I haven't had time to review the specifics of the court's decision, but obviously, I am disappointed with the ruling.

"I will be talking to Speaker Adair and our attorneys about what our next step may be."

(Oklahoma City) State Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced Thursday that he is prepared to file a legal action in support of the Pledge of Allegiance in the wake of a controversial federal court ruling yesterday.

A three-judge federal panel in California struck down the pledge, ruling that the words "under God" violated constitutional provisions regarding the separation of church and state.

(Oklahoma City) Environmental problems at a number of state parks can be addressed with the help of a new state law that was approved by the 2002 Oklahoma Legislature, according to the author of the statute in question.

Senator Dave Herbert, chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee, said that SB 1271 authorizes the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission to initiate a bond issue to address needs under its purview, such as remediation of sewage systems at state parks and recreational areas.