State Senator James A. Williamson has authored legislation calling for a special incentive package for employees within the Department of Corrections. The incentives would be awarded to employees of prisons that can show a measurable reduction in recidivism among their former inmates.
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Senator Daisy Lawler, a Democrat from Comanche, said today she looks forward to working with lawmakers from both parties to statutorily ban the sale of lottery tickets at pawn shops and payday loan centers in the upcoming legislative session.

Thousands of Oklahoma drivers would be eligible for a tax rebate on turnpike tolls under legislation proposed by Senator James A. Williamson for the 2006 session. Williamson, R-Tulsa, said the rebate would be available to drivers of passenger vehicles who file tax returns with the State of Oklahoma.
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State Senator Brian Crain has filed legislation to identify registered sex offenders on their state driver’s license. Under Senate Bill 1426, convicted sex offenders would be given 180 days after being notified by the Department of Corrections to get a new license reflecting their status as a sex offender or face cancellation of their license for one year.

“I simply want to make sure we are using every resource available to protect children from molesters and rapists,” said Crain, R-Tulsa. “The sex offender registry is already the law and is available to the public. read more.

Thursday, January 19 is the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2006 session. By early afternoon, 740 bills and 20 joint resolutions had been filed with more anticipated before staff members file the final measures by midnight. Last year, 1,017 bills and 33 joint resolutions had been filed by deadline. Of those, 615 bills and 27 joint resolutions are still alive and may be considered in the 2006 session.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm says repeat child molesters should face the death penalty or life without parole, and he has written legislation to ensure they do just that.

“Those who repeatedly prey on our children in this unspeakable manner should face the most severe penalties allowed under our justice system,” said Gumm, a Democrat from Durant who is a Senate assistant majority leader.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said today that the leadership of the Oklahoma Education Association is woefully out of touch and again denounced the organization’s lawsuit seeking an additional $1 billion in funding for public schools.

The Senate leader’s comments followed an opinion article by OEA President Roy Bishop in the Daily Oklahoman, in which the top teachers’ union official intimated that schools should not have to explain how state tax dollars are spent.
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Thursday, January 19, marked the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2006 session. In all, 1,034 bills and 28 joint resolutions were filed. Last year, 1,017 bills and 33 joint resolutions had been filed by deadline. Of those, 615 bills and 27 joint resolutions are still alive and may be considered in the 2006 session.

Members of the public can read and download current legislation by going to the official State Senate website at www.oksenate.gov and following the link for legislation at the top of the homepage.

The state of Oklahoma was hit with more bad economic news last week as Delta Faucet announced that it plans to close its Chickasha plant later this year.

“How many jobs does Oklahoma have to lose before Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate abandon their failed economic policies? When will Senate Democrats join Republicans in our efforts to pass pro-jobs economic reforms?” questioned Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

State Sen. John Ford will continue to push for a new law to prohibit anyone from giving or accepting campaign contributions in any state government building—including the State Capitol.

“We’re here to do the business of the people and I believe my fellow members act in good faith. But I worry about the public’s perception when people are giving and accepting campaign contributions here at the Capitol,” said Ford, R-Bartlesville. “That’s why I filed Senate Bill 1025.”
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