A measure providing a permanent dedicated funding source for the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program was approved by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday and is headed for the floor of the Oklahoma State Senate.

“This bill will make certain that every student who qualifies for an Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship will receive it,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, author of the measure. The legislation is part of the 2007 legislative agendas of the Senate Democrats’ and Governor Brad Henry.
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A significant reduction in the amount of revenue expected to flow into state coffers in Fiscal Year 2007 signals a need for a Constitutional amendment that will help stabilize the state budget, a veteran State Senator said Tuesday.

When the State Board of Equalization certified the final FY 2008 revenue projections Tuesday, the estimate of funds available for the coming fiscal year was about $270 million less than the amount the board initially certified in December.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee has given approval to a measure that would clarify how Oklahoma law defines child neglect. Senate Bill 790, by Senator Debbe Leftwich, was approved on Tuesday. Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, said the legislation is supported by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth and is designed to close a loophole in the statutes that can prevent neglect charges from being filed against parents, even when their lack of supervision is the cause of a child’s death.
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The authors of a “back-to-school” sales tax holiday bill say they are pleased the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved the measure Tuesday.

Senate Bill 861 is sponsored by Republican Senator Don Barrington from Lawton and Democratic Senator Jay Paul Gumm of Durant. The measure would enact a “back-to-school” sales tax holiday on the same days as the Texas holiday.

Republican leaders of the Oklahoma State Senate commented on revisions to revenue estimates adopted by the Board of Equalization Tuesday for the upcoming 2008 fiscal year.

“While we are pleased to see the Equalization Board lower its estimate of new money available for the Legislature to appropriate, we remain concerned that the estimates may continue to paint too rosy a picture because of the national economic climate and overspending by previous Legislatures,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich on Tuesday withdrew a measure that was before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 662 would have restored the right of employees to choose their own physician after being injured on the job.

“This is something that was taken away as a part of the worker’s compensation reform bill passed in the 2005 special session,” Leftwich said. “My constituents still are frustrated and upset about this change. The problem is, if we’d taken it to a vote in committee and lost, under the new Senate rules it would have been dead for two full years.”

The Senate Rules Committee passed a measure Wednesday declaring animal waste as nonhazardous. Sen. Ron Justice, author of Senate Bill 709, said the measure was necessary because not doing so would be detrimental to the agriculture industry.

The Oklahoma State Senate honored the life, accomplishments and musical talent of Oklahoma native B.J. Thomas Wednesday.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee gave approval Wednesday to a key health care component of the Senate Democrats’ “Oklahoma Rising” agenda. Senate Bill 424 provides access to quality health care for more of Oklahoma’s uninsured children.

Named the “All Kids Act,” the measure would increase the number of children eligible to receive Medicaid benefits in the state by closing the gap between those children presently receiving Medicaid benefits and those covered under private insurance held by their parents.

The State Senate adopted a resolution on Wednesday honoring the public career of former State Senator Bryce Baggett, who passed away on February 15. Baggett served in the State House of Representatives from 1958 through 1964, and in the State Senate from 1964 through 1972. State Sen. Clark Jolley is principal author of the resolution. Jolley represents District 41, the same district Baggett once represented.