The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Monday that would update Oklahoma’s drinking laws and make it illegal for the consumption or possession of alcohol (hard liquor) by a person under the age 21.

Senate Bill 1724, authored by State Senator Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee and Rep. Wade Rousselot, D-Okay, will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“Underage drinking is not just a public safety issue,” Ballenger said. “It’s also a health issue. This legislation is long overdue and will responsibly help keep Oklahoma’s young people safe.”

A bill that holds adults accountable for hosting teen-age social gatherings passed unanimously by a 48-0 vote today in the Oklahoma State Senate. State Senator Debbe Leftwich, author of Senate Bill 1530, said the bill targets adults overseeing the dangerous and illegal consumption of illegal substances.

The Oklahoma State Senate today overwhelmingly approved a plan by Sen. Andrew Rice (D-OKC) to create a state Veterans Health Insurance Program that provides coverage to uninsured Oklahoma veterans below age 65.

A bill that could potentially save the state thousands of dollars in printing and postage costs annually passed by a 44-1 vote today in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Authored by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, Senate Bill 1507 would require the hundreds of reports submitted by state agencies to legislative leaders be transmitted electronically. In addition, the measure would require agency budget requests and the governor’s annual budget to be transmitted electronically rather than through hard copies in the mail.

Norman Senator Says 11.7 Million Should be Returned to State Pension Funds

Senator John Sparks (D-Norman) said today he has filed an amendment that would invest an $11.7 million WorldCom settlement into Oklahoma’s ailing pension funds.

Burrage: “Oklahoma will not be home to schemes that wager on human life.”

A bill that would protect Oklahoma senior citizens in life-insurance scams passed on the Oklahoma State Senate floor by a 43-1 vote today.

Authored by Senator Sean Burrage, a Democrat from Claremore, Senate Bill 1980 creates the Viatical Settlements Act of 2008 to protect senior citizens when in comes to purchasing life insurance.

The state Senate on Monday approved legislation that would increase appropriations to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) Fund.

Senate Bill 1141 by Sen. Kenneth Corn would increase appropriations to the fund from $70 million to $120 million beginning June 30, 2009. Established in 2005, all monies dedicated to the ROADS Fund are used for the construction and maintenance of state roads and bridges. The bill would remove a three-percent growth trigger that has previously prevented annual appropriations increases to the fund.

If only half of all Oklahoma health care providers would participate in an existing electronic medical data sharing network, within five years the state could save more than $145 million and avoid more than 400 deaths. That’s according to Sen. Jim Wilson and Rep. Mike Brown who are advocating greater participation in the program. The network, called SMRTNET for “secure medical records transfer network,” was created through federal grants.

“I appreciate the Oklahoma veterans who join me today as we attempt to gain Senate passage of the Oklahoma Veterans Health Insurance Program. These veterans represent thousands more Oklahoma veterans who believe they have earned access to quality health care.”

“Some will say that Oklahoma cannot afford to help uninsured veterans gain access to health care. But, I don’t think those people realize the unfairness in their argument. How many of these veterans, when they were ordered into battle, looked at their commander and said: ‘how much is it going to cost me?’.”

Republican state senators unanimously voted to designate Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, to be the next President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. The President Pro Tem is the Senate’s top leader.

“I am honored and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have shown by entrusting me with the leadership of our caucus,” stated Coffee.