The State Senate on Monday approved legislation that would reduce the minimum age for correctional officers and guards from 21 to 20.

Requested by the Department of Corrections, SB 1468 is intended to broaden the pool of eligible candidates for employment in corrections facilities and assist an agency experiencing a significant labor shortage.

Sen. Mike Schulz, author of the measure, said the Legislature needs to take swift action in addressing the labor shortage, and work toward a comprehensive plan to deal with the many issues currently faced by the agency.

State Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement regarding the first tie vote to occur under the evenly divided Senates power-sharing agreement.

First of all, the process worked as the framers of our constitution intended. There was a tie vote and the lieutenant governor exercised her authority as president of the Senate to break the tie.
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Autism afflicts one in every 150 children, yet there is no requirement that diagnosis and treatment be covered by Oklahoma health insurance policies.

Tuesday, a group of Oklahoma families joined Senator Jay Paul Gumm at a State Capitol news conference to promote “Nick’s Law.” The proposal, initially contained in Senate Bill 1537, would require health insurance policies cover diagnosis, treatment and therapy for autism spectrum disorders. Currently, at least 17 states – including Texas – have similar mandates.

The Oklahoma State Senate has given unanimous approval to legislation creating special vehicle tags for Oklahomans who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The author of Senate Bill 1138 is Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond.

“I was first approached about creating this special license plate by a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We’ve lost more than 70 Oklahoma soldiers in this cause, including 19 year-old Pfc. Micheal Phillips of Ardmore just this past weekend,” Lamb said. “It is important for us to honor all of the Oklahomans who have risked their lives for our country in Iraq.”

The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Tuesday which would designate the first Monday of each month to honor veterans who are currently serving or were killed in the global war on terrorism. The bill now goes to the House of Represenatives for consideration.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a key plank of the 2008 Senate Democratic “Vision for Oklahoma” agenda that focuses on opportunity and responsibility. While Sen. Kenneth Corn’s original bill creating “Oklahoma’s Second Century Promise” was not heard before last week’s deadline for committee action, Corn successfully passed the legislation on Wednesday on the Senate floor after attaching the language as an amendment to another Senate Bill.
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The State Senate on Wednesday honored former Harlem Globetrotter and Oklahoma native Marques Haynes with the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 54, praising Haynes for his achievements and designating February 27, 2008, as Marques Haynes appreciation day in the state of Oklahoma.
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Lt. Gov. Jari Askins had the honor of being acting Governor of the state the day her hometown of Duncan claimed a new title—the Crapemyrtle Capital of Oklahoma. Senate Concurrent Resolution 44, by Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Dennis Johnson, won final passage Wednesday at the State Capitol. Sykes represents Duncan in the State Senate, and said he was extremely pleased that both chambers approved the measure unanimously.
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Burrage Says Program Will Help Curb Oklahoma High School Dropout Rates

A bill that would match at-risk Oklahoma high school students with community mentors, unanimously passed on the Oklahoma State Senate floor by a 47-0 vote today.

Authored by State Senator Sean Burrage, the bill creates a graduation coach model within the Oklahoma State Department of Education that will help students stay on track academically, while setting up an a mentor system to help guide students through with out-of-classroom obstacles that could hinder graduation.

Oklahomans are a step closer to being able to purchase a license plate displaying the national motto of “In God We Trust.”

The Oklahoma Senate approved Senate Bill 1146 on a rare unanimous 48-0 vote. Senator Jay Paul Gumm sponsors the measure.

Under the bill, Oklahomans would be able to purchase an “In God We Trust” license plate for a $15 additional fee; the additional cost covers design and production of the plate, meaning taxpayers would not have to fund the tags’ production or design.