A bill filed this week by Senator Jay Paul Gumm would mandate health insurance policies cover treatment for a disorder affecting nearly one in every 150 children.

Senate Bill 1537 would require insurance policies to cover health issues related to autistic disorders. National research shows that one in every 150 children will be diagnosed with some form of autism. Currently, 17 states have similar insurance mandates.

Sen. John Ford is renewing his effort to protect Oklahomans against election fraud. Ford has filed Senate Bill 1150 which will require voters to show identification when they cast their ballots. While similar legislation has gone unheard in past sessions, Ford said it was important to keep fighting for this measure.
read more.

Noting that about one of every eight veterans under age 65 are uninsured, State Senator Andrew Rice (D-OKC) today announced he is introducing legislation this year creating the Oklahoma Veterans’ Health Insurance Program.

“Most people assume that all veterans qualify for free health care through the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department,” Rice said. “Sadly, that’s not true and when the legislature sets our priorities at the beginning of this session, Oklahoma’s military veterans deserve to be at or near the top.”
read more.

Sen. Jeff Rabon on Tuesday called upon the Oklahoma Tourism Department to adopt a zero tolerance policy on discrimination and requested that Attorney General Drew Edmonson examine potential contractual irregularities with an employee at Beaver’s Bend State Park in Broken Bow.
read more.

State Sen. Kenneth Corn has filed legislation to create Oklahoma’s “Second Century Promise.” The program will target students who currently do not qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program, formerly known as OHLAP.
read more.

Thursday, January 17 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2008 session, the second of the 51st Legislature. By 5 p.m., 969 bills and 22 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. There were also 806 Senate bills and joint resolutions carried over from the 2007 session. In 2007, the Senate considered 1,130 new Senate bills as well as 32 Senate Joint Resolutions.
read more.

State Sen. Clark Jolley has filed legislation designed to jump-start Oklahoma’s economy and offer an even richer college experience for students at state campuses. Senate Bill 2103 would generate additional funding for the Oklahoma for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) Program, Oklahoma’s Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) Fund, as well as endowed chairs at state colleges and universities.
read more.

Thursday, January 17 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2008 session, the second of the 51st Legislature. By 5 p.m., 969 bills and 22 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. There were also 806 Senate bills and joint resolutions carried over from the 2007 session. In 2007, the Senate considered 1,130 new Senate bills as well as 32 Senate Joint Resolutions.
read more.

State Senator Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, has filed legislation that would require property owners to clean up homes that were once methamphetamine lab sites before renting out the residences.

Senate Bill 1728 is the result of an interim study involving the Department of Environmental Equality concerning hazardous material remediation, said Ballenger, who serves as Democratic co-chair of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

When the State Senate convenes on Monday, February 4, for the 2008 legislative session, members will have 1,069 new Senate bills and 31 Senate joint resolutions to consider. The final measures were filed by about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, January 17, the final date for filing legislation this year.
read more.