Sen. Kenneth Corn this week successfully amended House Bill 1055 to include a provision that would prohibit insurance companies from awarding bonuses to employees who deny claims.

Corn said the practice of incentive-based claims denial is unethical.

“Insurance companies shouldn’t be in the business of lining the pockets of those who deny medical services to their customers,” said Corn, D-Poteau. “It’s an unethical practice that needs to come to an end in Oklahoma. This should bring consumers closer to the level of medical care they are paying for.”

State Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, has won Senate approval for a measure to extend the states sales tax holiday to include school supplies. House Bill 1297 was approved by the Senate on Monday. The measure would cover basic school supplies, but would not include computers.

The full Senate passed House Bill 1601 by President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee on Wednesday, reforming the process of political contributions.

HB1601 prohibits attorneys from deducting or withholding any portion of a judgment from a court of law or settlement proceeds of a client for the purpose of political donation.

“There was documented evidence of hundreds of thousands of dollars being funneled into the campaign process by attorneys without the knowledge of their clients,” said Coffee. “This is wrong and this practice will be illegal when the Governor signs this bill.”

The “Silver Alert Act” by President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee unanimously passed the Senate on Wednesday.

House Bill 2030 creates a statewide Silver Alert for missing senior citizens. This alert would be issued when a citizen over the age of 60 is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment, whose whereabouts are unknown, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the person, as determined by a local law enforcement agency.

“I’m very disappointed, but not surprised by the governor’s veto of this very reasonable reform

“We believe this is a very positive reform for all voters of the state of Oklahoma. We met the governor half way on early voting, and had hoped the governor would view this legislation favorably.

Senate Bill 1103 by President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee will now go before the Governor for his signature after receiving unanimous approval from both chambers.

Senate Bill 1103 provides protections for pregnant women who are subject to domestic violence abuse.

A measure that would lengthen the statute of limitations for prosecuting felony arson cases was unanimously approved by the state Senate on Wednesday.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, co-author of House Bill 1088, said that improved technology and detection methods are making it easier for crimes to be solved years after they occur. The measure would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting arson cases from three to seven years.

The state Senate dedicated a portrait Monday of Creek journalist and Poet Laureate Alexander Posey. The piece was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, and was sponsored by the Muskogee Creek National Council and the family of former Senator Jerry Smith.

“It’s an honor to be at the state Capitol and to be a part of this program and the tribute that the state is making to one of our citizens," said Thomas Yahola, Speaker of the Muskogee Nation National Council.

After receiving unanimous approval from both the Senate and House, Senate Bill 894 by President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee now awaits the Governor’s signature into law.

The State Senate unanimously passed HB 2027 today, a bill which will provide better services and more access to care for autistic children and their families.

The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, provides for the enactment of a licensing process for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts and enhancement of existing state programs that would train doctors to diagnose and treat autism.