One in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and every hour an American dies from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer and now the fastest growing cancer in the country. For this reason, Sen. Andrew Rice has authored Senate Bill 544 to help protect Oklahomans by limiting young adults’ access to tanning facilities.

State Senator Mary Easley is once again filing legislation, Senate Bill 23, to create an independent Department of Aging to help better address the needs of Oklahoma’s fast-growing elderly population. The Tulsa Democrat first co-authored the legislation in 2003 when she was a member in the House.

The chief legislative sponsor of a bill to end insurance discrimination against children with autism said a House Republican plan unveiled today “falls short” of what is needed.

“Their plan is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step,” said Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant who is pushing for passage of “Nick’s Law.” “Without some kind of private insurance component, the House’s proposal will fall woefully short of dealing with the epidemic of autism.”

President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee announced Tuesday that government reform will be a top priority in the upcoming legislation session.

Coffee’s legislative priorities include creating the Office of Accountability, Innovation and Privatization, instituting a government Chief Information Office, tag agency reform, and agency consolidation.

Counties spend thousands of dollars each year replacing and repairing vandalized signs and other property. To help deter vandals and assist county governments in their efforts to address this type of crime, State Sen. David Myers has authored Senate Bill 348.
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This week’s tragic murders of an El Reno woman and her four children are stark reminders of Oklahoma’s domestic violence problem, said State Sen. Debbe Leftwich. The Oklahoma City Democrat says the time has come to pass tougher penalties for domestic abuse.
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President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee commended the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition (OBEC) today for their release of a study and recommendations for the future of education in Oklahoma.

“I thank Mr. Stan Lybarger of BOK Financial, OSU President Burns Hargis, and OBEC for their diligence in pursuing excellence in education in our state, and Senator Jolley for the education reform bill he will offer this session,” Coffee said. “Surely our ability to compete in a global marketplace depends on the preparedness of our students, and their readiness to enter the marketplace.

Thursday, January 15 marks the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the 2009 session, the first of the 52nd Legislature. By 5 p.m., 1,054 bills and 35 joint resolutions had been filed, with staff members expected to work into the evening filing the final measures. In 2008, the Senate considered 1,069 new bills as well as 31 new joint resolutions. In 2007, a total of 1,130 bills and 32 joint resolutions were filed by members of the Senate.

Bill filing has ended for the 2009 legislative session. Thursday, January 15 was the deadline for members of the Oklahoma State Senate to file legislation for the first session of the 52nd Legislature. Senators filed 1,240 bills and 42 joint resolutions for the upcoming session. In 2008, the Senate considered 1,069 new bills as well as 31 new joint resolutions. In 2007, a total of 1,130 bills and 32 joint resolutions were filed by members of the Senate.

State Senator Andrew Rice (D-OKC) announced today that he and other members of the Senate Democratic caucus, in their continued effort to hold insurance companies accountable, will re-introduce "Steffanie's Law," in hopes the Republican controlled Legislature will give the idea a second look in a non-election year.
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