A measure to let voters enact a constitutional amendment enabling cuts in legislative pay is awaiting action by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Kenneth Corn is the author of the legislation. The proposed amendment is contained in a committee substitute for SJR 2. Corn said while the pay cut would certainly not offset the budget shortfall, it would ensure legislators are shouldering part of the burden.
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State Sen. Cliff Branan is awaiting a vote by the full Senate on his bill to close a loophole in Oklahoma’s sex offender registration law. Branan said news reports had uncovered the problem, prompting him to file Senate Bill 2231. The bill won unanimous approval in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.
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Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate released the final section of their three-part 2010 Legislative agenda, focusing on the areas of Education and Health Care.

“Providing quality education for our young people is the foremost goal of any healthy and growing state,” said Senator John Ford, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, R-Bartlesville. “Senate Republicans recognize this, and we are raising the bar in terms of the educational goals we are setting for our state through our 2010 legislative agenda.”

Legislation to increase access to mental health courts throughout Oklahoma is awaiting action by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 2153, by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, was approved by the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on Monday. Leftwich said although the bill wouldn’t kick in until there is available funding, passage would be an important step toward cutting millions of dollars in public safety costs in the years to come.
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The Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs on Wednesday approved legislation that would direct the state to provide Oklahoma flags to families of Armed Forces members killed in action.

Sen. Dan Newberry authored Senate Bill 2037 to honor the sacrifice of fallen veterans to their country and the state of Oklahoma.

A measure to make the State Insurance Department a non-appropriated agency passed the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday evening. Sen. David Myers, author of Senate Bill 1658, says his legislation will save the state money.
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The Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation Wednesday to address the state’s transportation funding needs. Senate Bill 1941, by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, would create the Innovative Funding for Oklahoma Roads Task Force.

Elected officials, not un-elected bureaucrats, should be setting important policy in our state. This is the belief of Senator John Sparks (D-Norman) and Representative Scott Martin (R-Norman) who have authored new legislation which would prevent state agencies and boards from enacting rules or policies which go against the intent of laws passed in the Legislature. The pair, who were both elected in 2006, hope their working together in such a bi-partisan manner will encourage members to vote on the merits of the idea.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee announced that he will introduce legislation, SB 1862, giving large city mayors chartering authority, while removing the number of caps on allowed charter schools, a major education reform that will increase opportunity for students and parents in the state’s two largest cities.

The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would allow Oklahoma voters to choose their own health care system. Senate Joint Resolution 59, authored by Sen. Dan Newberry, would allow voters to approve a constitutional amendment rendering unconstitutional any law or rule that compels any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.