Due to the serious budget issues facing the Legislature this session, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee has formed the General Conference Committee on Appropriations earlier in the session than is traditional, naming 23 members and two ex-officio members to that panel today. The GCCA will meet on Thursday of this week to address 2010 budget issues and to look ahead to the 2011 budget.

“As we did last year, I’ve streamlined the process, naming members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to the GCCA,” Coffee said.

Sen. Debbe Leftwich has won full approval from the State Senate for Senate Bill 1762. The bill cracks down on party bus companies that turn a blind eye to drunken teen passengers. Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, filed the legislation after a high school in her district contacted her about the problem.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved legislation intended to broaden the number of private school scholarships awarded to students from lower-income households. Sen. Dan Newberry, author of Senate Bill 1922, said his proposal would empower parents with the ability to direct their child’s education, allowing more students to unlock their learning potential.

A bill to ensure law enforcement can contact next of kin in case of an accident or emergency has been approved by the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Sean Burrage is the principal author of Senate Bill 1779, which was approved unanimously on Tuesday.

“Under this legislation, anyone applying for a driver license or identification card or renewing their license or ID would have the option of providing an emergency contact person. The Department of Public Safety would maintain that database,” said Burrage, D-Claremore. “I want to stress participation would be strictly optional.”

Last week the Senate approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 41, by Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb, which opposes federal cap and trade proposals that could be detrimental to Oklahoma’s economic growth.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would end state recognition of common law marriage in Oklahoma. The measure is Senate Bill 1977 by Sen. Earl Garrison, a Democrat from Muskogee. Garrison said only 10 states still recognize common law marriages.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon continued his push to better protect the individual rights of Oklahomans on Tuesday with committee approval of the Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act. Under the provisions of Senate Bill 1685, no firearms or ammunition manufactured in Oklahoma and remaining in the state could be subject to any federal regulations, including federal registration requirements.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has given unanimous approval to legislation mandating a two year cooling off period before a former lawmaker could become a lobbyist. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich is the author of Senate Bill 847. She’s championed the bill since first becoming a member, introducing the legislation three separate times, but this is the first year the bill has been heard in committee.

Sen. Joe Sweeden on Tuesday voiced opposition to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s new statewide toll-free calling proposal saying that while it might sound like a good idea, there is more to the proposal than meets the eye.

A bill to help give part time employees a financial boost by providing them with unemployment insurance payments was approved unanimously Monday by the Senate Business and Labor Committee. Senate Bill 1385, by Sen. Jim Wilson, would authorize the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to create a voluntary Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program.