State Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, released the following statement Tuesday after reports that an American flag had been burned outside the home of Sen. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City.

“The burning of an American flag this past weekend was simply a deplorable action. I serve with Senator Al McAffrey in the Oklahoma Senate, and know that he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. To think that anyone would defile an American flag, especially on Memorial Day Weekend when Senator McAffrey and millions of other Americans were paying tribute to our fallen heroes, is despicable.”

Oklahomans who’ve had their homes and other property damaged in the latest round of storms need to be cautious when it comes to hiring someone to make roofing repairs. Failing to check out a roofer’s credentials could leave property owners out thousands of dollars with little or nothing to show for it.
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Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law a measure that will allow veterans to have a special emblem on their Oklahoma driver’s licenses.
Senate Bill 138, authored by Sen. Roger Ballenger and Rep. Jerry Shoemake, authorizes the Department of Public Safety to create driver’s licenses with a small flag in one corner, to serve as a designation of veteran status.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the passage of House Bill 3052, a statewide public safety reform effort, in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman today released the following statement on proposed reforms for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.

The State Senate approved a concurrent resolution Tuesday commending local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the wake of a series of shootings this past weekend in north Tulsa that left three people dead and two injured. Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 was authored by Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Seneca Scott, D-Tulsa.
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A bill to protect public buildings used as shelters during natural disasters from liability claims has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1316, by Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Fred Jordan, modifies the Governmental Tort Claims Act by adding an exemption from liability for cities, towns, counties or other entities that open public buildings up to citizens during emergencies like tornadoes.
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Sen. Gary Stanislawski said a bill allowing access to statistical data about drug prescriptions has been approved by both chambers and is one step closer to becoming law.

Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, is principal author of Senate Bill 1065, which deals with the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). The database is maintained by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) to track prescriptions of specific types of drugs, like Vicodin.

Businesswoman AJ Griffin is officially on the job as the Senate’s newest member. Griffin was elected in a special election held April 3 to fill the District 20 seat, which includes Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Kingfisher counties.

“It is a humbling experience to stand in the Senate Chamber, hand on the Bible and realize the tremendous responsibility the citizens have entrusted to me, but I am also honored by that trust and excited about working with constituents and my fellow senators to help move our state forward,” said Griffin, R-Guthrie.
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Sen. Tom Adelson said after careful consideration, he has decided against seeking reelection to the State Senate. Adleson represented Tulsa District 33 for two terms and under term limits, could have served another four years.

“I want to thank my supporters for their encouragement and commitment to improving state government and to making Oklahoma a great place to live and work and raise a family,” said Adelson, D-Tulsa. “I am so very grateful for the chance to listen and learn about their concerns and ideas to make Oklahoma an even better state.”
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