The Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday to better protect the privacy of Oklahoma’s teachers. Sen. Ron Sharp is the principal Senate author of House Bill 3173, which would require public bodies to keep confidential all records created under the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) that identify a current or former employee.
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Small businesses in Cleveland, Oklahoma and Tulsa counties could soon be able to qualify for the Oklahoma Small Employer Quality Jobs Incentive Act thanks to legislation given final approval Tuesday. House Bill 2956, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Josh Cockroft, is on its way to the Governor’s desk after passing unanimously out of the Senate.

The bill amends the Oklahoma Small Employer Quality Jobs Incentive Act by eliminating the requirement that qualifying establishments locate in counties with populations under 200,000.
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On Monday, the governor signed into law legislation to address Oklahoma’s shortage of qualified workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Senate Bill 1181, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Justin Wood, provides criteria for designation as a STEM community or region. This was one of the recommendations made last year by the governor’s Science and Technology Council, a group focused on enhancing workforce development through the strengthening of STEM education programs at K-12 and college levels.
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The Governor signed legislation Friday that would provide more transparency of how school athletic funds are used by athletic associations. House Bill 2730, by Rep. Bobby Cleveland and Sen. Ron Sharp, was drafted following concerns raised against the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association (OSSAA) during a House interim study last fall. The OSSAA is responsible for supervising the extracurricular activities, including athletics, of grades seven through twelve for Oklahoma’s public schools.
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Law-abiding noncustodial parents will no longer have to deal with having their visitation rights ignored or violated thanks to legislation signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 1612, by Sen. Ron Sharp and Rep. Jon Echols, will ensure that custodial parents honor court-ordered visitation schedules for noncustodial parents or face punishment.
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Sen. Ron Sharp has filed legislation banning the use of cell phones or other handheld devices to text, email or call while driving. Senate Bill 67 would make it a misdemeanor to use a handheld device while behind the wheel. Violators would face up to a $1,000 fine or up to a year in jail, or both. The measure would enable law enforcement officers to cite drivers for using the devices as a secondary offense.

Sharp, R-Shawnee, said Oklahoma is one of only six states that has no laws on the books addressing texting while driving.

Under current state law, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) suspends the license of anyone found driving without insurance. On Wednesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 260, by Sen. Ron Sharp, to require such offenders to provide proof of insurance to DPS in the form of an SR-22 form before their suspension for driving without insurance can be lifted.
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On Tuesday, the Senate gave unanimous approval to a measure to modify the “not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI) defense in Oklahoma. Sen. Ron Sharp said Senate Bill 1214 would add a “guilty but with mental defect” defense for those individuals who are found guilty with a mental illness but who also have an antisocial personality disorder.
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Legislation was approved late Wednesday to give local school boards an alternative to suspension and expulsion to keep unruly students in the classroom. Sen. Ron Sharp is the author of Senate Bill 911 to allow school boards to create a policy where teachers can assign community service for those students who misbehave rather than suspending or expelling them.
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On Thursday, the Senate honored the life of one of Oklahoma’s great sons, former Oklahoma City Assistant Fire Chief and Public Information Officer, Jon Hansen. Hansen is best known for his vital role in keeping Oklahomans and the world informed following the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in 1995. Sen. Ron Sharp was the author of Senate Resolution 59.
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