OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to help encourage and retain Oklahoma’s top educators, Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation creating a process for teachers who complete their National Board Certification and meet other additional requirements to receive annual bonuses of $1,500 beginning in the 2020-21 school year. Under the legislation, depending on available revenue, that amount could be increased in subsequent years until it reaches a maximum of $5,000.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, says Oklahoma ranks among the weakest in the nation when responding to Open Records and Freedom of Information Act requests. On Monday, he filed two bills, Senate Bills 1137 and 1154, to tackle this issue and bring the state up to standard.

SB 1154 would require any request under the Open Records Act to be fulfilled within 30 days. If the request is unable to be fulfilled in that time period, the record provider could receive an additional 30 days to prepare the requested documents upon written notice to the requestor.

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OKLAHOMA CITY- Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed legislation Wednesday to create an income tax credit for Oklahoma citizens who successfully complete the gun safety training course required to get a concealed carry permit.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – As of November 1, sex offenders residing with any minor child must now report to the statewide centralized Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) hotline. Previously, only the parent, stepparent or grandparent of a minor had to report to the hotline. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authored the bill at the request of DHS to better protect all of Oklahoma’s children.

“This was an oversight in our law that needed to be addressed to ensure law enforcement and DHS are aware of who sex offenders are living with when it comes to minors,” Pugh said. read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed legislation Tuesday to ensure men and women serving in the Oklahoma National Guard are only deployed as directed by the United States Constitution.

Known as the “Defend the Guard” act, SB 1101 is aimed at making sure the Oklahoma National Guard could not be deployed overseas unless Congress fulfilled the constitutional requirements of declaring war as seen in article one, section eight, clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution and insurrections as seen in article one, section eight, clause 15.

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State Sen. Kevin Matthews, Chair of the 1921 Race Massacre Centennial Commission, announced Friday that Tulsan Phil Armstrong had been chosen to serve as project director. The Commission will facilitate actions, activities, and events that commemorate and educate citizens in Oklahoma and throughout the nation about the history surrounding the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in an area that was once known as the nation’s Black Wall Street.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – During his first week on the job, Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Justin Brown joined Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, to tour the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Friday morning and learn about how hunger is affecting Oklahoma families.  

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The number of Oklahoma students getting their education through the internet is growing, and Sen. Gary Stanislawski wants to ensure the education those students are receiving is the same quality as what can be obtained in the classroom. read more.

Sen. Paul Scott filed legislation Thursday to charge individuals a fee on international wire transactions who do not present valid personal identification. The Duncan Republican said he hopes the bill will cut down on the number of undocumented immigrants sending untaxed dollars out of the state as well as address drug money being funneled to other countries.

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Sen. Kevin Matthews said members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus will focus on improving education and increasing training for some members of law enforcement as well as private security personnel in the months ahead. Matthews, who was elected caucus chair in May, said these were two examples of public policy he and his fellow members would be pursuing during the interim and in the 2016 session.

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