Senate Announces Interim Studies

Issues ranging from judicial campaign finance reform to for-profit after school programs at public schools will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma State Senate in the coming months.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced the approval of the interim studies today and said the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2004 legislative session.

“Interim studies give our members and interested parties an opportunity to focus their attention on specific issues that simply can’t be addressed in a single, four-month session. They require a greater amount of time and attention. Interim studies allow us to do that,” explained Senator Hobson.

“The work that we’ll be doing in the coming months will allow us to be ready to hit the ground running when the Legislature reconvenes in February.”

The 18 interim studies approved to date by Senator Hobson will focus on the following issues:

Judicial Campaign Finance Reform

Encouragement of Agricultural Burning to Control Eastern Red Cedar and to Restore Native Ecosystems (Joint Study with House)

HB 1801 Pertaining to Domestic Abuse (Joint)

SB 726 – Creating the Oklahoma Department of Aging (Joint)

For-Profit After School Programs at Public Schools

Financial Literacy Education Class – Grades 6-8

No Fault and Automobile Insurance Issues

OSEEGIB Pharmacy Plans

Review of the Proposed Restructuring of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (Joint)

Tax Incentives Designed for Economic Growth (Joint)

Service Warranty Act

Contact Lens Prescriptions

Reduction of Oklahoma Conservation Districts from 88 to 77

Charter Schools

Long-Term Education Goals

International Development for Oklahoma Students (Joint)

Paid Family Leave (Joint)

Teacher Recruitment and Retention