Senate Announces Interim Studies

(Oklahoma City) Issues ranging from daycare staffing to rural 911 service will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma State Senate in the coming months.
Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced the approval of the interim studies today, saying the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2003 legislative session.

"The interim studies will give legislators an opportunity to devote special attention to a variety of complex issues. Some questions or problems simply can't be addressed in a single, four month meeting period and deserve the more thorough deliberation that only an interim study can provide," said Senator Taylor.

"By working during the interim, we can be better prepared to hit the ground running when the Legislature reconvenes in February."

The 11 interim studies that have been approved to date will focus on the following issues:

• Operation of County Jails (Joint Study with House)
• Attracting and Retaining Quality Teachers (Joint)
• Motor Fuel Tax Needs in Oklahoma (Joint)
• Child Daycare Staffing Ratios
• Cost-benefit Inequities in the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System
• Future participation in the OTRS
• Court-ordered Supervised Visitation (Joint)
• Schools of Excellence
• Availability of Rural 911 Service
• No Child Left Behind Initiative (Joint)
• Student Testing (Joint)