In order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with diverse abilities, this site has been designed with accessibility in mind. Click here to view
Oklahoma Senate
Senate Leader Approves Interim Studies
(Oklahoma City) Issues ranging from the cost of telephone contracts with Oklahoma prisons to strengthening the actuarial soundness of the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System and improving boating safety will be among those studied by members of the Oklahoma State Senate in the coming months.
A total of 10 Senate interim study requests have been approved by President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan.
“Interim studies offer a unique opportunity for legislators to take an in-depth look at an issue in a manner that is almost impossible within the Constitutional constraints of the legislative session,” said Morgan, D-Stillwater. “Every summer and fall, legislators put in hundreds of hours gathering information that proves year after year to be invaluable when we are called upon to address these issues in the spring.”
Granted interim study requests, the requesting Senator and the committee to which the study has been assigned include: (In every case the requesting Senator, if not a member of the assigned committee, will also be included in the study group.)
The cost of telephone contracts with the Oklahoma prison system, requested by Senator Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, and assigned to the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary;
The existing worker training program as proposed in Senate Bill 2047 from 2006 which died in the House of Representatives, requested by Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and assigned to the Business and Labor Committee;
The manner and time of notice requirements contained in the Mechanic and Materialmen Lien Act, 42 O.S., Section 141, requested by Senator Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee, and assigned to the Judiciary Committee;
Raising the annually assumed cost of living increase for retired teaches to 2 percent and strengthening the actuarial soundness of the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System, requested by Senator Paddack, and assigned to the Retirement and Group Health Committee;
Boating safety issues, requested by Senator Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland, and assigned to the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary;
Removing probation and patrol officers from the Department of Corrections, requested by Senator Corn, and assigned to the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary;
Increasing funding from gross production taxes for county roads and coordinating the routing of oil and gas trucks through the state, requested by Senator Paddack, and assigned to the Finance Committee;
Potential ways to enhance municipal revenue streams, requested by Senator Leftwich, and assigned to the Business and Labor Committee;
The current accounting systems for both Higher and Common Education, requested by Senator Corn, and assigned to the Education Committee;
And examining the number and dollar volume of economic development tax credits as they relate to additional jobs and the Oklahoma economy, requested by Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, and assigned to the Finance Committee
