Sen. Connie Johnson and Rep. Randy McDaniel will be joining agency and community advocates in celebrating the 5th Annual World Diabetes Day on Thursday, November 14, 2013. The public is invited to attend the free event, taking place on the first floor of the State Capitol from 5:30-7:45pm, to help raise awareness of a devastating disease that affects more than 350 million people worldwide.

For the first time since World War II, Oklahomans will be able to take advantage of their first true “Black Friday” sales. Senate Bill 550, by Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Tom Newell, R-Seminole, was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin during the 2013 legislative session, and takes effect on November 1. Under existing state law, retailers were not allowed to offer the same sale prices as in other states.

Sen. Connie Johnson will join the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) on a tour of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Death Row, Execution Chamber and Burial Grounds next week. The tour follows the group’s recent meeting with the governor to try to persuade her to issue an Executive Order to study and examine the costs and use of the death penalty in Oklahoma.

Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, released the following statement in response to Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling allowing plans to build a new state Medical Examiner’s Office on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus to proceed. A loss of the office’s accreditation in 2009 was in part attributed to an outdated building that is too small and antiquated.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman comments on today’s filing of a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 1062, the workers’ compensation overhaul bill passed this year:

“The workers’ compensation legislation passed this year is landmark reform that has been needed for quite some time. Our state’s workers’ compensation rates are out of control, and it is impacting economic development and job creation in our state.

On Tuesday, Sen. Harry Coates (R-Seminole) joined Rep. Emily Virgin (D-Norman) and the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma in filing a challenge against the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1062, the workers’ compensation reform bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Fallin during the 2013 legislative session.

About 300 to 400 Oklahoma children in state custody age out each year when they turn 18many are unprepared for this sudden transition. On Thursday the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held the first of two hearings examining how rules and procedures impact children in state custody, as well as looking at the issue of homeless teens in Oklahoma.

Members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services this week examined whether the state may have an opportunity to reduce Oklahomas high divorce rate through policies that encourage families to stay together.

Requested by Sen. Rob Standridge, the study focused on strategies designed to lessen the social and economic costs of divorce. Standridge said reducing the states divorce rate would give children a better chance at life-long stability, while saving taxpayer dollars.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman released the following statement upon the conclusion of the special session on Monday:

“Oklahoma has economic momentum right now that must continue. Our economy is growing, our unemployment rate is among the lowest in the nation and businesses are taking note. This special session was needed to end the legal chaos created by the June Supreme Court ruling, striking down critical lawsuit reform passed in 2009.

Sen. Jabar Shumate and Rep. Kevin Matthews, Vice Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statements concerning Friday’s announcement that Insure Oklahoma has received a one-year extension from the federal government.