From: Bryce Fair & Carolyn McCoy
Date: Friday, January 24, 1997
Subject: First Bill Tracking Update
Attached is a list of introduced bills which we have identified
as having some impact, or potential impact, on higher education.
The list is made up primarily of House bills since the House bill
filing deadline has already passed. Senators, however, have until
next week to file bills and only a few Senate bills have been
filed to date. Several hundred Senate bills will be introduced
next week, so we expect our list to grow substantially before
the legislative session starts February 3.
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines:
Meetings Next Week:
Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations
and Budget Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 432-A, Capitol, (Chair -
Jack Begley, Vice Chair - Dale Wells, Scott Adkins, Betty Boyd,
Laura Boyd, John Bryant, Larry Ferguson, James Hager, J. T. Stites)
Agenda: FY'98 Budget Requests for
Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations
and Budget Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 432-A, Capitol, (Chair -
Jack Begley, Vice Chair - Dale Wells, Scott Adkins, Betty Boyd,
Laura Boyd, John Bryant, Larry Ferguson, James Hager, J. T. Stites)
Agenda: FY'98 Budget Requests for
Note: Our weekly legislative updates are available on the
internet homepage of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
at: http://www.osrhe.edu. The updates are located under "Legislative
Updates" in the Directory of Documents. Each week's update
should be posted on the homepage by late Friday afternoon.
If you need copies of any of the bills, please contact Carolyn
McCoy at (405) 225-9165 or e-mail her at "cmccoy@osrhe.edu".
January 24, 1997
Academies
SB 13
Ad valorem taxes
HB 1072
HB 1337
HB 1338
HB 2075
Administrative procedures
HB 1120
HB 1121
HB 1564
HB 2111
Admission standards
HJR 1003
Aircraft
HB 1009
HB 1012
HB 1019
HB 1915
Appropriations
HB 1119
HB 1610
HB 1854
HB 1872
HB 1880
HB 1887
HB 1894
HJR 1002
HJR 1009
Articulation
HB 1561
Attorney General opinions
HB 1014
Bribery
HB 1642
Budgeting
HB 1907
Charter schools
HB 1011
HB 1418
HB 1603
Child support
HB 1294
Computer conversions
HB 1434
Computer donations
HB 1688
Construction
HB 1991
Contracts
HB 1897
HB 1991
Data processing
HB 1818
Dentistry
HB 2155
Deposits
HB 1817
Discrimination
HJR 1010
Early childhood
HB 1413
Ebonics
HB 1810
Educational Indicators
HB 2125
Electronic signatures
HB 1690
Employee protection
HB 1017
Employment Security
SB 43
English proficiency
HB 1364
Equestrian activities
HB 1083
Fees, student
HB 1042
HB 1365
Fee waivers
HB 1312
Fiscal year
HB 2061
Funding plan
SB 35
Government reform
HB 1981
High challenge schools
HB 1755
Holidays
HB 1997
Income tax credit
SB 9
HB 1483
HB 1507
HB 1623
HB 1688
HB 2062
Income tax credit (cont'd)
HB 2117
Insurance, health
SB 22
HB 1077
HB 1086
HB 1091
HB 1173
HB 1222
HB 1416
HB 1532
HB 1562
HB 1563
HB 1598
HB 1608
HB 1702
HB 1916
HB 2014
HB 2047
HB 2093
HB 2094
HB 2114
Inventory
HB 1694
HB 1991
Investment
HB 1990
Langston University
HB 1774
Leave
SJR 1
HB 1145
HB 2161
Leave, military
HB 1210
Legal representation
HB 1739
Legislation
HB 1315
Livestock activities
HB 1521
Maternity benefits
HB 1598
Medical savings
HB 1666
Medical school faculty
HB 2012
Northeastern State University
HB 2105
Obscene materials
HB 2151
Oklahoma Education Television Auth.
HB 1024
Oklahoma School of Science/Math
SB 1
Oklahoma State University
HB 1515
OneNet
HB 1610
Physical therapists
SB 2
HB 1366
Poison control center
HB 1362
Prepaid tuition
HB 1055
HB 1349
Prevailing wage
HB 1773
Professional development
HB 1467
Retirement
HB 1085
HB 1092
HB 1093
HB 1096
HB 1098
Retirement (cont'd)
HB 1099
HB 1100
HB 1101
HB 1102
HB 1119
HB 1173
HB 1408
HB 1553
HB 1609
HB 1651
HB 1654
HB 1656
HB 1670
HB 1964
HJR 1030
HJR 1034
Right to work
SJR 1
HB 1453
Risk management
HB 1768
School testing
HB 1560
HB 2125
Smoke detectors
HB 1531
Smoking
SB 60
HB 2146
Sole source
HB 1897
State-owned vehicles
HB 1008
Tax improvement
HJR 1012
Teacher certification
HB 1308
HB 1342
HB 1411
Teacher preparation
HB 1411
HB 1412
HB 1559
HB 1872
HB 1877
HB 1986
Technology
HB 1921
Telecommunications
HB 1073
HB 1671
HB 1815
Telephone system, automated
HB 2138
Training
HB 1732
Travel
HB 1961
Tuition/fees
HB 1042
HB 1139
HB 1312
HJR 1022
Tuition savings
HB 2060
HB 2102
Tuition trust
HB 1055
HB 1349
University Hospitals
SB 58
HB 1362
HB 1644
HB 1854
HB 1859
HB 1995
HB 2013
HB 2015
University of Oklahoma
SB 43
University of Oklahoma Law Center
HB 1484
Workers' compensation
HB 1065
HB 1067
HB 1068
HB 1296
HB 1382
HB 1439
HB 1673
HB 1963
SENATE BILLS
* SB 1 (Fisher) - SCIENCE/MATH CURRICULUM PILOT PROJECT.
Requires the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics to solicit
proposals and award grants for pilot projects that develop and
establish model programs implementing advanced science and math
curriculum at local vo-tech or school sites by distance learning;
creates an advisory council to establish student participation
criteria in such pilot program, determining the curriculum needs
and to work in the recruitment and hiring of faculty for the pilot
program, all in conjunction with the School of Science and Mathematics.
(70 § 1210.404)
* SB 2 (Fisher) - PHYSICAL THERAPISTS/CONTINUING EDUCATION.
Modifies membership of the Physical Therapy Committee; provides
educational and training requirements for foreign-trained applicants
for a license to practice as a physical therapist or a physical
therapist assistant; requires continuing education for renewal
of physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licenses;
directs the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision to
establish requirements for continuing education and to consider
certain programs. (59 O.S. § 887.4)
* SB 9 (Milacek) - INCOME TAX DEDUCTION/TUITION/FEES.
Provides an income tax deduction for certain adoption expenses,
certain retirement income, and for tuition and fees at an Oklahoma
public or private college or university of not more than $1,200
for each fall or spring semester in which student is enrolled
in at least 12 credit hours, and $600 for summer semesters with
a minimum enrollment of six hours; disallows deduction for tuition
and fees paid by grants, scholarships, stipends, employer reimbursements
or payments, or amounts subject to tuition waivers. (68 §
2358)
* SB 13 (Williams) - ACADEMIES. Creates the Academies
Act; defines the term academy as a pubic school established by
contract with a local board of education to provide learning that
will improve student achievement; authorizes a pubic school, public
body, public or private college or university, private person
or private organization to contract with a sponsor to establish
an academy; establishes purpose and specifies other requirements.
(70 §§ 3-130/3-134)
* SB 22 (Fisher) - HEALTH CARE. Requires health
benefit plans covering eye or vision care to ensure direct access
to primary eye care providers, allow an enrollee to designate
from a list of eye care providers, not discriminate between or
recommend certain individual providers or classes of providers,
include an adequate number of providers to ensure reasonable accessibility
and make available to covered persons a list of all primary eye
care providers who have contracted with the plan, their practice
locations and telephone numbers on a regular, timely basis. (36
§§ 6052.1/6052.3)
* SB 35 (Williams) - EDUCATION FUNDING. Directs
the State Regents, the State Board of Education, the Board of
Vocational and Technical Education, and the Commission for Teacher
Preparation to prepare a joint funding plan to provide incentives
for innovative education programs subject to the availability
of funds; requires that such plan provided for incentives to be
awarded for competency-based programs that emphasize effective
learning practices. (70 § 818)
* SB 43 (Long) - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY. Modifies the
Oklahoma Employment Security Act; modifies confidentiality requirements
to permit the release of information required to identify economic
trends to the OU Center for Economic Management Research; requires
confidentiality; permits OU to release aggregated data, provided
such aggregation meets disclosure requirements of the Employment
Security Commission. (40 § 1-208)
* SB 58 (Robinson) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Clarifies
language relating to operation and licensing of the University
Hospitals. (63 § 3205)
* SB 60 (Robinson) - SMOKING. Adds state- and local-government-owned
or operated facilities to the list of facilities in which all
smoking may be prohibited. (63 § 1-1523)
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTIONS
* SJR 1 (Long) - RIGHT TO WORK/LEAVE. Proposes a
constitutional amendment prohibiting the requirement that a person
be a member of a labor organization or pay dues or similar fees
to a labor organization in order to be hired or remain employed;
provides an option for receiving representation under collective
bargaining, upon payment of an assessment equal to no more than
90 percent of the annual "core dues" or a contribution
of a like amount to charity; requires employers to provide health
insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation to all full- and part-time
employees; requires 48 hours' written notice prior to termination
an employee. (Art XXIII § 5A)
HOUSE BILLS
* HB 1008 (Stanley) - STATE VEHICLES/DAMAGE CLAIMS.
Modifies exemptions from liability under the Governmental
Tort Claims Act relating to work release programs ordered by a
court or the Dept. of Corrections; makes such exemption not apply
to property damage claims made by individuals not in custody of
the department based on accidents involving motor vehicles owned
or operated by the state or any state agency. (51 § 155)
* HB 1009 (Roach/Mickle) - STATE AIRCRAFT. Provides
procedures for use of aircraft owned, leased, or operated by the
state; requires implementation of provisions by any state entity
that owns, leases or operates an aircraft; requires travel logs;
provides procedures and requirements for travel logs. (74 §
500.61) (See HBs 1012, 1019)
* HB 1011 (Dank) - CHARTER SCHOOLS. Enacts the Oklahoma
Charter Schools Act; allows a public school, public body, public
or private college or university, private person or private organization
to establish a charter school under contract. (70 §§
3-130/3-142)
* HB 1012 (Tim Pope) - STATE AIRCRAFT. Prohibits
state-owned or -leased aircraft from being used for travel that
includes the attending of any type of political fund raiser. (74
§ 500.91) (See HBs 1009, 1019)
* HB 1014 (Leist) - ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS. Provides
for review of official opinions of the attorney general; authorizes
the filing of a petition for judicial review by the person who
requested the opinion or any elected state officer authorized
to request an opinion; authorizes the reviewing court to stay
the enforcement or effect of an opinion; provides that any opinion
not issued by the attorney general in office at the time of the
request for review must be first reviewable by the sitting attorney
general. (74 § 18b-1)
* HB 1017 (Askins) - EMPLOYEE PROTECTION. Creates
the "Workplace and Employee Protection Act"; states
intent to provide optional remedies against workplace violence
to supplement existing remedies and shall not obligate or create
a duty on an employer to seek such optional remedies; authorizes
an employing entity, on behalf or itself or its employees, agents,
contractors or business invitees receiving threats of physical
harm, harassment or stalking, to seek relief by filing a petition
for a protective order; specifies requirements for filing protective
orders. (22 § 70)
* HB 1019 (Hamilton/Rozell) - STATE AIRCRAFT. Provides
that state aircraft shall not be used for travel that includes
an event sponsored by or promoting a political party or candidate
from July 1 through the date of the general election during election
years, and from the first day of the filing period through the
date of the special election during such times as a special election
is necessary to fill a vacant office; prohibits use of such aircraft
for family travel or for conducting personal business or for travel
that includes a political fundraising event; provides that travel
on any state aircraft shall be limited to state officers and employees
on official state business, federal and local government officers
or employees accompanying them and persons in the care and custody
of a state officer or employee; prohibits travel on a state aircraft
if the passenger is to be transported to or from a place where
the passenger will attend or has attended an event sponsored by
a political party or candidate, or will perform or has performed
a service for which the passenger is to receive an honorarium,
unless the passenger reimburses the state for transportation costs.
(74 §§ 500.71/500.73) (See HBs 1009, 1012)
* HB 1024 (Askins/Harrison) - OETA. Changes the
termination date of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
to July 1, 2002. (74 § 3903)
* HB 1042 (Greenwood) - STUDENT FEES. Provides that
students with adequate health insurance would not have to pay
a student health care fee at public higher education institutions.
(70 § 3218.12)
* HB 1055 - (Davis) - TUITION TRUST. This is a shell
bill relating to the Oklahoma Tuition Trust Act. (70 § 6002)
* HB 1065 (Ervin) - WORKERS' COMP/SAFETY. Clarifies
language relating to workplace safety plans developed pursuant
to the Workers' Compensation Act. (85 § 61.2)
* HB 1067 (Toure) - WORKER'S COMP. Clarifies language
relating to the penalty for discharging an employee in violation
of the Workers' Compensation Act. (85 § 6)
* HB 1068 (Sadler) - WORKER'S COMP. Provides that,
for workers' compensation purposes, contractors shall be liable
only for compensation due to their direct employees. (85 §
3)
* HB 1072 (Ramsey) - AD VALOREM TAX. Provides for
submitting ad valorem tax complaints and the distribution of protested
funds. (68 § 3106.1)
* HB 1073 (O'Neal) - TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Modifies
telecommunications service and rental charges subject to sales
tax to delete installation and construction charges. (68 §
1354)
* HB 1077 (Seikel) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
that health insurance and health benefit plans include coverage
for severe mental illness equal to coverage for other physical
diseases and disorders; provides an exception for policies that
provide coverage for a specified disease or other limited-benefit
coverage or groups with 25 or fewer employees. (36 § 6060.4)
* HB 1083 (Beutler) - EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES. Requires
any person participating in equestrian activities to assume the
risk and legal responsibility for any injury to his person or
property caused by hazards inherent in equestrian sports, unless
the injury was proximately caused by the negligence of the person
providing the horse to the participant or the failure to guard
or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity
by the person providing the horse or the person's agents or employees.
(76 § 50.1)
* HB 1085 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT/LIFE INSURANCE.
Increases from three-fourths to the full basic life insurance
coverage the amount certain members of state retirement systems
may elect to continue after severance from state employment. (74
§ 1316.1)
* HB 1086 (Roberts) - INSURANCE BOARD. Increases
membership of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance
Board from eight members to nine by adding the executive director,
or a designee, of an employee organization representing the largest
number of state employees. (74 § 1304)
* HB 1091 (Roberts) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
that the benefit price of a health maintenance organization made
available to participants by the State Employees Benefits Council
be determined on a competitive bid basis; requires that the benefit
price for the next fiscal year be finally determined by 1 p.m.
on the second Wednesday in January of the previous fiscal year;
requires that all plans offered by health maintenance organizations
not be subject to the provisions of the Central Purchasing Act;
requires the Council to promulgate rules establishing appropriate
competitive bidding criteria and procedures for such contracts.
(74 § 1371)
* HB 1092 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Teachers' Retirement
System Fiscal Health Task Force Recommendations Act.
* HB 1093 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Teachers' Retirement
System Fiscal Health Task Force Recommendations Act.
* HB 1096 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Clarifies language
relating to establishment of the Teachers' Retirement System (OTRS).
(70 O.S. § 17-102)
* HB 1098 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Requires that
a minimum of 10 percent of the total monies of the various state
retirement systems, including the OTRS, be invested by an entity
the principal business offices of which are located within the
state if the entity otherwise qualifies to manage monies of the
systems as prescribed by law. (70 § 17-106.1)
* HB 1099 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Teachers' Retirement
System Fiscal Health Task Force Recommendations Act.
* HB 1100 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Teachers' Retirement
System Fiscal Health Task Force Recommendations Act.
* HB 1101 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Teachers' Retirement
System Fiscal Health Task Force Recommendations Act.
* HB 1102 (Roberts) - RETIREMENT. Increases, over
a period of five years, the proportion of the gross production
tax which goes to the OTRS, which also reduces the amount of the
tax now going to the General Revenue Fund (from which most appropriations
are made). (68 § 1004a)
* HB 1119 (Roberts) - APPROPRIATIONS/RETIREMENT.
Appropriates $56,664,006 from the Constitutional Reserve Fund
(Rainy Day Fund) to the OTRS to reduce the pension fund's unfunded
accrued liabilities.
* HB 1120 (Webb) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Deletes
obsolete language relating to the Oklahoma Administrative Code.
(75 § 250.9)
* HB 1121 (Webb) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Correcting
reference to the Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations. (75 § 308)
* HB 1139 - (Hager) - TUITION/STATE EMPLOYEES. Provides
for reimbursement for state employees' tuition, required books
and materials for a course taken at a state college or university
or at a vo-tech school, if the employee receives the equivalent
of a letter grade of "C" or better; requires the employing
agency to determine whether the course furthers a legitimate purpose
of the agency by improving the employee's skills or abilities.
(74 § 840-2.28)
* HB 1145 - (Dunegan) - LEAVE. Provides that employees
may take leave without pay for authorized absences under the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993; authorizes employees to donate
sick leave for such purpose. (74 § 840-2.22)
* HB 1173 (Roberts) - HEALTH INSURANCE/RETIREES.
Clarifies language relating to health care coverage for retired
members of the OTRS. (74 § 1316.3)
* HB 1210 (Wells) - MILITARY SERVICE. Introduces
the "Military Service Relief Act"; provides for reemployment
rights and other benefits for persons called to military service
in the reserve forces; authorizes an employer to pay compensation
to an employee who leaves employment to perform military service,
during the employee's military service; requires that, if an employer
elects to pay such compensation, it be paid on a uniform basis
to all such employees called to military service; provides for
a stay of a court action or adjudicatory or licensing proceeding
during the term of military service, with exceptions; provides
for continuation of insurance and retirement benefits; requires
reinstatement to employment under certain circumstances; prohibits
the unnecessary disruption of higher education of a student member
of a reserve unit. (72 §§ 501/535)
* HB 1222 (Steidley) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Provides
that a temporary or seasonal employee who works full-time shall
be considered an employee for purposes of the State and Education
Employee's Group Insurance Act. (74 § 1303)
* HB 1294 (Pettigrew) - CHILD SUPPORT/PAYROLL. Changes
the "Oklahoma Welfare Self Sufficiency Initiative" to
"Oklahoma Welfare Reform of 1997". Section 43 requires
employers to report to the Department of Human Services (DHS),
Child Support Enforcement Division, the hiring or employment of
any person who resides or works in this state to whom the employer
anticipates paying earnings. (40 § 2-802)
* HB 1296 (Reese) - WORKERS' COMP. Provides that,
if an individual lacks sufficient base period wages because of
a job-related injury for which the individual received total temporary
disability payments awarded by the Workers' Compensation Court,
upon written application by the claimant, an extended base period
will be substituted for the current base period on a quarter-by-quarter
basis as needed to establish a valid claim for benefits pursuant
to the Employment Security Act. (40 § 1-202A)
* HB 1308 (Greenwood) - TEACHER CERTIFICATION. Requires
the State Board of Education to grant a special license to teach
mathematics, science, or foreign language to a person who applies
to the board and has at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution
whose accreditation is recognized by the State Regents, has completed
a major in the specified areas of specialization, and can document
at least 20 years of work experience which is related to the subject
area of specialization; requires that such persons participate
in and complete at least one school year of teaching services
as a resident teacher in a residency program; requires the board
to issue a teaching certificate to any person who holds a special
teaching license and who has served a minimum of one school year
as a resident teacher, been recommended for certification by the
residency committee and made the necessary application and paid
the certification fee. (70 O.S. § 6-122.4)
* HB 1312 (Lindley) - FEE WAIVER. Requires a waiver
of general enrollment fees and nonresident tuition in the State
System institutions and a tuition waiver at vo-tech schools for
state employees; limits such waivers to five years and makes the
waivers a service benefit. (70 §§ 3218.7a, 14-105.1)
* HB 1315 (Deutschendorf) - LEGISLATION ON INTERNET.
Requires the Legislative Service Bureau, by Jan. 1, 1998, to make
available on-line through the Internet all proposed legislation,
including all versions of a measure and the status history of
each measure; requires the bureau to work with other agencies
and entities to make the service available. (74 § 450.1)
* HB 1337 (Begley) - AD VALOREM TAX. Clarifies language
relating to the Ad Valorem Tax Code. (68 § 2808)
* HB 1338 (Begley) - AD VALOREM TAX. Modifies the
process for submitting and handling ad valorem tax complaints;
requires the State Board of Equalization to notify the Attorney
General and all affected school districts and other interested
parties of the complaint in writing and by certified mail within
10 days of the filing of the complaint; requires the Tax Commission
to deposit taxes paid under protest by railroads, air carriers
and public service corporations to a protested ad valorem tax
escrow fund; requires that any portion of such taxes not paid
under protest be apportioned as provided by law; requires that
the Commission, as soon as practicable after determination of
the total amount of ad valorem taxes of railroads, air carriers
or public service corporations paid under protest, to determine
the amount of such taxes that would have been apportioned to each
school district and vo-tech school district if the protest had
not been made and to reimburse such amount to each district from
monies in an education cash flow fund; provides for proportional
distribution of such monies if such fund does not contain sufficient
revenues; prohibits the commission from reimbursing such amount
if the ad valorem taxes being protested, which are directly attributable
to an affected district, do not exceed $2,000; creates a protested
ad valorem tax escrow fund and an education cash flow fund for
the Commission; requires that the first $135,000 accruing to the
education cash flow fund, unless otherwise appropriated by the
Legislature, be used for administering and hearing complaints
and appeals. (68 § 2881)
* HB 1342 (Begley) - ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
This is a shell bill relating to alternative placement teaching
certification. (70 § 6-122.3)
* HB 1349 (Matlock) - PREPAID TUITION. Enacts the
"Oklahoma Tuition Prepayment Program Act"; requires
the State Regents by Sept. 1, 1998, and for each year thereafter,
to determine the weighted average tuition of bachelor-degree-granting
institutions within the State System for the academic year that
begins on or after Aug. 1 of the current year; provides for calculation;
authorizes the Regents, beginning Jan. 1, 1998, to begin entering
into contracts on behalf of an Oklahoma Tuition Prepayment Trust
with purchasers for the sale of tuition units; provides requirements
for such contracts; specifies requirements for applying tuition
units accumulated under a contract towards payment of tuition
at a higher education institution; limits the total number of
tuition units purchased on behalf of a single beneficiary from
exceeding the number necessary to pay for four years of full-time
attendance as a resident undergraduate at the institution within
the State System that has the highest resident undergraduate tuition,
as determined by the Regents, in the anticipated academic years
that the tuition units will be used; provides for termination
of prepaid tuition contracts; provides for a refund of unused
tuition units; requires the Regents to contract with an actuary
or actuarial firm to annually evaluate whether the assets of the
prepaid tuition trust fund are sufficient to meet the obligations
of the Regents and to advise the Regents on setting the price
of a tuition unit; creates the Oklahoma Tuition Prepayment Trust
and specifies powers and duties; provides annual reporting requirements;
authorizes the Regents, if it is determined that the program is
financially infeasible, to discontinue entering into contracts
and selling tuition units; creates the Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund.
(70 §§ 6020/6034)
* HB 1362 (Laura Boyd) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS/POISON
CONTROL. Directs the University Hospitals Authority to ensure
that funding for the Poison Control Center be no less than $690,000
for fiscal year 1998.
* HB 1364 (Laura Boyd) - ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. Clarifies
language relating to the requirement that higher education instructors
speak English proficiently. (70 § 3224)
* HB 1365 (Laura Boyd) - STUDENT FEES. This is a
shell bill relating to higher education fees. (70 § 3218.12)
* HB 1366 (Laura Boyd) - PHYSICAL THERAPISTS. This
is a shell bill relating to licensure for physical therapists.
(59 § 887.6)
* HB 1382 (Mitchell) - WORKERS' COMP. This is a
shell bill relating to the Workers' Compensation Act. (85 §
3.4)
* HB 1408 (Pettigrew) - RETIREMENT. Creates the
"Teachers' Retirement System Act of 1997".
* HB 1411 (Coleman) - TEACHER PREPARATION/CERTIFICATION.
Clarifies language relating to teacher preparation and certification.
(70 § 6-190)
* HB 1412 (Coleman) - TEACHER EDUCATION. This is
a shell bill relating to teacher education. (70 § 6-182)
* HB 1413 (Coleman) - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
This is a shell bill relating to early childhood education. (70
§ 11-103.7)
* HB 1416 (Betty Boyd) - HEALTH CARE. Creates the
"Fairness in Managed Care Act"; provides for the certification
process and requirements for managed care plans. (63 § 2525.2)
* HB 1418 (Bryant) - CHARTER SCHOOLS. Creates the
"Oklahoma Charter Schools Act"; allows a public school,
public body, public or private college or university, private
person or private organizations to establish a charter school
under contract; specifies requirements and terms for such schools.
(70 §§ 3-130/3-142)
* HB 1434 (Deutschendorf) - COMPUTER SYSTEMS. Requires
all state agencies of the executive branch that use date-dependent
computer systems, such as legacy systems, programs, databases
and security systems, to have completed work on converting the
systems for the year 2000 by Jan. 1, 1999; requires agencies to
report by July 1, 1999, on operations of the system after the
conversion and outlining any system problems the agency may still
be experiencing and plans the agency has to address any continuing
problems; prohibits agencies from purchasing additional hardware
or software or add additional personnel to convert and prepare
the computer systems for the millennium unless the purchase has
been included in the long-range plan of the agency submitted to
the Information Services Division of the Office State Finance.
(62 § 41.5o)
* HB 1439 (Newport) - WORKERS' COMP. This is a shell
bill relating to the Workers' Compensation Act. (85 § 6.1)
* HB 1453 (Phillips) - RIGHT TO WORK. Creates the
"Oklahoma Right to Work Law"; provides that no person
shall be required, as a condition of employment or continued employment,
to resign or refrain from voluntary membership in or financial
support of a labor organization, become or remain a member of
an organization, pay dues or other charges to an organization,
pay to a third party an equivalent amount in lieu of such payments
or be recommended, approved, referred or cleared by or through
a labor organization, except where preempted by federal law. (40
§ 470)
* HB 1467 (Staggs) - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Adds
school counselors to local professional development committees;
provides that each adopted professional development program shall
allow school counselors to receive at least one-third of the hours
or credit required each year through programs or courses specifically
designed for school counselors. (A local professional development
committee shall consult with a higher education faculty and programs
adopted by the committee may include higher education courses.)
(70 § 6-194)
* HB 1483 (Leonard Sullivan) - INCOME TAX CREDIT/TUITION.
Provides for an income tax credit for tuition paid to an accredited
Oklahoma four-year public college or university by a teacher for
courses satisfactorily completed in pursuit of an advanced degree.
(68 § 2357)
* HB 1484 (Leonard Sullivan) - OU LAW CENTER. Abolishes
the OU Law Center; removes from the membership of the Domestic
Relations Recodification Committee the member who is an OU law
professor; modifies the distribution of the Oklahoma Statutes
and Session Laws to OU from 55 copies to five copies, to be placed
in the law center library. (70 § 3103.1, 43 § 700.2)
* HB 1507 (Adkins) - INCOME TAX CREDIT/GRADUATES. Provides
for a state income tax credit for employers hiring full-time employees
who have graduated or received a degree from a four-year public
Oklahoma college or university within one year prior to employment
and have worked at least one full year for the eligible employer.
(68 § 2357.26)
* HB 1515 (Leist) - OSU/AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH.
Requests that Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research
and Technology Center at OSU study and research alternative fiber
production in the state. (2 § 3101)
* HB 1521 (Rice) - LIVESTOCK ACTIVITIES/LIABILITY. States
legislative intent to encourage livestock activities by limiting
the civil liability of livestock activities sponsors. (76 §§
50.1/50.4)
* HB 1531 (Blackburn) - SMOKE DETECTORS. Requires
all new construction or remodeling of residential dwellings which
require a building permit to include installation of smoke detectors
or the electrical wiring necessary for installation of electrical
smoke detectors. (74 § 324.11a)
* HB 1532 (Blackburn) - HEALTH INSURANCE/BREAST CANCER.
Requires health insurance plans that provide medical and surgical
benefits with respect to the treatment of breast cancer and other
breast conditions to ensure that coverage is provided for not
fewer than 48 hours of inpatient care following a mastectomy and
not fewer than 24 hours of inpatient care following a lymph node
dissection for the treatment of breast cancer, with certain exceptions.
(36 § 6060.4)
* HB 1553 (Pettigrew) - RETIREMENT. Provides that
no cost-of-living adjustments shall be provided to retirees of
the OTRS unless pursuant to an appropriation from the general
revenue fund; provides that no supplemental appropriation for
such adjustment shall be made to the system unless requirements
governing employer contributions can be satisfied through the
total amount of monies available to participating employers; provides
that the money which may be used by participating employers may
be provided through general or special appropriations or through
other sources. (62 § 1002)
* HB 1559 (Hager) - TEACHER PREPARATION. Modifies
teacher preparation competencies for administrators to include
skills necessary to be an effective leader of a school or school
district; requires that competency examinations include subject
areas for licensure or certification as an administrator; provides
that professional development institutes automatically qualify
for professional development purposes and be defined as continuing
education experiences which consist of a minimum of 30 clock hours;
designates the Commission for Teacher Preparation as the lead
agency responsible for coordinating the preparation of a joint
funding plan for the teacher education, assessment, licensure
and certification, residency and professional development system.
(70 § 6-182)
* HB 1560 (Hager) - NORM-REFERENCED TESTS. Requires
that a norm-referenced test be administered to every student enrolled
in grade 10 in the public schools; deletes obsolete language referring
to additional criteria that could have been included as part of
the standard by which a school is determined to be low performing
and high challenge. (70 §§ 1210.508, 1210.541)
* HB 1561 (Wells) - ARTICULATION. Deletes obsolete
language requiring the State Regents to submit to the Legislature
a report on the progress made toward transferal of credits within
the State System institutions. (70 § 3107.1)
* HB 1562 (Deutschendorf) - HEALTH CARE. Creates
the "Preferred Provider Organizations Act"; states purpose
to encourage health care cost containment while preserving quality
of care by allowing health care insurers to create preferred provider
organizations and by establishing minimum standards for preferred
provider organizations and their insurance policies; outlines
requirements for the organizations. (36 § 6057.1)
* HB 1563 (Gray) - HEALTH BENEFITS. Requires health
benefit plan contracts to provide coverage for reconstructive
surgery for the insured after removal of artificial breast implants
when medically necessary and when recommended by a physician or
other licensed health care provider; requires supplemental payment
for capitated or global rate plans; prohibits plans from reducing
or canceling coverage due to the requirements of this section.
(36 § 6060.4)
* HB 1564 (Gray) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Modifies
references in the Administrative Procedures Act. (75 § 308)
* HB 1598 (Roach) - MATERNITY BENEFITS. This is
a shell bill relating to maternity benefits. (36 § 6060.3)
* HB 1603 (Bryant) - CHARTER SCHOOLS. Creates the
"Oklahoma Charter Schools Act". (70 § 3-130)
* HB 1608 (Fields) - HEALTH CARE. Authorizes health
insurers to enter into agreements with health care providers relating
to terms and conditions of reimbursement for health care services
that may be rendered to an insured, including agreements relating
to the amounts to be charged an insured for services rendered,
quality standards and the terms and conditions for activities
intended to reduce unnecessary or inappropriate care; authorizes
health insurers to issue and administer policies and subscriber
agreements that include incentives or disincentives for insureds
to use the services of a health care provider who has entered
into a reimbursement agreement with the health insurer; provides
requirements for terms and conditions to be established by the
insurer. (36 § 6057.1)
* HB 1609 (Voskuhl) - DISABILITY/RETIREMENT. Provides
that during the period a state employee receives temporary total
disability benefits due to a work-related injury or illness, the
employer must make the contribution to the state retirement system
based on the salary of the employee; requires that such employees
receive credit for participating service during the period of
absence subject to certain requirements. (85 § 2e)
* HB 1610 (Reese) - APPROPRIATIONS/ONENET. Appropriates
$2.64 million to the State Regents for funding the membership
fee for public school districts to connect to the OneNet telecommunications
system.
* HB 1623 (Vaughn) - INCOME TAX CREDIT/TUITION. Provides
for an income tax credit for tuition paid to an accredited Oklahoma
four-year public college or university by a certified teacher
for courses satisfactorily completed in pursuit of an advanced
degree; prohibits such credit for tuition paid by or through a
grant, scholarship or stipend or subject to a tuition waiver;
prohibits such credit until the tax year following the year in
which the course or courses for which the tuition was paid are
satisfactorily completed. (68 § 2357)
* HB 1642 (Settle) - CONTERFEITING/BRIBERY. Provides
that forgery occurs when a person makes a false writing which
has apparent legal significance and which is made with the intent
to defraud; provides punishment for forgery; prohibits bribery
of sports officials or participants; prohibits bribery of pubic
servants and prohibits public servants from accepting bribes.
(21 § 101)
* HB 1644 (Ervin) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Clarifies
language relating to transfer of jurisdiction of the University
Hospitals. (63 § 3204)
* HB 1651 (Eddins) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT/GROSS PRODUCTION
TAX. Apportions part of the funds from gross production tax
now going to the General Revenue Fund to the OTRS. (68 §
1004a)
* HB 1654 (Settle) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT. Requires
that a classified member of the OTRS who retired prior to July
1, 1996, have retirement allowance calculated on the member's
current minimum average salary plus $1,000; repeals section relating
to limitations on retirement benefit increases . (70 § 116.2)
* HB 1656 (Settle) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT. Increases
the amount of the death benefit for members of the OTRS from $4,000
to $5,000; repeals section relating to limitations on retirement
benefit increases . (70 § 17-105)
* HB 1666 (Cox) - MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. This
is a shell bill relating to the Medical Savings Account Act. (63
§ 2622)
* HB 1670 (Pettigrew) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT. Prohibits
cost-of-living adjustments to retirees of state pension systems
unless pursuant to a special appropriation; provides that no supplemental
appropriation shall be made for such purpose unless the system
from which the adjustment is to be paid is funded with sufficient
revenue from employer and employee contributions and other sources
of revenue to provide for payment of pension benefit obligations
for active members at normal cost. (62 § 1003)
* HB 1671 (Deutschendorf) - TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Clarifies
language relating to the Oklahoma Governmental Telecommunications
Network (OGTN). (62 § 41.5m)
* HB 1673 (Deutschendorf) - WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Requires
workers' compensation insurance carriers, the State Insurance
Fund and group self-insured plans to notify an insured employer
of the possibility of, and/or terms of, any settlement of a workers'
compensation case; permits employers to participate in any claim
for compensation or benefits commenced by a claimant, wherein
the employer is named as a party or joined as a party; outlines
employer's rights; provides that failure of a self-insured employer
or group self-insurance association to implement the requirement
for development of a workplace safety plan shall constitute grounds
for revocation by the administrator of the Workers' Compensation
Court of the employer's self-insurance permit or approval of the
association's self-insurance application. (85 § 26)
* HB 1688 (Perry) - TAX CREDIT/COMPUTER DONATIONS. Establishes
a one-time income tax credit for donations of computer hardware
and software to schools or higher education institutions; sets
credit at 50 percent of the estimated value of the items. (68
§ 2357.26)
* HB 1690 (Perry) - ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. Creates
the "Electronic Signature Act;" provides that an electronic
signature may be used to sign a writing and shall have the same
force and effect as a written signature; authorizes the Secretary
of State to issue certificates for the purpose of verifying digital
signatures; provides for imposition of a reasonable fee; requires
agency heads to implement control procedures to ensure adequate
integrity, security, confidentiality and auditability of business
transactions conducted by the agency using electronic commerce.
(74 § 8201/8207)
* HB 1694 (Wells) - INVENTORY. Increases to $500
the value of equipment which must be inventoried by the Department
of Central Services. (74 § 110.1)
* HB 1702 (Stanley) - HEALTH CARE. Provides that
a health maintenance organization (HMO) or prepaid health plan
shall be deemed in noncompliance and shall not be relicensed by
the Health Department if its application for license renewal,
evidence of coverage, standards and procedures for the selection
of providers or any other document filed with the Department contain
definitions of words or terms that are contrary to or inconsistent
with statutory definitions; deems such organizations and plans
in noncompliance for certain actions, omissions or submissions;
requires HMOs and prepaid health plans to provide comprehensive
health services in a manner that is reasonably geographically
convenient to residents of the service area for which it seeks
a license. (63 § 2504)
* HB 1732 (Beutler) - COUNTY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL TRAINING.
This is a shell bill pertaining to the Commission on County
Government Personnel Education and Training. (19 § 130.1)
* HB 1739 (Mitchell) - LEGAL REPRESENTATION. Clarifies
language relating to legal representation of state agencies and
officials. (74 § 20i)
* HB 1755 (Ross) - HIGH CHALLENGE SCHOOLS. This
is a shell bill relating to high challenge schools. (70 §
1210.541)
* HB 1768 (Toure) - RISK MANAGEMENT. Requires the
risk management administrator to provide for the reimbursement
of personal property casualty losses sustained by state employees
if the loss to personal property was a result of the performance
of an authorized duty or responsibility of the employee sustained
while the employees was in the course of employment; limits reimbursement
to $500; prescribes condition on reimbursement based upon coverage
of losses by insurance policies or losses not covered by insurance.
(74 § 85.23l)
* HB 1773 (Toure) - PREVAILING WAGE. Creates the
"Oklahoma Prevailing Wage Act"'; declares public policy
that a wage of no less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages
for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work
is performed shall be paid to all workers employed by or on behalf
of any public body engaged in public works exclusive of maintenance
work; provides that the act shall apply only where the total cost
of a project to be performed by contractors in connection with
construction of a public work is $600,000 or more; prohibits splitting
into partial contracts; provides that not less than the prevailing
hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality
in which work is performed, and not less than the prevailing hourly
rate of wages for legal holiday and overtime work, shall be paid
to all workers employed by or on behalf of a public body engaged
in the construction of public works, exclusive of maintenance
work; provides that only such workers as are directly employed
by contractors or subcontractors in actual construction work on
the site of a building or construction job shall be deemed to
be employed upon public works; provides that, when the hauling
of materials or equipment includes some phase of construction
other than the mere transportation to the site of the construction,
workers engaged in this dual capacity shall be deemed employed
directly on public works; specifies requirements for determining
the prevailing wage. (40 § 196.20)
* HB 1774 (Toure) - LANGSTON UNIVERSITY/BONDS. Modifies
bonds authorized for purchase, redemption or defeasance to include
Langston University Building Bonds Series I (1963) and Series
II (1967). (62 § 57.200)
* HB 1810 (Cox) - EBONICS. Provides that Ebonics
shall not be recognized as a language art and shall not be taught
as a course or class in the pubic schools for which a student
receives credit or which is counted towards fulfilling graduation
requirements; defines Ebonics as an Africanized form of English
reflecting Black Americans' linguistic-cultural ties to their
African heritage. (70 § 11-1103.8)
* HB 1815 (Adair) - TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Creates
the "Telephone Competition, Rural Service and Consumer Protection
Act of 1997"; specifies requirements that apply to all local
exchange telecommunications service providers. (17 § 139.101)
* HB 1817 (Askins/Hobson) - PUBLIC DEPOSITS. Authorizes
designees of certain administrative authorities to countersign
vouchers; authorizes the state treasurer, for purposes of securing
public deposits, to accept certain securities and other instruments
as collateral; authorizes the treasurer to establish standards
which restrict, or limit further, any of the types of classes
of securities or instruments which may be accepted; permits the
treasurer to select surety bonds issued by an insurance company
licensed in the state whose claims-paying ability is rated in
the highest category by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating agency. (62 § 41.21)
* HB 1818 (Perry) - DATA PROCESSING. Clarifies language
relating to state agencies' electronic data processing plans.
(62 § 41.5e)
* HB 1854 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/UNIVERSITY
HOSPITALS. Appropriates to various health agencies, including
the University Hospitals Authority.
* HB 1859 (Hamilton/Haney) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Provides
budgetary limitations for the University Hospitals Authority.
* HB 1872 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/TEACHER
PREPARATION. Appropriates to various education entities, including
the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.
* HB 1877 (Hamilton/Haney) - TEACHER PREPARATION. Sets
budgetary limitations for the Teacher Preparation Commission.
* HB 1880 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/STATE REGENTS.
Appropriates to the State Regents for Higher Education.
* HB 1887 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates
to the special cash fund from the cash-flow reserve fund.
* HB 1894 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Makes
reappropriations to the State Regents for each of the State System
institutions and to various other agencies.
* HB 1897 (Hamilton/Haney) - SOLE SOURCE. This is
a shell bill relating to sole source and professional service
contracts.
* HB 1907 (Hamilton) - PROGRAM BUDGETING. Clarifies
language relating to the program budgeting initiative. (62 §
41.44)
* HB 1915 (Erwin) - STATE AIRCRAFT. Requires the
Aeronautics Commission to promulgate rules specifying guidelines
for use of state airplanes. (3 § 85.1)
* HB 1916 (Erwin) - HEALTH CARE. This is a shell
bill relating to Oklahoma Health Care Authority duties regarding
health care access information. (63 § 5013)
* HB 1921 (Stites) - TECHNOLOGY. Creates the "Training
for New Technology Act." (70 § 1210.581)
* HB 1961 (Ferguson) - TRAVEL. Creates the "State
Travel Reimbursement Reform Act."
* HB 1963 (Hastings) - WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Provides
that a workers' compensation claimant must in good faith request
a hearing and final determination within two years of filing a
claims or within two years from the date of last payment of compensation
or wages in lieu thereof, or the same shall be barred and shall
be dismissed by the Workers' Compensation Court; provides for
voluntary dismissal of claim. (85 § 43)
* HB 1964 (Fields) - RETIREMENT. Increases the amount
of the death benefit for members of the OTRS from $4,000 to $5,000;
provides that beginning July 1, 1997, a classified member who
retired prior to July 1, 1996, shall have the member's retirement
allowance calculated on the member's current minimum average salary
plus $1,000; repeals section relating to limitations on retirement
benefit increases . (70 § 17-105)
* HB 1981 (Hamilton/Rozell) - STATE AGENCY REFORM.
Creates the "State Agency Reform and Improvement Act."
* HB 1986 (Coleman) - TEACHER PREPARATION/READING.
Authorizes the Teacher Preparation Commission to develop professional
development institutes which train teachers to instruct students
in balanced and comprehensive reading programs. (70 § 6-200)
* HB 1990 (Hamilton/Rozell) - PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT.
Creates the "Oklahoma Public Funds Investment Practices Reform
Act."
* HB 1991 (Hamilton/Rozell) - PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION/INVENTORY.
Increases dollar amount in definition of "public construction
contract" to $12,500; requires that bids on public construction
contracts exceeding $15,000 must be accompanied by certain documents
and bonds; prohibits contracts involving sums in excess of $12,500
from being split into partial contracts to avoid certain requirements;
requires certain notarized statements on invoices submitted to
any school district or area vo-tech school district for payment
to an architect, contractor, engineer or supplier of materials
of $2,000 or more; increases to $500 the value of equipment which
must be inventoried by Central Services. (62 § 102)
* HB 1995 (Hamilton/Robinson) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS.
Clarifies language relating to the University Hospitals Authority.
(63 § 3207)
* HB 1997 (Bastin) - MURRAH BUILDING MEMORIAL. Designates
April 19 as Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Memorial Day. (25
§ 82.1)
* HB 2012 (Askins) - MEDICAL SCHOOL FACULTY. Provides
that when an adult person, because of a medical condition, is
treated by a licensed doctor holding a faculty appointment at
an accredited medical school, and such person is incapable of
giving informed consent for a local-institutional-review-board-approved
experiment treatment, test or drug, then such treatment, test
or drug may proceed upon obtaining informed consent of a legal
guardian, attorney in fact or a family member. (63 § 3102A)
* HB 2013 (Askins) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. This
is a shell bill relating to the University Hospitals Trust. (63
§ 3224)
* HB 2014 (Askins) - HEALTH CARE. Requires health
benefit plans that provide benefits for a family member of the
insured to provided coverage for each newly born child of the
insured, from birth through the date the child is 18 years of
age, for certain immunizations. (36 § 6060.4)
* HB 2015 (Askins) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Clarifies
language relating to the certificate of need for the University
Hospitals. (63 § 3205)
* HB 2047 (Greenwood) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Clarifies
language relating to insurance coverage for bone density screening.
(36 § 6060.1)
* HB 2060 (Greenwood) - SCHOOL SAVINGS. Creates
the "School Savings Act;" provides a tax-free
savings account for education expenses at all levels, at both
public and private schools. (70 § 24-160)
* HB 2061 (Hamilton) - FISCAL YEAR. Changes the
state fiscal year to run from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30; requires
the Office of State Finance to analyze the needs of state entities
to which appropriations have been made for fiscal year 1998 and
make recommendations regarding a method for either an extended
fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1998, or a transitional fiscal year
beginning July 1, 1998 and ending Sept. 30, 1998. (62 § 1.1,
1.2)
* HB 2062 (Greenwood) - INCOME TAX DEDUCTION/TUITION/FEES.
Provides an income tax deduction for tuition paid to an Oklahoma
public or university of not more than $1,000. (68 § 2358)
* HB 2075 (Steidley) - AD VALOREM. Clarifies language
relating to ad valorem taxation. (68 § 2819)
* HB 2093 (Weese) - GROUP INSURANCE BOARD. Increases
the membership of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance
Board from eight to 10 members, to include one education employee
and one state employee, both to be appointed by the Governor.
(74 § 1304)
* HB 2094 (Glover) - HEALTH BENEFITS BOARD. Abolishes
the Oklahoma Basic Health Benefits Board and transfers its duties
and responsibilities to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board.
(63 § 5005)
* HB 2102 (Laura Boyd/Henry) - TUITION SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
Enacts the "Oklahoma Tuition Savings Account Act"; allows
state residents to deposit up to $5,000 during each taxable year
into one or more tuition savings accounts; exempts such contributions
from taxation as adjusted gross income; provides for account custodians;
authorizes disbursement of funds no more than three times in a
calendar year, by check to the beneficiary's higher education
institution or vo-tech school; provides for unqualified disbursements
with a 10-percent penalty to be paid to the Tax Commission; provides
that interest earned on an account during the year in which a
withdrawal occurs shall be considered income for tax purposes;
provides for qualified expense disbursements of no more than 20
percent of the interest earned from the account during the year;
provides that any remaining balance shall be distributed to the
beneficiary no later than 30 days after the 30th birthday
of the beneficiary or graduation of the beneficiary, whichever
occurs first; provides for transfer, upon request by the beneficiary,
of balance to one or more accounts established for another beneficiary;
outlines procedure for distribution if beneficiary does not attend
a higher education institution or vo-tech school; repeals sections
relating to the Oklahoma Tuition Trust Act. (70 § 6020)
* HB 2105 (Gray) - NSU COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY. Requires
approval of the rules of the Board of Examiners in Optometry by
the president of the Northeastern State University College of
Optometry. (59 § 604)
* HB 2111 (Gray) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Requires
that the State Regents rules be filed with the Secretary of State;
requires any agency exempt from certain sections of the Administrative
Procedures Act to submit any previously adopted agency rules to
the Secretary of State by July 1, 1998; requires submission of
agency rules after July 1, 1998. (74 § 324.13)
* HB 2114 (Roberts) - HEALTH INSURANCE. This is
a shell bill relating to requirements for the State and Education
Employees Group Insurance Board. (74 § 1307.2)
* HB 2117 (Clay Pope) - INCOME TAX CREDIT. Provides
for an income tax credit for agricultural producers producing
agricultural commodities and using new or modified agricultural
production or marketing methods demonstrated by or acquired from
an accredited agricultural college or university, adult agricultural
education program provided by a secondary school or agricultural
producing or farming association located in the state; sets the
amount of the credit at $500. (68 § 2357)
* HB 2125 (Coleman) - SCHOOL TESTING/EDUCATIONAL INDICATORS.
Requires norm-referenced testing, beginning with the 1997-98 school
year, in grades five, nine, and 11 of the public schools; requires
that the results be included in the summary report of the Oklahoma
educational indicators program. (70 § 1210.508)
* HB 2138 (Paulk/Herbert) - AUTOMATED TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
Prohibits a state agency from using an automated telephone system
for answering phone calls during regular hours of operation. (62
§ 41.5h)
* HB 2146 (Blackburn) - SMOKING. Clarifies language
relating to the Smoking in Public Places Act. (63 § 1-1523)
* HB 2151 (Perry) - OBSCENE MATERIALS. Requires
public libraries and other entities to remove or block materials
in computers or computer systems that are harmful to minors. (21
§ 1040.76)
* HB 2155 (Gray) - DENTAL EDUCATION. Requires that
continuing education requirements under the State Dental Act be
established pursuant to recommendations presented by the Oklahoma
Dental Association and the dean of the OU School of Dentistry;
requires that continuing education be provided in clinical settings.
(59 § 328.15)
* HB 2161 (Laura Boyd) - LEAVE. Enacts the "Sick
Leave Modification Act."
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS
* HJR 1002 (John Sullivan) - APPROPRIATIONS. Proposes
a constitutional amendment to require legislative approval of
appropriations for expenses directly related to the education
of students in the common schools prior to final passage of any
other appropriation measure; requires final approval of the common
education appropriation at least 30 calendar days prior to sine
die adjournment of the session during which the measure is being
considered; requires that such measure also be passed at least
20 days prior to the date as of which any other measure containing
an appropriation receives final approval by either house. (Art.
V, § 55)
* HJR 1003 (Bonny) - ADMISSION STANDARDS. Proposes
a constitutional amendment requiring that the legislature rather
than the State Regents prescribe admission standards for institutions
within the State System of Higher Education (Art. XIII-A, §
2).
* HJR 1009 (John Sullivan) - APPROPRIATIONS. Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide that appropriations for expenses directly related to the education of students in the common schools shall be passed prior to final passage of any other appropriation measure; requires approval of such appropriations and transmission of them to the Governor at least 30 calendar days prior to sine die adjournment of the Legislative session; requires final passage of such measures at least 20 days prior to the date as of which any other appropriation measure receives final approval by either house.
(Art. V, § 55).
* HJR 1010 (Graves) - DISCRIMINATION. Proposes a
constitutional amendment to prohibit the state from discriminating
against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or
group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national
origin in the operation of public employment, education or contracting,
with certain exceptions. (Art. XXIII, § 12).
* HJR 1012 (Webb) - TAX REVIEW. Creates the Tax
Review and Improvement Task Force; provides that the Task Force
shall review the constitutional provisions, laws, rules, and procedures
relating to the Oklahoma tax system and evaluate the system's
ability to provide appropriate and timely revenue, distribute
tax burdens fairly, and to promote economic and administrative
efficiency; requires a report and recommendations by June 1, 1998.
* HJR 1022 (Phillips) - FEES. Proposes a Constitutional
amendment prohibiting a state agency, board, commission, or authority
from imposing new or increasing existing fees or charges; requires
a vote of the people unless the increase is approved by three-fourths
of the House and Senate and approved by the Governor. (Art. V,
§ 33)
* HJR 1030 (Webb) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT. Proposes
a Constitutional amendment requiring that monies not otherwise
appropriated, not deposited to the credit of the Constitutional
Reserve Fund and not required for payment of outstanding and unpaid
bonded indebtedness be appropriated by the Legislature either
for retiring the unfunded accrued actuarial liability of the OTRS
or for providing cost-of-living adjustments to retirees of the
public retirement systems; requires a simple majority of the House
and Senate to pass such measures. (Art. X, § 23b)
* HJR 1034 (Roberts) - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT. Proposes
a Constitutional amendment requiring that 35 percent of growth
revenue, if any, in income tax, sales tax and motor vehicle registration
fees be apportioned to the OTRS to be distributed as determined
by the board of trustees, subject to the requirement that the
revenue apportioned to the System be used in a manner to decrease
the unfunded accrued actuarial liability of the OTRS; limits such
diversion to five years. (Art. V, § 62A)