LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Teachers' Retirement Task Force Finalizes Recommendations: The Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System (OTRS) Task Force today finalized its recommendations to the Legislature. Among the principal recommendations are:

• The employee contribution rate should remain unchanged at 7.0%. The employer contribution rate, specifically the amount that is paid directly from the institution budget (currently at 4.8% of each employee's compensation), should be capped at 6.05%. In combination with the other task force recommendations, this would allow the system to reach a funding level of 80% in 30 years.
• The gross production tax currently earmarked for OTRS should be directed to the General Revenue Fund. In its place a special certified fund should be created within the General Revenue Fund to permanently replace the gross production tax revenue to OTRS. This would remove some of the current revenue volatility for OTRS.
• Other state moneys not otherwise committed, including those in the State Rainy Day Fund, should be appropriated to OTRS until the unfunded liability is amortized.
• No changes in benefits should be provided that are not covered by adequate funding.
• Cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA's) should be funded through direct appropriations from the General Revenue Fund.

The final report will be edited based on today's decisions of the task force and released within the next few weeks. A more complete description of the task force's recommendations will be provided in a later edition of our update.

House Approves Tuition "Freeze" Bill: On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted unanimously, 97-0, to approve HB 2951 (by Rep. Wallace Collins, D - Norman), a bill that would create a "rolling" five-year freeze on tuition rates. The actual language in the bill states:

The author amended the bill by "striking the title." This action means that the bill, if passed by the Senate, will have to come back to the House for at least one more vote.

March 12, Thursday -- Bills from Floor of House of Origin

March 26, Thursday -- Bills from Committee of Opposite House

April 16, Thursday -- Bills from Floor of Opposite House

May 29, Friday -- Sine Die Adjournment

Actions on Bills This Week:

SENATE ACTIONS

Bills Passed on Senate Floor:

• SB 820 - OneNet; purchasing authority
• SB 829 - OneNet; reimbursement for transmission services
• SB 873 - Ok. Prostate Cancer Patient Protection Act
• SB 1033 - teachers retirement
• SB 1037 - teachers retirement; annual lump-sum to OTRS retirees
• SB 1059 - health insurance; mental health coverage
• SB 1137 - Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History
• SB 1170 - Ok. Licensed Poultry Feeding Operations Act
• SB 1185 - workers compensation; prohibiting retaliatory actions
• SB 1236 - veterinary college; modifying statutory definition
• SB 1250 - dual-office holding
• SB 1355 - OCAST; inventors assistance program
• SB 1414 - graduate fellowships
• SB 1415 - graduate fellowships
• SB 1423 - art academies; agreements with higher ed. Institutions
• SB 1428 - higher education bonds
• SB 1432 - OHLAP for Teacher Preparation

Bills Failed on Senate Floor:

• SB 837 - health insurance; reimbursement of pregnancy related services (motion to reconsider fails; bill is dead)

Bills Passed in Senate Committees:

• none

Bills Failed in Senate Committees:

• none

HOUSE ACTIONS

Bills Passed on House Floor:

• HB 1822 - purchasing reforms
• HB 2279 - marital and family therapists
• HB 2288 - Benefit Enhancement Account for Retirees
• HB 2290 - basic life insurance for state employees
• HB 2469 - Statewide Temporary Assistance Responsibility System
• HB 2500 - teachers retirement; death benefit
• HB 2557 - Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee
• HB 2638 - Ok. Human Resources Investment Council
• HB 2693 - sole source contractors
• HB 2739 - University Hospitals
• HB 2802 - reports of certain agencies
• HB 2822 - Oklahoma Native American Day
• HB 2823 - Task Force on Agriculture Cooperatives
• HB 2855 - reduction-in-force
• HB 2909 - public construction contracts
• HB 2951 - tuition
• HB 2954 - create an Office of Technology
• HB 3086 - quality control review of internal audit functions
• HB 3144 - child care facilities; notice of sex offenders
• HB 3213 - related to the hearing impaired
• HB 3312 - sole source contracts
• HJR 1084 - Oklahoma Hope Scholarship Program
• HJR 1088 - technology transfer
• HR 1036 - commemorating OSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Bills Failed on the House Floor:

• HB 2600 - computer training for state employees

Bills Passed in House Committees:

• none

Bills Failed in House Committee:

• none

Bills Added to the List:

• SB 823 - tourism promotion/research
• SB 1098 - higher education foundations
• SB 1192 - optometrists; authorized services
• SB 1406 - high school diploma with distinction
• HB 1017 - workplace and employee protection
• HB 1383 - noise levels
• HB 2326 - annuity contracts
• HB 2566 - donation of sick leave
• HB 2600 - computer training for state employees
• HB 2837 - child care facilities
• HB 3244 - speech pathology
• HB 3297 - tax system task force

Bills Deleted from the List:

• HB 2719 - State Insurance Fund (no longer affects higher education)

March 6, 1998

A&M Board of Regents, HB 2802

Administrative procedures, HB 2963, HB 3189

Advanced placement, SB 774, SB 1427

Ad valorem tax oversight, SB 1212

Agriculture cooperatives task force, HB 2823

Airplane travel, HB 3226

Anatomical gifts, SB 1109

Annuity contracts, HB 2326

Appropriations

Arts academies, SB 1423

Asbestos abatement, SB 934

Atkinson, H. B., SR 49

Audits, internal, HB 3086

Bids, HB 2802, HB 2909, HB 3226

Bond issue, SB 1428, HJR 1067, HJR 1077

Budget and program oversight, HB 3058

Capital improvements, SJR 30, HJR 1067, HJR 1077

Certified Public Accountants’ education requirements, SB 1310

Change orders, HB 2992

Child care facilities, HB 2837, HB 3144

Children First Program, SB 923

College savings plan, SB 1430, HB 2934

Contracts, SB 1050, HB 2693, HB 2802, HB 3070

Credit card agreements/merchandising, HB 2430

Data processing, HB 2219, HB 2228

Diploma with distinction, SB 1406

Dual-office holding, SB 1250

Economic development, SB 798, HB 3284

Educational Indicators Program, HB 2897, HB 3100

Electronic signature technology, HB 3287

Employee

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History, SB 1137

Engineers/land surveyors, professional, SB 1093

English language, HB 2207

Facilities, higher education, for research, HJR 1088

Faculty contracts, SB 1372

Federal block grants, HB 2469

Fee increase, HB 2704

Fellowships, SB 1414, SB 1415, SB 1418

Financial aid, HB 3263

Fire ant research, HB 2914

Foundations, SB 1098

Genetic nondiscrimination, HB 3169

Graduation rate, SB 1000

Hauptman, Herbert, SR 52

Holidays, HB 2607, HB 2822

Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Act, HB 2930

Individual retirement accounts, SB 1167

Insurance, health, SB 837, SB 873, SB 1059, SB 1089, SB 1130, SB 1161, SB 1316, HB 2280, HB 2313, HB 2528, HB 2808, HB 2947, HB 3171

Insurance, life, HB 2290

Inventory, reusable, HB 2909

Job training, HB 2363, HB 2638

Juvenile Sex Offenders, HB 2219, HB 2230

Langston University, SB 1426, HB 3213

Leave sharing, HB 2566

Legislative session, HJR 1094

License plates, SB 1183

Livestock activities liability, HB 2357

Long-Range Capital Planning, SB 981

Massage therapy, HB 2241

Medical licensure, SB 1191

Mid-career teacher programs, SB 1424

Minority Teacher Recruitment, HB 2219, HB 2229, HB 2557

Nigh, George, SCR 40

Noise levels, HB 1383

Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), SB 1355, HB 3012, HJR 1073

Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP), SB 1432

Oklahoma Hope Scholarship, HJR 1084

Oklahoma State University

OneNet, SB 820, SB 829, SB 830

Open Meeting, SB 996

Open Records, SB 996

Optometry, SB 1192

OU/OSU Tulsa, SB 1426

Payroll reports, SJR 19

Poultry waste applicators licensing, HB 2293

Privatization of state functions, HB 2532

Program review, HB 2824

Publications, HB 2802

Public

Purchasing, HB 1822, HB 2802, HB 3226

Real estate courses, HB 2563

Recycling, HB 2952

Reduction in force, HB 2855

Remediation, SB 1349

Reports, HB 2802

Research

Residential care home administrator certification, SB 1013

Retirement, SB 773, SB 776, SB 1033, SB 1037, HB 2287, HB 2288, HB 2500, HB 2568, HB 2668, HB 2695, HB 3236

Rogers University, SB 1426, HB 2361, HB 2399

School testing, SB 1349, HB 2897

Smoke detectors, HB 3213

Sole source contracts, HB 1822, HB 2693, HB 3070

Speech pathologists/audiologists education requirements, HB 3244

State agency reform, HB 2740

State Regents, SB 955, HB 2361

Statewide Temporary Assistance Responsibility System (STARS), HB 2469

Student loans, SB 798, HB 3263

Surplus property, SB 1270

Tax

Teacher

Technology

Telecommunications, HB 2219, HB 2228

Telemedicine, SB 832, HB 2651

Therapists, marital and family, HB 2279

Travel, SB 1246, HB 2602

Tuition/fees, HB 2425, HB 2951

Tulsa university, SB 1027, SB 1426, HB 2361, HB 2361, HB 2399

Tulsa State University, SB 1027, HB 2361

Unemployment, SB 793, HB 2792

University Hospitals, HB 2739

University of Central Oklahoma, SR 52

University of Oklahoma research, SB 1405

Veterinary college/university, SB 1236

Vietnam Veterans Day, HB 2255

Violence prevention, SJR 16

Workers’ Compensation, SB 1185

Workplace protection, HB 1017

Status Reported as of March 5, 1998

• SB 772 (Roberts/Begley) – TEACHER DEVELOPMENT. This is a shell bill relating to teacher professional development. (70 § 6-192)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

EDUCATION

• SB 773 (Roberts/Begley) – TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Requires the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) Board to offer its deferred compensation program to members of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma (OTRS). (74 § 1701)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

RETIREMENT LAWS

• SB 774 (Roberts/Begley) – ADVANCED PLACEMENT. This is a shell bill relating to the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program. (70 § 1210.701)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

EDUCATION

• SB 776 (Roberts/Begley) – TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Deletes obsolete language relating to retirement benefits and contributions for members of OTRS. The committee substitute pertains to employee contributions to OTRS by public school teachers and vo-tech teachers. (70 §17-116.2)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/17/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 793 (Long/Fields) – UNEMPLOYMENT. Modifies filing requirements for the Employment Security Commission to provide for electronic filing; requires persons claiming benefits to report all wages, regardless of the source or amount; modifies the maximum benefit amount computation to provide for increases in the applicable percentage determined by the conditional factor; makes benefits subject to federal income tax; provides for disqualification of an individual from receiving unemployment benefits for each week benefits were paid as a result of a false statement or representation or a failure to disclose a material fact and requires that such individual be deemed overpaid for the entire amounts of benefits paid as a result of claimant fraud; modifies conditions constituting good cause for voluntarily leaving work to include when a physician found that it was medically necessary for a claimant to stop working or change occupations due to diagnosis or treatment of a medically verifiable illness or medical condition of the claimant or the minor child of the claimant; exempts from an employer’s benefit wage calculations any wages paid to an employee or former employee who was discharged from employment within 90 days of the original hiring date; provides for a 50-percent-reduction in employers’ contribution rates; requires that employers with a 5.5-percent-earned rate be reduced to 5.4 percent and those whose earned rate is 0.1 percent be reduced to 0 percent; modifies filings requirements for appeals; requires that monies credited to the unemployment trust fund, with respect to federal fiscal years 1999 through 2001, be used solely for administration of the unemployment compensation program and not subject to legislative appropriation; repeals sections relating to filing of notices, protests or appeals and to notice of intention to appeal. The committee substitute replaces language relating to discharge by an employer to read, "was discharged by an employer for unsatisfactory performance during an initial employment probationary period. As used in this paragraph, the term ‘probationary period’ means a period set forth in an established probationary plan which applies to all employees or to a specific group of employees and does not exceed 90 calendar days from the first day a new employee begins work. The employee must be informed of the probationary period within the first seven work days. There must be conclusive evidence to establish that the individual was separated due to unsatisfactory work performance and not separated because of lack of work due to temporary, seasonal, causal or other similar employment not of a regular permanent, and year-round nature." (40 § 1-224)

• SB 798 (Stipe/Mass) – INCOME TAX CREDIT/STUDENT LOANS. Creates the "Economic Development Through Education Act" to provide an incentive for Oklahoma college graduates to stay in Oklahoma and work in "basic industry" companies (in particular, the semiconductor manufacturing industry, such as Intel Corp.); provides for an income tax credit for student loan payments for loans made after the effective date of this act, covering the cost of attendance at a state higher education institution, with which the taxpayer must have obtained a degree from such an institution; limits credit to the amount of loan repayments made in the tax year; provides for a 10-year carry-forward. (68 § 2357.71)

FLOOR AMENDMENT 02/25/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

REVENUE & TAXATION

• SB 820 (Robinson/Adair) – ONENET. Section 2 modifies language relating to OneNet to delete authorization for state agencies to make certain purchases that are not on a statewide contract but are available from a General Services Administration schedule or contract or are on a GSA schedule at a lesser price. (74 § 85.9E)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

• SB 823 (Herbert/Dunegan) – TOURISM PROMOTION/RESEARCH. Provides that monies from the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Revolving Fund may be used for contracting and payment for research work completed by a State System institution. (68 § 50014)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/24/98

(47 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

REVENUE & TAXATION

• SB 829 (Robinson/Adair) – ONENET. Prohibits agencies from filing for reimbursement for transmission services requiring a circuit of T-1 or greater capacity unless OneNet is shown as the circuit aggregator and as the entity regarded by the state as eligible for reimbursement; requires a telecommunications provider receiving reimbursement from the U.S. government for the provision of circuits to pay the reimbursement to OneNet; includes the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the deaf as eligible schools. (17 § 139.108)

FLOOR AMENDMENT 03/04/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(43 AYE / 2 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

• SB 830 (Roberts/Deutschendorf) – ONENET. Requires contracts and agreements for the use of state highway or turnpike rights-of-way by telecommunications providers to provide for all public school districts that have a telecommunications point of service or collection point situated, within the public school district, within one mile of the nearest boundary of the right-of-way to be afforded one point of access to the telecommunications line or system in the right-of-way at a place to be designated in the contract or agreement; requires the state purchasing director to establish restricted statewide contracts for equipment, software and services required by schools and other users eligible for use of the services of OneNet. (69 § 1241, 74 § 85.9G)

• SB 832 (Robinson/Ervin) – TELEMEDICINE ADVISORY COUNCIL. Creates a Telemedicine Advisory Council until July 1, 2004, to advise the governor and legislature regarding improvement of public policy relating to telemedicine; includes the Chancellor or his designee as member of the council. (36 § 6805)

• SB 837 (Brown/Staggs) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires individual or group health insurance plans that provide for payment of or reimbursement for pregnancy-related services, to provide contraceptive services for the subscriber or covered dependent. (36 § 6060.6)

BILL FAILED - SENATE 02/26/98

(21 AYE / 22 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

MOTION TO RECONSIDER - SENATE 02/26/98

MOTION TO RECONSIDER - TABLED 03/03/98

• SB 862 (Harrison/Askins) – TEACHER PREPARATION. Removes from the 1998 sunset list the Commission for Teacher Preparation. (74 § 3905)

• SB 873 (Helton/Glover) – HEALTH INSURANCE/PROSTATE CANCER. Requires health benefit plans offered by the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and the State Employee Benefits Council that provide medical and surgical benefits for treatment of prostate cancer and other related conditions to also provide coverage for side effects commonly associated with radical retropubic prostatectomy surgery, including impotence and incontinence, and for other prostate-related conditions. (74 §§ 1324, 1373)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/19/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(41 AYE / 4 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

RULES

• SB 877 (Stipe/Seikel) - PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION. Provides that change orders to public construction contracts with a lesser unit price or basis shall not be required to be approved by the governing body of the public agency involved. (61 § 121)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED – SENATE 02/24/98

(42 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

GOVT OPS & AGENCY OVERSIGHT

• SB 901 (Haney/Hamilton) – APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the various educational entities. Section 14 provides for the expenditure of $500,000 for scholarships to the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers, provides for the establishment of an elementary level Great Expectations Demonstration Project, provides $3.35 million for the Professional Development Institutes in Reading; provides for the expenditure of $1 million on a competitive application basis to the State Vo-Tech Board and to State System institutions for implementing technology training for teachers. Section 15 apportions $280,344 to be expended on a competitive application basis to a State System institution for implementing telecommunications curriculum statewide. Section 16 provides for $25,000 to be expended on a contractual basis to a community education consortium group which is associated with a State System institution. Section 17 provides that certain funds in the Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund be used to provide program development and evaluation by the Teacher Preparation Commission and curriculum enhancement and monitoring programs for teacher applicants on a contract basis with a State System institution. Section 23 provides for $48,000 to be used to ensure school district participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Sections 38 through 40 appropriate to the Commission for Teacher Preparation.

• SB 906 (Haney/Hamilton) – APPROPRIATIONS. Provides budgetary limitations for the Commission for Teacher Preparation.

• SB 923 (Haney/Hamilton) - APPROPRIATIONS. Relates to various health services agencies. Section 17 provides funds for contractual services with the Perinatal Continuing Education Program within the OB/GYN department of the OU College of Medicine; provides funds to be allocated to the OUHSC for health services programs for uninsured or underinsured women and children. Section 19 states intent that certain funds be used to establish the Children First Program and that the Health Department contract with a university-related program for a performance-based evaluation of the program. Section 28 appropriates to the University Hospitals Authority.

• SB 928 (Haney/Hamilton) - APPROPRIATIONS. Provides budgetary limitations for the University Hospitals.

• SB 934 (Haney/Hamilton) - APPROPRIATIONS. Section 9 appropriates to the Department of Agriculture and provides for expenditures for contracts for statewide dissemination of intensive financial management technical assistance by Oklahoma State University’s extension service; Section 21 requires the State Regents to cooperate with the Department of Labor to provide information required concerning asbestos abatement.

• SB 955 (Haney/Hamilton) – STATE REGENTS. This is a shell bill relating to the powers and duties of the State Regents. (70 § 3206)

• SB 960 (Haney/Hamilton) - APPROPRIATIONS. This is a general appropriations bill. Sections 11 through 13 appropriate to the State Regents; Sections 16 and 17 appropriate to the Physician Manpower Training Commission; Section 20 appropriates to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST); Section 22 appropriates to the Teacher Preparation Commission; Section 75 appropriates to the University Hospitals Authority.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 962 (Haney/Hamilton) - APPROPRIATIONS. Modifies certain budgetary limitations for the Physician Manpower Training Commission.

• SB 981 (Haney/Hamilton) – LONG-RANGE CAPITAL PLANNING. Clarifies language relating to the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission. (62 § 901)

• SB 996 (Herbert/Seikel) – OPEN MEETING/OPEN RECORDS. Adds entities created by public trusts to the definition of "public body" in the Open Meeting Act and the Open Records Act. (25 § 304, 51 § 24A.3)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/24/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/24/98

(46 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

• SB 1000 (Hendrick/Vaughn) – GRADUATION RATE. Creates the "Higher Education Completion Incentive Revolving Fund; provides for allocation by the State Regents to four-year institutions who have achieved a 50-percent six-year graduation rate and to two-year institutions with a 30-percent three-year graduation rate. (70 § 3211.2)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/18/98

LAID OVER - SENATE 03/04/98

• SB 1013 (Rabon/Ervin) – RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION. Modifies requirements for residential care home administrator certification to allow applicants at any time to present an institution of higher education with documentation of prior education and work experience for consideration for possible credit toward certification; authorizes a certified administrator to make a written request to the commissioner of health to be placed in an inactive status for up to five subsequent calendar years and to waive educational requirements during that time. (63 § 1-836)

• SB 1027 (Long/Roach) –TULSA STATE UNIVERSITY. Creates a Tulsa State University as a regional university within the State System; creates a seven-member Board of Regents for Tulsa State University. (70 §§ 3201.1, 3202.2)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(38 AYE / 6 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1033 (Monson/Roberts) - TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. This is a shell bill relating to contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS). (70 § 17-108.1)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

RETIREMENT LAWS

• SB 1037 (Monson/Roberts) - TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Provides for annualized retirement benefits for OTRS retirees. (70 § 17-121)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(37 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 11 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

RETIREMENT LAWS

• SB 1050 (Dunlap/Askins) – PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION. Increases from $13,500 to $25,000 the value of a contract requiring a bond or irrevocable letter of credit; modifies language relating to requirements for public building construction to include construction management services; modifies notice and filing requirements. (61 §§ 1, 62, 102, 107)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1059 (Monson/Seikel) – HEALTH INSURANCE/MENTAL ILLNESS. Requires individual and group health insurance and health benefit plans to include coverage for treatment of adults, adolescents and children with severe mental illness; requires that such benefits be equal to benefits for treatment of and subject to the same preauthorization and utilization review mechanisms and other terms and conditions as all other physical diseases and disorders; provides an exception for policies that provide coverage for a specified disease or other limited benefit coverage and for groups with 50 or fewer employees. (36 § 6060.10)

FLOOR AMENDMENT 03/03/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(29 AYE / 12 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 7 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

INSURANCE

• SB 1089 (Monson/Askins) – HEALTH INSURANCE/BIDDING CRITERIA. Provides that the Health Care Authority may not modify but may only approve or disapprove the selection of benefits made by the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council pursuant to the Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Act; requires the council to purchase health care benefits for participants, develop health care plans for participants and develop a standard basic health care benefits package or packages to be offered by health care providers for participants; requires the council to retain as confidential information the initial bid offers, as well as any subsequent bid offers, made by health plans prior to final contract awards as part of the best and final offer negotiations process for the benefit plan; prohibits the council from establishing any biding criteria relating to excessive benefit pricing; requires HMOs offering a plan to participants, beginning Sept. 1, 1998, and each year thereafter, to submit to the council information regarding utilization data and loss ratios on the state plan business; requires that the council retain as confidential any proprietary information submitted by HMOs; requires the council to promulgate rules that establish the type, form and means by which information collected on utilization data and loss ratios will be communicated to participating employers and participants; requires the council and the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to begin preparation and distribution of information communicating and explaining the plans available for the fiscal 1999 plan year to participating employers and participants; prohibits such information from including any reference to frozen or limited enrollment in any plan; requires the board to design and make available for enrollment during the next enrollment period a health benefit plan for the fiscal 1999 plan year, in addition to the health benefit plan currently offered by the board; requires that the new plan offer the same range of services and scope of benefits contained in the plan that was offered during the 1998 plan year and the premium rates for the new plan be the same as for the 1998 plan year; requires that the plan contain the same plan design elements as the 1998 plan year but permits the price, ratio or level of each element to be adjusted by the board as necessary to meet the required premium levels; provides that the plan design elements specified in the section include in-network and out-of-network prices, coinsurance, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and co-pays; authorizes eligible participants for fiscal 1999 to choose as their health care provider any HMO available in their area that submitted a bid to the council during the period; provides for review of expenditure and revenue data to determine whether rates need to be lowered to an actuarially sound level on or before March 1, 1998; expresses legislative intent to appropriate $35.7 million from the constitutional reserve fund for the purpose of subsidizing health insurance plan premium rates.

VETO PREVAILED - SENATE 02/26/98

(30 AYE / 14 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

• SB 1098 (Morgan) – FOUNDATIONS. Excludes foundations for the benefit of public institutions of higher education from provisions of the Uniform Management of Institutional Endowment Funds Act. (60 § 300.3)

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/10/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

• SB 1109 (Wright/Hastings) – ANATOMICAL GIFTS. Creates the "Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act"; provides that donees of anatomical gifts may include an accredited medical or dental school, college, or university for education, research, advancement of medical or dental science. (63 § 2226)

• SB 1130 (Monson/Askins) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires that the benefit price of a health maintenance organization reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided and be determined on a basis consistent with the lowest schedule of basic rates generally charged for new benefit plans issued to large employers. The committee substitute deletes language which requires that the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board’s high deductible benefit plan have the same coinsurance and benefit limits as the basic plan but with a higher deductible amount and with copayments no greater than the basic benefit plan. (74 § 1371)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/17/98

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1137 (Littlefield/Beutler) - ENCYCLOPEDIA OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY. Requires the Oklahoma Historical Society to establish and administer an Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History which would include entries on different institutions, organizations, historic sites, and geographical features that have affected the development of Oklahoma. (53 § 1.4a)

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/16/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• SB 1161 (Herbert/Bonny) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires that a health insurance policy holder’s premium and the corresponding benefits be correlated in order to maintain the equity of premiums assessed and benefits provided to each member enrolled in a health plan policy; requires any health insurer that provides a health insurance policy to persons residing in Oklahoma to base the policy holder’s premium in accordance with the benefits that are offered or denied to the plan member; requires that health insurance benefit restrictions be reflected in an adjusted premium based on the percentage of premium that is charged for coverage of a specific condition; prohibits an insurer charging the same premium to two separate policy holders if one has a more comprehensive health benefit plan. (36 § 4405)

• SB 1167 (Wilkerson/Longmacher) – TAX CREDIT/TUITION/EDUCATION IRAS. Provides an income tax credit for tuition and fees for teachers; limits such tax to $25 per credit hour; provides a 5-percent income tax credit for eligible educational individual retirement accounts. (68 §§ 2357, 2357.33)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/24/98

(41 AYE / 4 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

REVENUE & TAXATION

• SB 1170 (Muegge/Leist) – POULTRY FEEDING OPERATIONS/OSU COOP EXTENSION. Creates the "Oklahoma Licensed Poultry Feeding Operations Act." Section 6 requires operators of licensed poultry feeding operations and all litter handlers to attend education training on poultry waste management as provided by Oklahoma State University (OSU) through the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES). The floor substitute provides for registration, rather than licensure. (2 § 10-9.6)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/12/98

FLOOR SUBSTITUTE 03/03/98

FLOOR AMENDMENT 03/03/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

• SB 1175 (Muegge/Leist) – ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS/OSU COOP EXTENSION. Modifies the Oklahoma Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Act; requires managing owners and managing operators of a proposed CAFO to provide certification of satisfactory completion of formal education or training in the areas of waste management and odor control; directs the Agriculture Department to require at least four hours of annual refresher training for such persons; requires that appropriate curricula and course content be developed under the supervision of the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service.

• SB 1183 (Wilkerson/Langmacher) – SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES. Provides that if fewer than fifty of any type of special license plate is issued prior to July 1, 2003, or, for any type of special license plate authorized after July 1, 1998, within five years after first being offered, the Tax Commission shall discontinue issuance of that type of special license plate; recodifies provisions authorizing special license plates, including those for university or college supporters, Heart of the Heartland scholarships, and for Oklahoma City bombing victims and survivors. (47 § 1136)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 02/23/98

(0 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/25/98

REVENUE & TAXATION

• SB 1185 (Long/Toure) – WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Prohibits discriminatory or retaliatory actions against an employee who has filed a workers’ compensation claim or taken certain related action; prohibits employers who have continued an employee’s regular compensation during a period of temporary total disability or voluntarily commenced the furnishing of medical benefits from terminating compensation or medical benefits as a result of an employee filing a claim or taking related action. (85 § 5)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/17/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(46 AYE / 1 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

• SB 1191 (Long/Gray) – OSTEOPATHIC EXAMINERS. Requires the State Board of Medical Licensure and State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to establish a list of specialties requiring certification for practice in this state. (59 §§ 495.1, 633.1)

• SB 1192 (Morgan/Wells) – OPTOMETRY. Adds low-vision rehabilitation, certain types of laser surgery and cosmetic lid surgery to the definition of the practice of optometry; requires certification by the State Board of Examiners in Optometry. (59 § 581)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 02/17/98

(33 AYE / 13 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

MOTION TO RECONSIDER - SENATE 02/17/98

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 03/05/98

• SB 1198 (Monson/Askins) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Deletes language which transferred responsibilities relating to state employee health care benefits from the State Employees Benefits Council to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. (63 § 5011)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1212 (Williamson/Perry) – AD VALOREM. Expands purpose of the Ad Valorem Reimbursement Fund to include reimbursement of counties for loss of revenue for school district and county purposes due to additional homestead exemption; repeals sections relating to the reimbursement fund. (62 § 193)

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/17/98

• SB 1236 (Muegge/Wells) – VETERINARY COLLEGE. Relates to criminal investigation by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; modifies the definition of "School of Veterinary Medicine" to mean "any veterinary college or division of a university or college that offers the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent, which conforms to the standards required for accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association and which is recognized and approved by the Board." (59 § 698.2)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(46 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

• SB 1240 (Hobson/Thomas) – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. Creates the "Oklahoma Technology Transfer Act"; directs the State Regents to study the feasibility of establishing an Office of Technology Transfer to identify areas of academic research in Oklahoma that have potential for commercial development and to develop plans for marketing such areas to venture capitalists to promote economic development in the state. (70 §§ 7001, 7002)

• SB 1246 (Weedn/Weaver) – TRAVEL/CONFERENCE REGISTRATION. Authorizes state agencies to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of conference registration expenses; deletes the provision allowing such expenses to be paid only if a meeting qualifies for overnight travel. The committee substitute authorizes payment of such expenses directly to the contracting agency or business establishment. (74 §500.2)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(46 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1250 (Easley/Settle) – DUAL OFFICE HOLDING. This is a shell bill pertaining to dual-office holding. (51 § 6)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• SB 1270 (Gustafson/Pettigrew) – SURPLUS PROPERTY. Clarifies language relating to transfer of surplus property of a state agency. (74 § 62.4)

• SB 1310 (Fisher/Askins) – CPA REQUIREMENTS. Requires certified public accountant (CPA) applicants, beginning July 1, 2003, to have at least 150 semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the Accountancy Board from an accredited four-year college or university in the state or any other accredited four-year college or university recognized by the board; requires that a minimum 76 semester hours be earned at the upper-division level; requires that such education requirement be completed prior to submitting an application to the board; requires that the total educational program include an accounting concentration with at least 36 semester hours in accounting courses above principles of accounting or introductory accounting, with at least one course in auditing; requires that the remaining accounting courses be selected from financial accounting, accounting theory, cost/managerial accounting, federal income tax, governmental or not-for-profit accounting, accounting information systems, accounting history and other accounting electives; requires that at least nine semester hours be from among the subjects of economics, statistics, business law, finance, business management, marketing, business communication, management information systems or computer science at the upper-division level; requires that any remaining semester hours be elective at the upper-division level or above. (59 § 15.8)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 02/19/98

(33 AYE / 11 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/24/98

JUDICIARY

• SB 1316 (Monson/Aksins) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Clarifies language relating to the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Program. The committee substitute requires that benefit plans with the State and Education Group Insurance Board, HMOs and other third-party insurance vendors shall provide for a risk adjustment factor for adverse selection that may occur, based on generally accepted actuarial principles. (74 § 1306)

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1349 (Williams/Betty Boyd) – SCHOOL TESTING/REMEDIATION. Provides that for students graduating from high school, beginning with the 1998-99 graduating class, the results of their eleventh-grade criterion-referenced tests and any retests be reported on their final report cards and their final transcripts; authorizes the State Board of Education, contingent upon availability of funds appropriated by the legislature for the Early Remediation Assistance Program, to provide early remediation assistance incentive grants to assist school districts with the provision of remedial services to students at a rate of $25 per student identified on the basis of performance on criterion-referenced tests administered during the 1997-98 school year as requiring remediation in the 1998-99 school year; requires that districts be awarded the $25 grant for each student for whom remediation was required in the previous year who attained grade level proficiency as a result of the remediation assessment plan of study by the following year; requires districts, in order to receive such grants, to develop a remediation assistance initiative that includes a plan to accomplish specific objectives; requires remediation assessments for students who did not perform satisfactorily on the reading or mathematics criterion-referenced tests, except for students in an individualized education program, have limited English proficiency or for whom English is a second language. (70 § 1210.508)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/09/98

SENATE COM – COM SUB DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/09/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/17/98

• SB 1351 (Roberts/Begley) – BETTER SCHOOLS INCENTIVE/TECHNOLOGY. Authorizes the State Board of Education, contingent upon availability of funds approved for the Better Schools Incentive Grant Program, to award one or more competitive grants to public school districts; specifies eligibility requirements; requires that funding be expended for instruction-related personnel, equipment, transportation, materials and telecommunications; provides that funding for grants for telecommunications shall not exceed 50 percent of all grants awarded; provides the use of such funds for construction of buildings; provides reporting requirements; requires the board to contract for technical assistance for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, for a maximum 3 percent of the total appropriation for the program; requires that the technical assistance provider be an Oklahoma entity officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to assess and facilitate dissemination of validated educational programs in the state. (70 § 1210.602)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1355 (Kerr/Bonny) – Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Transfers powers and duties for the inventors assistance program from the Department of Commerce to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST); requires transfer of funds in the inventors and entrepreneurs program fund to the inventors assistance program fund. (74 § 5064.4)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/04/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(48 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• SB 1372 (Cain/(Laura Boyd) – FACULTY/EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS. States that the governing board of each institution of higher education shall ensure that any full-time faculty member who is denied a promotion or whose employment status is changed through an employment decision, whether by dismissal or nonrenewal of contract, receives in writing all reasons for the decision within seven working days of the decision; requires the governing board to establish an appeal process; allows the appeals to be based on substantive or procedural issues. (70 § 3205.2)

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/09/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/12/98

• SB 1405 (Fisher/Wells) - TECHNOLOGY. Provides that in accordance with SJR 29, boards of regents on behalf of State System institutions may have an ownership interest in a business enterprise commercializing a technology or other intellectual property, when such technology or other intellectual property is the result of research conducted by such institutions or involving the authorized use of facilities, equipment or services of the institutions, subject to certain conditions; exempts higher education employees receiving income from such an ownership interest from prohibitions against state officers and employees receiving compensation other than salary. (70 § 3231)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 02/24/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1406 (Morgan/Ostrander) – DIPLOMA WITH DISTINCTION. Requires district boards of education to develop and issue a diploma with distinction to high school students who graduate after successfully completing four units each in English, math, social studies and science, two additional units in technology, humanities or the arts, two units of foreign language and achieve a satisfactory score on all 11^th grade criterion-referenced tests. (70 § 11-103.2c)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/25/98

(33 AYE / 7 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 8 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

• SB 1410 (Hobson/Ervin) – APPROPRIATIONS/RESEARCH. Expresses legislative intent that $500,000 be appropriated to the State Regents to establish an annual pool of $250,000 each at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University to fund research professors who are between research grants.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1414 (Wright/Wells) – GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS. Expresses legislative intent that $250,000 be appropriated to the State Regents for the purpose of providing 50 supplements of $5,000 each to graduate fellowships offered by Oklahoma colleges and universities targeted to certain areas of excellence under plans approved by the State Regents.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• SB 1415 (Hobson/Miller) - GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS. Expresses legislative intent that $250,000 be appropriated to the State Regents for the purpose of providing 50 supplements of $5,000 each to graduate fellowships offered by Oklahoma colleges and universities targeted to certain areas of excellence under plans approved by the State Regents.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/18/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1418 (Williams/Wells) - GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS. Authorizes the State Regents to establish fellowships for doctoral or research studies. (70 § 693.8)

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/04/98

(44 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• SB 1423 (Horner/Betty Boyd) – ART ACADEMIES. Authorizes the State Board of Education to award competitive grants to establish arts academies at public schools; provides that awards can be made to an accredited private or public higher education institution; specifies requirements for agreements with higher education institutions. (70 § 1210.583)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/16/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/03/98

(42 AYE / 3 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1424 (Williams/Betty Boyd) – ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION. Provides for alternative certification and licensure of teachers who meet certain educational and experience requirements, pass required subject matter examinations and have taken the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination; requires the Office of Accountability to collaborate and coordinate with the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, the State Department of Education, the State Regents and the Department of Vocational and Technical Education for purposes of determining the information to be submitted by each teacher education institution with alternative preparation program participants and each school district employing a participant in the program; requires that teacher education programs include an alternative preparation plan approved by the Teacher Preparation Commission; provides that an alternative preparation plan may be established by a higher education institution, a school district employing a participant in collaboration with a higher education institution, or a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more institutions of higher education or school districts; authorizes the State Regents, in conjunction with the Teacher Preparation Commission, to establish model mid-career teaching programs; provides that, subject to the availability of funds, the State Regents shall award Mid-Career Teachers Grants to assist in establishing mid-career teacher preparation programs in existing teacher prep programs; repeals section relating to alternative placement teaching certification. (70 §§ 6-122.4/6-122.6)

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1426 (Ford/Betty Boyd) – OU/OSU TULSA. Creates a unified single campus of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University to be known as OU/OSU Tulsa; provides that OU and OSU shall offer upper-division and graduate courses for the campus and contract with Northeastern State University and Langston University to offer courses and programs; authorizes contracting with other institutions; changes the function of the Claremore campus of Rogers University to a four-year baccalaureate-degree-granting institution as quickly as possible; dissolves existing Board of Regents of Rogers University; transfers assets and obligations to the A&M Board of Regents, or the OU Board of Regents, and to the Rogers University Board of Regents, respectively; establishes a Tulsa Higher Education Oversight Board to develop academic programs and services; creates the Board of Regents of Rogers University; requires the State Regents to make annual reports on the change in function of Rogers University to a regionally accredited four-year institution; requires OU and OSU to establish a research and graduate education center in Tulsa; provides for the bill to become effective after certain provisions are met; repeals sections relating to Rogers University. (70 §§ 466l/4665).

TITLE STRICKEN 02/16/98

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1427 (Wilcoxson/Betty Boyd) – ADVANCED PLACEMENT. Requires school districts to implement advanced placement courses in English, math, social studies and science subject to a phasing-in schedule. (70 § 1210.701)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/16/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/18/98

• SB 1428 (Hobson/(Laura Boyd) – HIGHER EDUCATION BONDS. Creates the "Oklahoma Higher Education Bonds Act;" states purpose to vitalize SJR 30, if and when approved by a vote of the people. (62 §§ 57.400, 57.401)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(46 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SB 1430 (Henry/Blackburn) – COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN. Creates the "Oklahoma College Savings Plan Act;" creates a seven-member board of trustees to administer the program; requires the board to determine financial institutions to act as depositories and managers of Oklahoma college savings plan accounts; makes the state treasurer the program manager; allows an account to be opened by any person who desires to save to pay for qualified higher education expenses; provides for withdrawals; requires reports to the legislature and the governor by February 1 of each year summarizing the board’s findings and recommendations concerning the program; provides that interest from an account shall be exempt from taxable income until the tax year in which such interest is withdrawn. (70 §§ 3970.1/3970.12)

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/23/98

• SB 1432 (Horner/Staggs) - OKLAHOMA HIGHER LEARNING ACCESS PROGRAM (OHLAP). Authorizes the State Regents to establish and maintain an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) for Teacher Preparation as an incentive program to encourage the preparation of teachers, including minority teachers, in critical shortage areas for the public schools at one or more of the Oklahoma public or private higher education institutions; requires that priority consideration be given to prospective teachers from under-represented minority groups and prospective teachers who meet the same need requirements as OHLAP; provides for scholarships and states qualifications; requires a teaching commitment from scholarship recipients. (70 § 698.3)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(47 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

• SJR 16 (Monson/Laura Boyd) – VIOLENCE PREVENTION. Re-creates the Oklahoma Council on Violence Prevention until Jan. 1, 2003. The Chancellor of Higher Education is included in the membership of the Council.

ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN - SENATE 02/23/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/23/98

(45 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/25/98

PUBLIC HEALTH

• SJR 19 (Henry/Weaver) – PAYROLL/EMPLOYEE REPORTS. Directs the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to study requirements imposed on employers to report payroll and other employee information to federal and state agencies and to make recommendations for consolidating these reporting requirements.

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - SENATE 02/23/98

(47 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 02/25/98

COMMERCE, INDUSTRY & LABOR

• SJR 25 (Fisher/Wells) – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. This is a proposed constitutional amendment providing that use of public facilities at State System institutions in connection with a project involving the research or development of a technology or other intellectual property, the results of which have potential economic value for a private enterprise involved in the project with the institution, shall be considered to be a public purpose for purposes of collection of tax revenues.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/19/98

SENATE COMMITTEE - DO PASS AS AMENDED 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/19/98

• SJR 29 (Fisher/Wells) – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. This is a proposed constitutional amendment permitting the legislature to enact laws authorizing the boards of regents for and in behalf of the State System institutions they govern to have an ownership interest in a business enterprise commercializing a technology or other intellectual property when such technology or other intellectual property is the result of research conducted by the institutions or involving the authorized use of facilities, equipment or services of such institutions.

SENATE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - SENATE 02/19/98

• SJR 30 (Hobson/(Laura Boyd) – CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS. This is a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the state to issue a maximum $300 million in revenue bonds for constructing new buildings, remodeling, modernizing and repairing all existing buildings and providing other capital improvements and for the purchase of land, equipment and furnishings necessary for such new construction, remodeling or other capital improvements for public higher education institutions.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/11/98

BILL PASSED - SENATE 03/02/98

(47 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE 03/04/98

APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET

• SCR 40 (Taylor/Benson) – GEORGE NIGH. Praises the career of George Nigh as President of the University of Central Oklahoma.

ADOPTED - SENATE 02/04/98

HOUSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/05/98

• SCR 49 (Morgan/Wells) – A&M COLLEGES/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizes the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges to issue $48 million in revenue bonds for renovating and refurbishing existing athletic facilities and constructing certain new athletic facilities on the OSU campus in Stillwater and to refund certain existing OSU Athletic Department System obligations.

ADOPTED - SENATE 02/25/98

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 03/04/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 03/04/98

• SR 49 (Herbert) – H. B. ATKINSON. Praises the career of H. B. Atkinson, who was a co-founder of Midwest City and Rose State College.

• HB 1017 (Askins/Monson) – WORKPLACE/EMPLOYEE PROTECTION. Creates the "Workplace and Employee Protection Act"; states that the act is intended 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 of 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. (22 §§ 70/70.9)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/25/98

FLOOR AMENDMENT 02/25/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(96 AYE / 1 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

JUDICIARY

• HB 1383 (Mitchell) – NOISE LEVELS. Relates to noise levels; specifies permissible sound levels for stationary sources of sound based on time of day and land use category; sets noise limits for motor vehicles; prohibits certain noise disturbances. (21 §§ 2001/2013)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/18/98

RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE 03/05/98

PUBLIC SAFETY

• HB 1822 (Askins/Rozell) – PURCHASING. Provides that a "sole source contract" means for state agencies that are not subject to the central purchasing provisions "a contract for a particular acquisition which, by the contract specifications needed by an agency, restricts the contract to one bidder or to one brand name"; Section 8 of the bill provides that certain contracts and acquisitions by State System institutions, the State Regents, and University Centers shall not be included within the purview of the Central Purchasing, but exempt from Purchasing Division processing [Note: The relationship between Section 8 of the bill and the exemptions in 74 § 85.3 is uncertain]; requires agencies to submit a copy of adopted internal purchasing rules or procedures to the State Auditor and Inspector at the time they are adopted by the adopting authority; requires each chief administrative officer of an agency to submit within 10 days after a legislative session commences a report listing all contracts equal to or greater than $2,500 but not in excess of $25,000; deletes section defining "sole source contract." The floor substitute adds a section amending the act’s short title, "The Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act." (74 §§ 85.2, 85.12, 85.39, 85.43, 89)

FLOOR SUBSTITUTE 03/04/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/04/98

(85 AYE / 13 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/05/98

• HB 2207 (Kirby) – ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Requires that English be designated as the language of official public documents and records and official public meetings; provides exceptions; prohibits denial of employment with the state or a political subdivision based solely upon a person’s lack of facility in a foreign language except where related to bona fide job needs; provides that the right of Native Americans to express themselves through the use of Native American languages shall not be restricted in any public supported education programs. (25 §§ 300, 301)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/11/98

• HB 2219 (Askins/Harrison) – MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT/TEACHER PREPARATION. Extends the sunset date to 2004 for several entities including the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee; removes the Teacher Preparation Commission, the State Data Processing and Telecommunications Advisory Committee and the Interdisciplinary Council on the Prevention of Juvenile Sex Offenses from the list. (74 § 3905)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/25/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(97 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2228 (Askins/Harrison) – DATA PROCESSING/TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Modifies section relating to the State Data Processing and Telecommunications Advisory Committee; deletes the chair of the State Data Processing and Telecommunications Advisory Committee from officials to whom state agencies must submit proposals for computer equipment acquisitions for review; deletes language requiring the Office of State Finance to seek the advice of the committee in developing, operating and maintaining the Oklahoma Government Telecommunications Network; repeals a section relating to the State Data Processing and Telecommunications Advisory Committee. (62 § 41.5e)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/17/98

(100 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

SUNSET REVIEW

• HB 2229 (Askins/Harrison) – MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT. Recreates the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee, which has oversight for implementation of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center, until July 1, 2004. (70 § 6-130)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/18/98

(94 AYE / 7 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

SUNSET REVIEW

• HB 2230 (Askins/Harrison) – JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS. Repeals sections relating to the Interdisciplinary Council on the Prevention of Juvenile Sex Offenses; included in the membership of the Council are the Dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of Oklahoma State University. (10 § 1507.28)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/18/98

(101 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

SUNSET REVIEW

• HB 2255 (Kirby) – VIETNAM VETERANS DAY. Designates the third Thursday of March each year as "Vietnam Veterans Day"; requests the Governor to urge all state agencies to fly the United States flag at half-staff. (25 § 90.11)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/24/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

VETERANS, MIL. AFF. & PUB. SAF

• HB 2277 (Matlock) – THISTLE ERADICATION/OSU EXTENSION. Adds specific counties to locations where thistles are deemed a nuisance; requires the designated OSU extension agent for a particular county or district, upon request of the conservation district, to inspect the type of thistle infestation, assess the nature and extent of the thistle infestation on the property, and determine the most appropriate thistle eradication method available. (2 § 3-220)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2279 (Stanley) – MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS. Revises definitions relating to licensed professional counselors; modifies exceptions to confidentiality requirements; revises definitions relating to marital and family therapists; deletes language relating to temporary permits; deletes language relating to educational requirements for licensed marital and family therapists. (59 §§ 1925.1, 1925.2)

FLOOR AMENDMENT 03/03/98

MOTION TO TABLE 03/03/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(97 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

BUSINESS & LABOR

• HB 2280 (Voskuhl/Cain) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Prohibits managed care plans from placing certain conditions upon coverage of emergency services; provides that a determination as to whether an emergency medical condition exists shall be made by medical personnel; requires notification of an enrollee’s primary care physician; provides for calculation of reimbursement of services provided to a plan enrollee by a non-contract provider. (63 § 2528)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/26/98

(93 AYE / 2 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

HUMAN RESOURCES

• HB 2287 (Roberts) – RETIREMENT. Enacts the "Defined Benefit Plan Amendments Act of 1998."

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(90 AYE / 8 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2288 (Roberts/Monson) – RETIREMENT. Enacts the "Benefit Enhancement Account for Retirees (BEAR) Act."

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(95 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2290 (Roberts/Monson) – LIFE INSURANCE. Provides that the basic life insurance amount under the life insurance plan of state and education employees group insurance shall be $50,000. (74 § 1307)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(97 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2293 (Leist/Muegge) – POULTRY WASTE APPLICATORS/OSU. Section 10 authorizes the Board of Agriculture to set rules for the Oklahoma Poultry Waste Applicators Licensing Act; requires license applicants to attend educational courses on poultry waste management and odor control; requires appropriate curricula and course content to be developed by or under the supervision of OSU through the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES). (2 § 10-105)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/24/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/24/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

ENERGY, ENV. RES. & REG AFFAIR

• HB 2313 (Eddins/Cain) – HEALTH INSURANCE/DENTAL CARE. Requires health benefit plans that provide hospitalization benefits to provide coverage for anesthesia expenses and for hospital expenses associated with any inpatient or outpatient hospital dental procedure when provided to a covered person who is severely disabled or a minor under age nine who has a medical or emotional condition that requires hospitalization or general anesthesia for dental care treatment; allows such plans to require prior authorization for either inpatient or outpatient hospitalization or for dental care procedures in the same manner that prior authorization is required for hospitalization for other covered diseases or medical conditions. (36 § 6060.6)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/24/98

(83 AYE / 13 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

HUMAN RESOURCES

• HB 2326 (Dunegan/Mickle) – ANNUITY CONTRACTS. Provides that any employee for whom an annuity contract, shares of a regulated investment company or face amount investment annuity certificate has been purchased by an employer may maintain the existing annuity, custodial amount or face amount investment annuity certificate with the original vendor notwithstanding the selection of a different vendor by the employer for similar purchases occurring after the initial purchase of those assets. (70 § 6-101.1)

(96 AYE / 2 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2357 (Clay Pope) – LIVESTOCK ACTIVITIES LIABILITY. Provides that any person participating in recreational livestock activities shall assume the risk and responsibility for any negligent injury caused by hazards inherent in such activities, unless caused by negligence of the person providing the activities, or by failure to warn or guard against dangerous conditions, uses, structures or activities.

HOUSE COMMITTEE - COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/17/98

• HB 2361 (Ross/Horner) – TULSA STATE UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM/ROGERS STATE COLLEGE. Creates the Tulsa State University Consortium to draw upon the educational resources of existing colleges and universities to provide upper division and graduate courses and programs as needed; prohibits the consortium from establishing an independent faculty, providing courses under its own aegis or awarding its own degrees; establishes the Board of Trustees of Tulsa State University Consortium; creates Rogers State College in Claremore, as a four-year institution; dissolves the Board of Regents of Rogers University, transferring assets to the Board of Trustees of Tulsa State University Consortium and to the Board of Regents of Rogers State University; repeals certain statutes relating to Rogers University. (70 §§ 4661/4670)

FLOOR SUBSTITUTE 02/25/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(68 AYE / 28 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2363 (Ross) – JOB TRAINING. Provides for a "Redevelopment Zone Incentive Act;" requires a business entity in order to qualify for certification to make available to employees a job training program; authorizes the entity to offer a job training program in conjunction with a vo-tech school or a State System institution.

HOUSE COMMITTEE - COM SUB DO PASS 02/18/98

TITLE STRICKEN 02/25/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(95 AYE / 4 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2399 (Roach/Ford) – ROGERS UNIVERSITY. This is a shell bill relating to Rogers University. (70 § 4653)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/25/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(76 AYE / 20 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2430 (Askins/Hobson) – CREDIT CARD AGREEMENTS. Section 7 authorizes state agencies to enter into agreements with the state treasurer to participate in credit card processing agreements and to pay the credit card vendor directly for any fees owed on transactions associated with that agency. (62 § 71)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/18/98

(101 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 02/26/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2467 (Seikel/Herbert) –EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION. Modifies qualification of a regularly enrolled student for purposes of designating employees included in unclassified service. (74 § 840-5.5)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(95 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/03/98

• HB 2469 (Seikel) – STATEWIDE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM (STARS). Clarifies language relating to Statewide Temporary Assistance Responsibility System (STARS) and expenditure of federal block grants. (56 § 230.50, 62 § 41.13a)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(96 AYE / 3 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 2 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/04/98

• HB 2479 (Begley) – TEACHER CERTIFICATION/PREPARATION. Requires the State Board of Education to grant a standard teaching certificate to a person who first obtains a teaching license pursuant to certain criteria and satisfactorily completes an alternative preparation program; provides requirements for an alternative preparation plan; requires certain persons to receive mentor training; directs the Board to promulgate rules relating to adjunct teachers; repeals sections relating to exceptional child course requirements and alternative placement teaching certification. (70 § 6-122.4)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/17/98

• HB 2500 (Roberts/Monson) – TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Increases the death benefit for beneficiaries of various retirement systems including the Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS) from $4,900 to $5,000; provides a $5,000 income tax exemption for such benefits. (68 § 2358)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(97 AYE / 1 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2528 (Mitchell) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Creates the "Oklahoma Health Care Authority Act"; Article V concerns the State and Education Employees Health Care Benefits. (63 §§ 5000-5001)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/18/98

• HB 2532 (Mitchell/Dunlap) – PRIVATIZATION OF STATE FUNCTIONS. Enacts the "Oklahoma Privatization of State Functions Act;" requires state agencies to allow their employees to submit proposals for improving agency operations, efficiency or organization of the agency before contracting to privatize a function, program, service, unit or division; requires notification of employees and the director of state finance of intent to privatize; provides for solicitation of bids; prohibits contracting with persons who have been convicted of certain crimes. (74 §§ 595.1/595.7)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/19/98

• HB 2557 (Staggs/Horner) - Minority Teacher Recruitment. Re-creates the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee until July 1, 2004; designates membership; modifies minority teacher recruitment responsibilities of the State Regents. (70 §§ 6-129.1, 6-130)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(82 AYE / 15 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/04/98

• HB 2563 (Bastin) – REAL ESTATE COURSES. Modifies instruction requirement for licensure of real estate licensees; requires a certified transcript from an institution of higher education, accredited by the State Regents or the corresponding accrediting agency of another state, certifying to the successful completion of certain real estate courses as a post-license requirement. (59 § 858-304)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2566 (Laura Boyd/Monson) – LEAVE SHARING. Provides that a state employee donating sick leave may donate any amount of unused sick leave the employee has retained at the time of termination of the employee’s employment with the state. (74 § 840-2.23)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/18/98

(100 AYE / 1 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 0 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

• HB 2568 (Laura Boyd/Monson) - TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT/GARNISHMENT. Provides that for purposes of the various state retirement systems, benefit payments shall not be subject to attachment or garnishment, with the exception of qualified domestic orders; outlines requirements for such orders. (70 § 17-109)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/17/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/17/98

(100 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2600 (Lindley) – TECHNOLOGY TRAINING. Requires state agency employees to complete technology training prior to Dec. 31, 1999; requires the Administrator of the Office of Personnel Management to develop and implement technology training programs for state employees; requires the Administrator to work with the State Board of Vocational and Technical Education to develop and provide the training programs. (74 § 840-3.1A)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/02/98

BILL FAILED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(25 AYE / 71 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

MOTION TO RECONSIDER - HOUSE 03/02/98

CALLED UP FOR CONSIDERATION 03/05/98

FLOOR AMENDMENT 03/05/98

TITLE STRICKEN 03/05/98

• HB 2602 (Roach) – TRAVEL. Requires all agencies to submit biannual travel expenditure reports to the House speaker, Senate president pro tempore and the chairs of the House and Senate appropriations committees; requires the State Travel Division to establish a uniform credit-card system "to expediently and accurately determine, process, account for, review and audit" purchases for food, lodging, transportation, vehicles and other travel costs; requires that the system be used by all state employees for authorized travel expenses and for purchasing tickets for any authorized mode of transportation; makes frequent flyer credits earned by state employees while on official state business the property of the state; authorizes redemption of the credits only for future official travel or as directed by the State Travel Division; specifies requirements for invoices for purchase of commercial airline tickets. (74 § 85.40)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/19/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/19/98

• HB 2607 (Rice/Easley) – HOLIDAYS. Expands the list of days designated as state holidays to include the Monday before Christmas if Christmas is on a Tuesday or the Friday after Christmas if Christmas is on a Thursday; authorizes the governor, if the President declares as a holiday any day other than those listed as state holiday, to issue an executive order declaring such day a state holiday. (25 § 82.1)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(100 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 1 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2638 (Bonny/Mickle) – JOB TRAINING. Creates the Oklahoma Human Resources Investment Council to oversee job training programs; membership of the council includes the Chancellor. (74 § 9001)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/04/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE (86-11) 03/04/98

ENGROSSED - HOUSE 03/04/98

• HB 2651 (Turner/Wilkerson) – TECHNOLOGY. Defines technology as applied knowledge; provides that, when related to expenditure of public funds by educational and governmental entities the term will include, but not be limited to, information technology, telecommunications technology and implemental technology, and specifies examples of each. (70 § 1-107.1)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/09/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/19/98

(81 AYE / 17 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/23/98

• HB 2652 (Turner) – TEACHER PREPARATION. Re-creates the Commission for Teacher Preparation until July 1, 2004. (70 § 6-199)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/18/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/18/98

• HB 2668 (Robert/Monson) - TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Appropriates to OTRS from the Rainy Day Fund the sum of $50 million or so much thereof as may be necessary to reduce the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the Teachers’ Retirement System.

TITLE STRICKEN 02/24/98

FLOOR AMENDMENT 02/24/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/24/98

(82 AYE / 13 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2693 (Cox/Leftwich) – SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS. Requires that sole-source contractors to state agencies meet the same qualifications as agency personnel who would otherwise have performed the contracted services, and provides that no agency expend funds for a sole-source contract for performance of services in excess of 90 days unless the agency can demonstrate to the state purchasing director that the services being performed under the contract are so unique that only the selected vendor is capable of executing the duties and responsibilities otherwise imposed upon the agency. (74 § 89)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(95 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

GOVT OPS & AGENCY OVERSIGHT

• HB 2695 (Roberts/Monson) - TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT/COST OF LIVING. Enacts the "Cost-of-Living Adjustment Feasibility Analysis Act" relating to OTRS.

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/25/98

(92 AYE / 5 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/26/98

• HB 2704 (Sadler) – FEES. Prohibits agencies from establishing or increasing fees, except when the legislature is in session, when specifically mandated by the legislature or the federal government or when failure to do so would conflict with a court order. (74 § 3117)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/17/98

• HB 2739 (Hamilton) – UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Clarifies language relating to the University Hospitals Authority Act. (63 § 3203)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/02/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(68 AYE / 28 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

HUMAN RESOURCES

• HB 2740 (Hamilton/Rozell) – STATE AGENCY REFORM. This is a shell bill enacting the "State Agency Reform and Improvement Act."

TITLE STRICKEN 02/26/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/26/98

(89 AYE / 4 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 8 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2755 (Stites) – TECHNOLOGY/SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Requires the State Board of education to specify components for technology plans reflecting the different technology needs of school districts; requires school districts to formulate technology plans. (70 § 1210.581)

HOUSE COMMITTEE - DO PASS 02/11/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/11/98

• HB 2792 (Fields) – UNEMPLOYMENT. Modifies the definition of "taxable wages" for purposes of the Oklahoma Employment Security Act of 1980; modifies the maximum benefit amount computation to provide for increases in the applicable percentage determined by the conditional factor; modifies conditions constituting good cause for voluntarily leaving work to include when a physician found that it was medically necessary for a claimant to stop working or change occupations due to diagnosis or treatment of medically verifiable illness or medical condition of the claimant or the minor child of the claimant and when the spouse of the claimant was transferred or obtained employment in another city or state and the family is required to move to that location and the job is more than 50 miles from the prior work location of the claimant; adds language defining what shall constitute misconduct for purposes of benefit disqualification; exempts from an employer’s benefit wage calculations any wages paid to an employee or former employee who was discharged from employment for unsatisfactory performance within 90 days of the original hiring date; provides for a 50-percent reduction in employers’ contribution rates; requires that employers with a 5.5-percent-earned rate be reduced to 5.4 percent and those whose earned rate is 0.1 percent be reduced to 0 percent; makes such rate reductions ineffective if the amount of money in the unemployment trust fund falls below the level of the high cost multiple of 1.25; provides that monies credited to the account of this state in the unemployment trust fund by the secretary of the US Treasury shall be used solely for administration of the unemployment compensation program in this state. (40 § 1-223)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/17/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/17/98

• HB 2802 (Ostrander/Rabon) – REPORTS. Deletes the requirement that certain reports be filed with the governor, the Senate president pro tempore and the House speaker; modifies requirements for annual reports and recommendations to be submitted by certain public entities; Section 16 requires that when a governing body of a public agency declares an emergency and does not comply with the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act the reasons for not complying must be entered into the minutes, a copy of which must be submitted to the State Construction Administrator of the Department of Central Services who shall compile an annual report detailing all emergencies declared and submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature; Section 23 deletes the requirement that each teacher education institution provide the Office of Accountability an annual report regarding participation in the Alternative Placement Program; Section 25 changes the State Regents’ biennial report to an annual report; Section 26 deletes the requirement that the OU Board of Regents file a property inventory report; Section 27 deletes the requirement that the Board of Regents for the A&M Colleges file a property inventory report with the Governor and the Secretary of State; Section 29 requires agencies, whether or not said agencies are subject to the Central Purchasing Act, to submit a list of certain contracts to the Department of Central Services within 10 days after the commencement of the legislative session; requires Central Services to compile a report and submit it to the Legislature; Section 31 deletes the requirement for a certain report concerning the use of recycled products; Section 32 deletes the requirement for a report outlining certain usage of postal services by state agencies; Section 37 requires every state agency including all higher education institutions to submit annually a list of its state publications to the Publications Clearinghouse.

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/04/98

• HB 2808 (Adkins/Easaley) – HEALTH INSURANCE/CO-PAYMENTS. Prohibits individual and group health insurance and health benefit plans from prohibiting or sanctioning a physician for waiving all or a portion of a co-payment that represents payment or reimbursement to the physician for services provided to a patient, when the waiver is made for charitable purposes; prohibits physicians from using the waiver of co-payments for advertising or marketing purposes. (36 § 4505.1)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/23/98

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 02/23/98

(96 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 02/24/98

• HB 2822 (Benson/Helton) – HOLIDAYS. Designates the third Monday in November of each year as "Oklahoma Native American Day"; requests that teachers and students observe the day with appropriate activities. (25 § 90.11)

BILL PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(95 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/03/98

• HB 2823 (Leist) – AGRICULTURE COOPS. Creates a 15-member Task Force on Agriculture Cooperatives to study agricultural cooperatives development management; includes in the membership two members who are representatives of a comprehensive university in this state. (2 § 3030)

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/02/98

(95 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 6 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SENATE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING 03/03/98

• HB 2824 (Roach) – STATE PROGRAM REVIEW. Creates the Office of Government Accountability and Performance Review as an agency in the legislative department; provides that the office’s director shall be appointed by the Joint Committee on Budget and Program Oversight; subjects each state agency to a program evaluation and justification review by the office as authorized by the joint committee. (62 § 41.47)

HOUSE COMMITTEE – COM SUB DO PASS 02/16/98

GENERAL ORDER - HOUSE 02/17/98

• HB 2837 (Seikel/Cain) – CHILD CARE FACILITY. Provides that an owner or operator of a child care facility may inquire as to whether a person actively being considered for employment in a child care facility, as a CASA volunteer, or as a contractor with the Human Services Department or Office of Juvenile Affairs is listed on the registry of perpetrators of child sexual abuse. (10 § 7111.1)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(96 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 5 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

• HB 2855 (Steidley/Monson) – REDUCTION IN FORCE. Relates to purchase of retirement credit in state retirement systems; provides that the appointing authority of an agency which has an approved reduction-in-force plan may request the administrator of the Office of Personnel Management to appoint an interagency advisory task force to assist in implementing the reduction-in-force; provides that employees separated from state service as a result of a reduction-in-force shall be eligible for health insurance and other insurance products offered to state employees through the State Employees Benefits Council for an additional 18 months in addition to the period provided by federal law, provided the employee did not allow coverage to lapse; requires that part-time employees shall have been compensated for at least 1,000 hours during the previous 12 months to be eligible for severance benefits; modifies calculation of "voluntary out" benefits; permits members of OTRS with 10 or more years of service whose positions are terminated and who are within three years of normal retirement to purchase retirement credit. (74 § 840-2.27C)

TITLE STRICKEN 03/03/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 03/03/98

(98 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 3 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2863 (Bonny/Robinson) – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. Enacts the "Oklahoma Technology Transfer Act of 1998"; empowers the State Regents to establish a uniform policy for technology transfer; authorizes the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) to develop a technology business financing program to assist qualified Oklahoma companies to commercialize new products and processes; increases exemption of royalty payments for technology transfer, from 10 percent to not to exceed 20 percent of the amount of gross proceeds received by a transferor company as a result of the technology transfer; extends exemption from 10 to 15 years; increases the cap on required capitalization from $250,000 to $500,000. (70 § 3206)

TITLE STRICKEN 02/23/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/23/98

(95 AYE / 2 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 4 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

ENGROSSED - HOUSE 02/23/98

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/02/98

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• HB 2897 (Staggs/Williams) – SCHOOL TESTING/EDUCATIONAL INDICATORS. Requires the State Board of Education to develop criterion-referenced tests, with norm-referenced components in reading and mathematics, to be administered to students in grades five, eight and 11; requires field testing of tests for the third grade; requires tests to gauge mastery of mathematics, science, reading and writing of English, social studies, culture and arts; requires that the test administered in the 11^th grade shall indicate competencies for the 12^th grade level; requires that a portion of the State Testing Program consists of a criterion-referenced test in Oklahoma history; provides that students who do not perform satisfactorily on such tests shall be provided opportunities for remediation and shall retake the tests; requires that test results be included in the summary report of the Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program; designates performance levels as the Oklahoma Performance Index; requires the board to implement a program of recognition and incentive for school sites which achieve significant academic gain or performance on such tests; repeals section relating to the School Testing Program. (70 §§ 1210.507A, 1210.541, 1210.508)

FLOOR AMENDMENT 02/26/98

TITLE STRICKEN 02/26/98

BILL AND EMERGENCY PASSED - HOUSE 02/26/98

(94 AYE / 0 NAY / 0 ABSENT / 7 EXCUSED / 0 NOT VOTING)

SECOND READING - REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE 03/05/98

APPROPRIATIONS

• HB 2904 (Laura Boyd) –TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. Proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing State System institutions to have an ownership interest in a technology or other intellectual property or in a business enterprise commercializing a t