March 22, 2010 – Legislative Bill Tracking

• January 01, 1970
  
  

  Posted on Mar. 22, 2010

  This week at the Oklahoma Legislature the pace was much subdued as a result of Oklahoma’s public schools observing spring break.  As such, there was minimal floor work and committee meetings were sparse.  

  However, starting Monday, things will be in full swing once again with the onset of committee meetings to hear bills from the opposite chamber.

  April Legislative Deadlines

  • April 1, 2010 – Senate – House Bills in Senate Committees Deadline
  • April 8, 2010 – House – Senate Bills in House Committee Deadline
  • April 22, 2010 – House and Senate – Final Legislative Day for Third Reading and Final Passage of a Measure in Opposite House of Origin

  Deadlines End Several Proposals; Others Continue

  As previously shared from last week’s bill track and week-in-review, several legislative proposals have fallen by the wayside this session including a plan to privatize Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation insurance agency and allow the sale of strong beer and wine in grocery stores.  Among the bills still alive are proposals to expand charter schools, implement a performance-pay pilot program for teachers, increase math requirements for high school students and exempt groceries from sales tax once the state economy rebounds.

  Workers’ Compensation

  Perhaps the most significant movement this week was the passage of several major workers’ compensation reform bills out of Senate Judiciary, which met last Tuesday. These reforms to the state’s system of paying injured workers are now headed to the Senate floor, while negotiations on the final version of a bill to revamp the workers’ compensation system continue. Reform bills include HB 2659 by Rep. Dan Sullivan and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, which is one of two measures that would institute major reforms to the state’s workers’ comp system.  Please note the titles are off both of these bills and they are still a work in progress.

  Another reform House Bill 2650 by Rep Dan Sullivan and Sen. Anthony Sykes would prohibit an injured worker from having an active workers’ compensation claim and a civil lawsuit at the same time unless the worker could demonstrate an employer was aware of dangerous conditions and did nothing to fix it. Please note the titles are off both of these bills and they are still a work in progress. Senate Democrat Leader Charlie Laster voted against most of the workers’ compensation reform bills in Senate Judiciary this week, saying he thinks the rights of workers were being neglected in the debate.  Sen. Harry Coates said changes to the state workers’ compensation system are the product of conversations with workers’ compensation attorneys, business owners and treatment providers over the course of 12 to 15 meetings.

  Budget Work Continues

  With a fix for the current year’s FY 2010 budget already signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry, legislative leaders said they were in the preliminary stages of crafting a budget framework for the next fiscal year that begins July 1. For that budget, lawmakers will have about $1.2 billion less to spend than they did last year.  Early conversations indicate without any new sources of revenue, additional budget cuts between 10 to 12 percent may be expected across state agencies.

  Congressional Actions Impacting Oklahoma – Jobs, Transportation and Health Care

  While there was a bit of a respite in activity at the State Legislature, it should be noted that Congress passed HR 2847, the latest jobs bill, known as the HIRE act, that included a boost of $20 billion to the Federal Highway Trust Fund and an extension of federal highway law through the end of the year.  The result will be an additional $15 million for Oklahoma roads and bridges each month. The bill is meant to encourage private sector hiring, in part, through a series of tax incentives.  Businesses are granted an exemption from the Social Security payroll taxes they owe for every worker hired in 2010 that has been unemployed for at least 60 days. Additionally, any business that hires and keeps a new worker on their payroll for 52 weeks under this program will be eligible for a tax credit of $1,000 or 6.2% of the wages paid to the worker during the 52 consecutive weeks of employment, whichever is the lesser of the two.

  Last, Congress is expected to vote this weekend on the 2000+ page health care restructuring bill.  Democrats party leaders and White House officials were working on an executive order that they hope will win over a substantial number of antiabortion Democrats.  The House Rules Committee is setting the terms of Sunday’s floor debate, and House leaders have decided to take a separate vote on the Senate version of the health care bill, rejecting an earlier, much-criticized strategy that would have permitted them to “deem” the measure passed without an explicit vote.  Instead, the House will take three votes on Sunday: first, on a resolution that will set the terms of debate; second, on a package of amendments to the Senate bill that have been demanded by House members; and third, on the Senate bill itself.  More than 200 House members have announced that they will vote Sunday against the Senate’s health-care bill. That leaves Democrats little margin for error as they attempt to gather the 216 votes needed for passage among the few dozen lawmakers who remain publicly undeclared.  If the Senate bill passes the House, this will send the bill to the President for his signature.

  SPIRITBANK AERO BILL TRACK

  03-20-2010 – 17:24:08

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  HB 2846

  Joyner Branan

  No transportation authority shall have the power or authority to exercise eminent domain. Any combination of cities, towns, counties or their agencies may create a transportation authority for construction and operation ofprojects.

  Bill History:

  03-08-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 92/N: 2) 03-09-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 03-09-10 S Received in the Senate 03-09-10 S First Reading 03-15-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Finance

  HB 2919 (1)

  Shannon Myers

  Creates the Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act. The construction of a structure used for a noise sensitive purpose within a noise sensitive area constitutes an incompatible use of land near a public use airport.

  Bill History:

  03-08-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 94/N: 3) 03-09-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 03-09-10 S Received in the Senate 03-09-10 S First Reading 03-15-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Appropriations

  HB 3024

  Benge Mazzei

  Amends the tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles to not exceed 50 percent of the total cost, and reduces the amount for those claimed on a federal tax income to an equal level; EMERGENCY.

  Bill History:

  03-10-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 03-10-10 S Received in the Senate 03-10-10 S First Reading 03-15-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Finance 03-23-10 S Meeting set for 10:30 a.m., Room 511A, State Capitol, Senate Finance

  HB 3286 (1)

  McNiel Lamb

  Allows the Authority to issue its obligations in order to provide net proceeds on a pooled basis not to exceed one hundred million dollars for the Infrastructure Pool and for the Economic Development pool; EMERGENCY.

  Bill History:

  03-09-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 03-09-10 S Received in the Senate 03-09-10 S First Reading 03-15-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Finance 03-23-10 S Meeting set for 10:30 a.m., Room 511A, State Capitol, Senate Finance

  HB 3287 (1)

  McNiel Newberry

  “Aerospace Sector” definition removed. “Qualified employer” and “qualified employee” definitions expanded to include any kind of engineer. Credits against income tax extended to engineers that are not of the aerospace industry.

  Bill History:

  03-10-10 H Held to reconsider by Reynolds. 03-11-10 H Reconsideration motion expired 03-15-10 S Received in the Senate 03-15-10 S First Reading 03-17-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Appropriations

  HB 3288 (1)

  McNiel Newberry

  Changes the expenditure process of the Oklahoma Opportunity Fund. Req’s the Exec Director of the OK Dept of Commerce to write a recommendation to the Governor for expenditures, notifying the leaders of the House and Senate; EMERGENCY.

  Bill History:

  03-10-10 H Reynolds debates in opposition; McNiel debats in favor. 03-10-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 79/N: 18) 03-11-10 S Received in the Senate 03-11-10 S First Reading 03-17-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Finance

  HB 3397 (1)

  McNiel Lamb

  OK small business ventures that fail to expend 100 percent of the proceeds of quality investments for acquistion of assets will be used in the active conduct of the trade.

  Bill History:

  03-11-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 55/N: 26) 03-11-10 H Emergency Failed. 03-15-10 S Received in the Senate 03-15-10 S First Reading 03-17-10 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate Finance

  SB 288

  Wyrick Glenn

  Adds asphalt purchases by county purchasing agents that obtain 3 or more quotes by telephone and select the lowest quote to list of exemptions from state bidding procedures; EMERGENCY

  Bill History:

  03-24-09 H Voted from committee – Do Pass as substituted House General Government 03-25-09 H Reported from committee – As Substituted House General Government 04-24-09 H Dormant pursuant to the rules 09-14-09 H Carried Over 02-23-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  SB 390

  Brogdon Rousselot

  Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a drug screening program for applicants who are receiving assistance from the TANF program; requires those in need of substance abuse services to participate;

  Bill History:

  06-01-09 S Dormant pursuant to the rules 09-14-09 S Carried Over 02-08-10 S Set on the Senate Floor Agenda 02-09-10 S Set on the Senate Floor Agenda 02-10-10 S Set on the Senate Floor Agenda

  SB 455

  Sykes Wright, John

  Relating to the Taxpayer Transparency Act; requires list of agency or lobbyist request bills to be posted online.

  Bill History:

  04-09-09 H Voted from committee – Do Pass as amended House Appropriations and Budget 04-10-09 H Reported from committee – As Amended House Appropriations and Budget 04-24-09 H Dormant pursuant to the rules 09-14-09 H Carried Over 02-23-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  SB 1105

  Anderson Morrissette

  Defines certificate of title as one created by a governmental agency of any state; sets guidelines for coverage of certificates of title.

  Bill History:

  04-30-09 S Conference Requested 04-30-09 S Senate appointed a conference committee – Anderson, Mazzei, Lamb, Ivester, Coffee 06-01-09 S Dormant pursuant to the rules 09-14-09 S Carried Over 02-16-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  SB 1589

  Johnson, Mike Miller

  Clarifies definitions according to Sections 2357.301 through 2357.304 of Title 68.

  Bill History:

  03-09-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 41/N: 0) 03-10-10 H Received in the House 03-10-10 H First Reading 03-16-10 H Direct to calendar 03-22-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  SB 1590

  Johnson, Mike Miller

  Changes title section numbers of the Rural Venture Capital Formation Incentive Act.

  Bill History:

  03-09-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 41/N: 0) 03-10-10 H Received in the House 03-10-10 H First Reading 03-16-10 H Direct to calendar 03-22-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  SB 1960 (1)

  Coates Shannon

  Creates the ‘Airport Protection Act’. Regulates the use of land and construction around public airports.

  Bill History:

  03-04-10 S Floor substitute adopted 03-04-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 40/N: 0) 03-08-10 H Received in the House 03-08-10 H First Reading 03-16-10 H Referred to House Committee on House Transportation

  SB 1970

  Mazzei McNiel

  Creates the Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program. Allows certain employees to receive unemployment benefits if the employer participates in the program; EMERGENCY.

  Bill History:

  03-09-10 S 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted 03-09-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 47/N: 0) 03-10-10 H Received in the House 03-10-10 H First Reading 03-16-10 H Referred to House Committee on House Economic Development and Financial Srv

  SB 2124

  Mazzei Hickman

  Adds to definition of “basic industry,” including support activities for rail and water transportation. Modifies date to July 1, 2009, within the definition of “qualified federal contract.”

  Bill History:

  03-08-10 S Laid out for consideration in the Senate 03-08-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 44/N: 1) 03-09-10 H Received in the House 03-09-10 H First Reading 03-16-10 H Referred to House Committee on House Appropriations and Budget

  SJR 35

  Sparks Collins

  Offers support of the State of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Transportation, and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for participation in Amtrak feasibility study.

  Bill History:

  04-01-09 H Meeting set for 3:00 p.m., Room 412C, State Capitol, House Rules 04-01-09 H Voted from committee – Do Pass House Rules 04-02-09 H Reported from committee – Do Pass House Rules 04-28-09 H Dormant pursuant to the rules 02-23-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda

  All Track Total Bills: 17 0