May 8, 2010 – Legislative Bill Tracking

• January 01, 1970
  
  

  As we approach the 14^th week of the legislative session, there are only three weeks left for House and Senate leadership and Governor Henry to finalize the FY 2011 budget and for both bodies to complete conference committee work.

  Remaining Legislative Deadline

  May 12, 2010 – House Conference Committee Report deadline for initial CCR to be filed

  May 28, 2010 – House and Senate – Sine Die Adjournment, no later then 5:00 p.m.

  Budget Negotiations Still Pending

  With just 3 weeks remaining in the legislative session, legislative leadership and Governor Henry are still trying to finalize a budget that has reportedly a $1.2 billion hole and only $700 million from remaining federal stimulus funds and Rainy Day funds available to fill that shortfall.  That still leaves a budget hole in the neighborhood $500 million.  And while negotiations continue between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Brad Henry, few details about those negotiations have emerged. However, one thing remains likely – most state agencies will see additional cuts to their budgets in addition to the already 7.5-percent average of across the board cuts that most agencies made for the remainder of FY 2010.  Amid budget speculations this week was a wide array of political heavy-hitters and citizen groups that visited the Capitol to advocate their funding priorities.  Additionally, much focus was given this week to the elimination of numerous state tax credits. Advocates for social services for the elderly and developmentally disabled also made their presence known this week as several hundred visitors gathered to persuade the legislature to avoid further cuts to state agencies to prevent a loss of vital services to the state’s more vulnerable populations.

  Economic Development & Financial Services

  Tax credits Reviewed by House Rules Committee

  Oklahoma House Democrats called on Republican legislative leaders this week to consider rolling back some state tax credits to raise revenue for a $1.2 billion shortfall. House Democratic Leader-elect Scott Inman of Del City said the state hands out $5.6 billion in tax credits each year and that lawmakers could recover up to $500 million for public services by imposing a 10-percent cut or moratorium on selected tax credits.

  The House’s top Republican, House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa, agreed that there are some ineffective tax credits that can be eliminated and said lawmakers are working with Democratic Gov. Brad Henry to balance the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Further Speaker Benge said the state needs to examine the wide array of tax credits the state issues out to attract business and create jobs. He said there are talks of a moratorium on some rather than elimination.

  On Monday, a state Senate budget panel approved the elimination of two investment tax credits that reportedly would restore about $31 million in state revenue. One involves investments in rural business ventures that would save the state about $24.3 million. The other involves investments by qualified small-business capital companies that would save about $7.1 million. Henry targeted each of the programs for repeal in his executive budget proposal.

  Access to Life Insurance Policy Info: SB 2073 by Sen. Stanislawski and Rep. Randy McDaniel -Provides that any insurance producer authorized to sell life insurance and has had their appointment terminated for certain reasons shall be authorized to have access to the information relating to the policy purchased. The Governor into law signed this bill.

  Wholesale and Retail Outlets Trusts: SB 1631 by Sen. Mazzei and Rep. Jordan – wholesale and retails outlets could be included in any city trust purpose according to the act.  This bill was signed by the Governor into law.

  Transportation

  Oklahoma’s transportation secretary warned this week of devastating consequences if massive state budget cuts are imposed on road and bridge maintenance and construction programs. The Department of Transportation would lose $492 million over eight years if lawmakers impose a 20-percent cut, severely curtailing the state’s effort to upgrade and rebuild obsolete and deficient roads and bridges, said Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley.

  The Transportation Department could be looking at budget cuts of between 12 percent and 17 percent if the budgets of all state agencies are cut evenly.  Ridley released a copy of a letter he wrote at Sen Randy Brogdon’s request last week that outlined the impact cuts of between 10 percent and 20 percent would have on his agency.

  The Transportation Department would lose $35 million a year if a 10-percent budget cut is imposed and $55 million a year if the cut is 20 percent, Ridley said. The new funding level would create a baseline for each year of the state’s eight-year construction work plan, meaning that the budget cut would equal $440 million over eight years if budget cuts totaled 20 percent. Another $52 million would be lost due to the cancellation of a previously approved bond sale planned in August, for a total loss of $492 million, Ridley said.

  Innovative Funding for Oklahoma Roads Task Force: SB 1941 by Sen Marlatt and Rep. Nelson -Creates the Innovative Funding for Oklahoma Roads Task Force to study and evaluate innovations, technologies, and new methods being employed to more adequately and equitably fund road and bridge infrastructure. This bill was signed by the Governor into law.

  County/City Coop Agreements: SB 1998 by Sen. Newberry and Rep. Jordan - The bill includes language that allows the Dept. of Trans. or a county board of commissioners, with agreement from the government of a municipality of less than 5,000 people, can maintain and build streets in the county. Further, The board of county commissioners may construct, improve, repair, or maintain any of the streets of a municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) persons if the county has a population in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000). This was signed out of Conference Committee and passed unanimously by the entire Senate and now heads to the full House for consideration.

  
  

  Healthcare

  The Oklahoma Academy of Family Physician held a press conference at the State Capitol this week urging the Legislature to approve a measure that would provide loan repayment help to physicians who commit to practice primary care in a medically underserved community. 

  The group compared Oklahoma’s offerings to Texas, saying a physician who opens a primary care practice in Gainesville, Texas, could have student loans repaid in four years. Just about 45 miles north, in Madill, it could take up to 20 years to repay the loans, he said.  The group also said Oklahoma has underfunded a loan repayment program, providing a maximum $40,000 stipend when available. Texas has increased repayments to $160,000 over four years.

  More than half of Oklahoma’s 77 counties need a physician, and 59 of them don’t meet the national standard of one physician for every 3,500 residents.  The American Medical Association ranks Oklahoma last in the country in its physician-to-patient ratio.

  Federal Healthcare Opt-Out SJR 59 by Sen. Newberry and Rep. Thompson – Constitutional Amendment rendering unconstitutional any law or rule that compels any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system. This bill was signed out of Conference Committee and then passed out of the Senate.  It will now head to a full vote in the House.

  Workers’ Compensation

  Several Workers’ comp reform shell bills were kept alive this week, however it is expected final reforms will be rolled into one omnibus bill, SB 1973.

  SB 1973 by Senate Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee and state Rep. Dan Sullivan in its current form would make a number of changes to the state’s workers’ comp system, including:

  • Decreasing the number of workers’ comp court judges from 10 to eight.
  • Increasing the terms of judges from six years to eight years and limiting those judges to one term.
  • Qualifying current judges for reappointment to one eight-year term.
  • Defining “major cause.”
  • Exempting employers from liability for injuries arising outside the course of employment.

  Municipal Government

  Local Govt Infrastructure Cost Recovery HB 1786 by Rep. Shannon and Sen. Barrington – Creates the Local Government Infrastructure Cost Recovery Payment Act; creates the Local Government Infrastructure Cost Recovery Revolving Fund. The Conference Committee Report was signed out and the measure now heads to the full House for consideration.

  Municipal/County Development Fee: SB 805 by Sen. Aldridge and Rep. Hickman – Allows municipalities and counties to implement a development fee to fund and recover the costs of capital improvements necessary to expand the service capacity of a public infrastructure system. Gives guidelines and procedure. The House refused Senate amendments.  The bill will now head to Conference Committee.

  Education

  Lawmakers were encouraged this week to pass education reforms that include incentive pay for teachers and principal, which are included in Senate Bill 2033.  Advocates said these reforms are needed as Oklahoma competes for the second round of Race to the Top education grants. The federal grant competition makes $3.5 billion available overall. Oklahoma could be awarded up to $175 million. Several education reform measures, including Senate Bill 2033, have been assigned to conference committee. The incentive pay provisions found in SB2033 would allow districts the option of developing an incentive-pay system for the most effective teachers, for teachers in hard-to-staff subjects and areas, and increase the cap on incentive pay from 20 percent to 50 percent of base salary.  The bill also provide for the dismissal of teachers who are ranked ineffective for two years in a row.

  General Government

  Construction Retainage Fees: SB 573 by Sen. Coates and Rep. Sullivan – Lowers construction contract retainage fees from ten percent to five percent.  This bill was signed by the Governor into law.

  Immigration

  Proposed legislation modeled after Arizona’s new immigration law will not be heard this session, legislative leaders said this week.  But Rep. Randy Terrill, architect of Oklahoma’s immigration law (HB 1804), said he will continue to press on with at least three measures that would beef up the state’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. House Speaker Chris Benge said a resolution to a lawsuit filed against the Arizona law likely wouldn’t be resolved before legislators are scheduled to adjourn. Also, some legal challenges remain concerning Oklahoma’s immigration law, he said. A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry said earlier that the governor sees no need to add to Oklahoma’s existing immigration law.

  The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in that state illegally and requires law officers to check documents of people they reasonably suspect to be illegal immigrants.

  Terrill, R-Moore, is among five Republican legislators who are considering filing immigration legislation. Ideas being considered are confiscating vehicles driven by illegal immigrants and making it a felony for an illegal immigrant to possess a firearm. Another proposal is to prosecute under the state’s racketeering laws large-scale immigration violations, such as mass human trafficking or large amounts of illegally earned proceeds being funneled out of the state, he said.   A proposal to prevent children from becoming citizens at birth if both their parents are illegal immigrants may be “taking an awfully big bite at the apple, perhaps too big of a bite for us to be able to handle in the short period of time that we have left in session,” Terrill said.

  Agriculture

  Pet Breeders: SB 1712 by Sen. Anderson and Rep. Jackson - Creates law entitled the “Commercial Pet Breeders Act.” Creates Board to establish minimum regulations for maintenance of facilities, inspection of sites, and govern licensing. Requires commercial breeders to hold license.  This bill was signed by the Governor into law.

  Livestock Standards Board HB 2345 by Rep. Richardson and Sen. Justice – Creates the Oklahoma Livestock Care Standards Board for the purposes of establishing standards governing the care and wellbeing of livestock and poultry in this state.  In Conference Committee.

  As always, please carefully review all legislation listed below, and call me at (405) 206-8829 if you have any questions or concerns about bills being tracked.

  Thank you and have a great weekend.

  Jami

  SPIRITBANK AERO BILL TRACK

  05-07-2010 – 17:33:35

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  HB 1704 (1)

  Derby Coffee

  Creates the Oklahoma Information Services Act; creates a Chief Information Officer who shall serve as Secretary of Information Technology,

  Bill History:

  05-04-10 S Senate rejected the conference report 05-04-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 05-04-10 S Conferees removed 05-04-10 S Bill removed from Senate GCCA. 05-05-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Benge, Murphey, Jackson, Moore, Miller, Derby, Scott, Pittman, Nations

  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:

  04-20-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 44/N: 2) 04-29-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 04-29-10 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments 05-03-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 05-04-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Shannon, Joyner, Morgan, Banz, Jackson, McAffrey

  HB 3024

  Hickman Mazzei

  Eliminates the tax credit for the purchase of electric and clean-burning motor vehicles; EMERGENCY.

  Bill History:

  04-20-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 44/N: 1) 04-29-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 04-29-10 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments 05-03-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 05-03-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Hickman, Ownbey, Enns, Brannon.

  HB 3236 (1)

  Jackson Newberry

  Allows business districts to annex adjacent property by a vote of those to be annexed. Allows business districts to be assessed to fund capital improvements of the district.

  Bill History:

  04-29-10 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments 05-03-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: Newberry, Bass, Aldridge, M. Johnson, Bingman, Ballenger. 05-04-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Jackson, Liebmann, Terrill, Marting (Sc), McDaniel (R), Blackwell, Schwartz, Thompson, McPeak, Shumate, Carey, Morgan, Auffet 05-06-10 H Conference committee report submitted 05-06-10 H Title restored

  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:

  04-29-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 04-29-10 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments 05-03-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 05-03-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: Lamb, M. Johnson, Mazzei, Myers, Coffee, Burrage. 05-04-10 H House appointed a conference committee: McNiel, Hickman, Jordan, Shumate, Peters, Carey

  HB 3397 (1)

  McNiel Lamb

  Amends expenditure requirements of qualified investments before a tax credit can be authorized.

  Bill History:

  04-21-10 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 44/N: 0) 04-27-10 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments 04-28-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 04-28-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 05-05-10 H House appointed a conference committee: McNiel, Hickman, Luttrell, Jordan, Peters

  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 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 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 05-03-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Morrissette, Kiesel, Inman, Morgan, Sullivan, Duncan, Trebilcock, Johnson, Jordan.

  SB 1589 (1)

  Johnson, Mike Miller

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

  Bill History:

  04-06-10 H Wright (John) debates in opposition to the bill; Miller debates in favor. 04-06-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 58/N: 39) 04-12-10 S Senate refused to concur in House amendments 04-13-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 04-15-10 H House appointed a conference committee: GCCA

  SB 1590

  Johnson, Mike Miller

  Places moratorium on Small Business Capital and Rural Small Business Capital Investment Tax Credits; sets further guidelines.

  Bill History:

  05-03-10 H Meeting set for 10:30 a.m., Room 419C, State Capitol, Senate GCCA 05-03-10 H House GCCA met without notice. 05-03-10 H Conference committee meeting set for: 12:00 p.m., 5/3/10, Room 432A. 05-03-10 H Conferees unable to agree 05-03-10 H Failed to get enough signatures on CCR to approve the Bill in House GCCA.

  SB 1960 (1)

  Coates Shannon

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

  Bill History:

  04-21-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 92/N: 7) 04-22-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 05-03-10 S Senate refused to concur in House amendments 05-04-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: Coates, Branan, Marlatt, Myers, Bass, Ivester. 05-06-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Shannon, Joyner, Morgan, Banz, Jackson, McAffrey

  SB 1970 (1)

  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:

  04-15-10 H Set on the House Floor Agenda 04-19-10 H Laid out for consideration in the House 04-19-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 90/N: 5) 05-06-10 S Senate refused to concur in House amendments 05-06-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: Mazzei, Lamb, Coates, Leftwich.

  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:

  04-19-10 H Laid out for consideration in the House 04-19-10 H Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 91/N: 6) 04-20-10 S Senate refused to concur in House amendments 04-20-10 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA 05-06-10 H House appointed a conference committee: Hickman, Brannon, Jackson, DeWitt, Miller, Walker

  All Track Total Bills: 13 0

  - End of Report -