May 15, 2011
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January 01, 1970
Both the House and the Senate worked during a rare Friday session as both chambers are working toward a May 20th finish, a week earlier than scheduled.
This week, the House and Senate Leadership and Governor Mary Fallin announced a $6.5 billion budget agreement. It leverages about $217 million in spending cuts with a $70 million transportation bond issue and $120 million in funds taken from the state’s cash reserve fund to backfill a $500 million shortfall. Under the proposed FY 2012 budget, cuts to state agencies vary, generally ranging from 1 to 9 percent
As part of the budget agreement, both the speaker and the pro tem have committed to passing key government modernization bills, including legislation to consolidate several state agencies under the Office of State Finance and legislation to consolidate the state’s Internet Technology services. Both items include projected savings and were included as part of Fallin’s legislative agenda.
Public schools are targeted for a 4.1 percent cut, and higher education and CareerTech are to be cut 5.8 percent each. Plans are to pass legislation this week to provide a one-time allocation of $21 million to public schools, higher education and CareerTech to help make up for the cuts. The supplemental allocation must be spent on the current year ad valorem and does not count toward next year’s budget.
Other agencies
• The area of health and human services received a 1.2 percent cut.
• Department of Human Services was cut 1.1 percent.
• Health Department was cut 4.2 percent.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department was cut 0.3 percent.
• The Public Safety Department, which includes the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, got a 4 percent cut.
• The Corrections Department received a cut of 0.5 percent. The reduction should prevent further furloughs for prison employees, according to the governor’s office.
• The state Transportation Department received a cut of 7 percent; $100 million will be taken from its revolving fund and transferred to the state’s general revenue fund where it can be used for the state budget. HB 2171 to allow the Transportation Department to seek a $70 million bond issue so projects in its eight-year building plan can remain on schedule.
• The Human Rights Commission is consolidated into the Attorney General’s Office
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Governor Press Release: Governor Fallin, Legislative Leaders Announce Budget Deal
• Oklahoman: $6.5 billion Oklahoma budget deal calls for deeper cuts to education
• Tulsa World:
• Journal Record: State budget details released
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma’s state budget deal features missed opportunities, analysts say
• Tulsa World: Few winners in state budget accord
General Appropriations Bill Passed
HB 2170 is the General Appropriations bill that passed the House and will be considered by the Senate early next week. On Friday, the Oklahoma House gave approval to HB 2170, for the upcoming fiscal year that includes cuts to state agencies ranging from less than 1 percent to 9 percent. Legislators face a $500 million shortfall in the 2012 fiscal year beginning July 1. Several other bills will be passed next week as part of the FY 2012 budget agreement. The $6.5 billion package is 3.2 percent less than FY 2011 budget of $6.7 billion.
Legislators were authorized to only appropriate $6.3 billion this session, but the agreement includes using about $200 million from various other sources. They include about $125 million in cash reserves, nearly $100 million in remaining federal stimulus funds and $20 million from various revolving fund accounts to increase the total to $6.5 billion.
The House, after discussing HB 2170 for about three hours, passed the measure by a vote of 61-36. Republicans, who outnumber Democrats, 70-31, voted for it, while Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted against it.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma House approves $6.5 billion budget
• Tulsa World: Vote on supplemental appropriations for education could be close
• AP: House approves $6.5B state budget deal
State Revenues Continue to Increase
Year-to-date
The OSF report showed total, year-to-date GRF collections are:
• $4.117 billion, which is $127.8 million or 3.2 percent above the estimate for the fiscal year; and
• $373.1 million or 10 percent above prior year collections for this same period of time.
April 2011
The revenue report shows total General Revenue Fund collections for April were $576.8 million. That amount was:
- $64.5 million and 12.6 percent more than was collected the same month a year ago; and
- $14.9 million or 2.5 percent below the estimate for the month.
A resurgence in the Oklahoma oil patch is aiding Oklahoma’s economic recovery and state revenue collections, Preston Doerflinger, director of the Office of State Finance, said this week as he released the OSF’s General Revenue Fund report for April.
Low natural gas prices continued to be a drag on both gross production and total GRF collections, but sales taxes and income taxes were up again, along with collections from oil.
For more information, please see the following stories:
- Office of State Finance Press Release: April Revenue Collections Boosted by Increased Sales, Income and Oil Taxes
- Oklahoman: Oil patch boosts state’s economic growth, report shows
- Tulsa World: State revenue up 13 percent from last year
Bond Talk
Transportation Bond
In conjunction with the budget agreement, the House passed House Bill 2171. It received the minimum of 51 votes after Democrats criticized Republicans for supporting a measure that would increase the state’s bond indebtedness. HB 2171 would allow the Transportation Department to seek a $70 million bond issue so projects in its eight-year building plan can remain on schedule. It passed 51-45. It now goes to the Senate.
OK Pop Museum
The Bank of Oklahoma announced Tuesday that it plans to donate a site in the Brady District for the proposed Oklahoma Museum of Music and Popular Culture if the state authorizes $40 million in bonds to help fund it. The museum, which has been given the nickname “OK Pop,” will be a 67,000-square-foot facility celebrating the music and pop culture contributions of the area to the nation. It is projected the museum’s construction and the first year of operation would have a $56.5 million economic impact on the area and would create hundreds of jobs. The Oklahoma Historical Society, which would build and operate the museum, wants a $40 million state bond issue to match $8 million in private funding for the project. The historical society projects the museum would draw 100,000 paying customers a year and be self-supporting after the bond is paid off. The historical society has a creative financing plan that would mean the state could sell bonds early next year, and not face its first payment until fiscal year 2014. Under that plan, the museum would open in 2015.
For more information, please see the following story:
Tulsa World: Bank of Oklahoma may offer land for pop culture museum
American Indian Cultural Center and Museum
State Sen. Patrick Anderson has requested an audit of state money being used for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City. A $40 million bond issue to fund completion of the facility has passed both the House and Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees, but neither the House nor the Senate took up the bill Friday.
In a presentation, museum leaders told lawmakers the project would make a $4 million annual profit for the state because service costs on the proposed bond issue would be $3.5 million and the project would bring in $7.5 million in state sales tax revenue. But, Anderson said, that leaves out the $5.5 million in bond service costs the state faces for the previous bond issues. Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, said the Senate did not take up the proposed bond issue, which would take its state funding over $100 million, in part because of questions concerning its financing.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Tulsa World: OKC Indian museum may face state funding audit over math error
Redistricting
The Senate on Friday approved a plan that would redraw the senate chamber’s 48 districts. Senate Bill 821 passed by a vote of 38-6 and heads to the House for consideration next week.
State House Redistricting Proposals:
Oklahoma County Redistricting Map
Tulsa County Redistricting Map
Click here for individual districting maps.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Tulsa World: Senate votes 38-6 for redistricting plan
• Senate Press Release: Senate redistricting committee finalizes bipartisan plan
Transportation
Details of FY 2012 Road Plan Announced: The House, Senate and Governor reached a budget agreement this past week. It has been reported that the agreement provides long-term funding to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for road and bridge maintenance and repair efforts.
In order to ensure no planned construction or maintenance projects are reduced, Speaker Steele, Senator Bingman and Governor Fallin have agreed to bonding a portion of ODOT’s state funding, $70 million bond and providing the debt service of $6 million for the cost of those bonds in exchange for cash from ODOT’s existing budget to help fund FY 2012 budget shortfalls.
Further, the cap on the ROADS fund will be lifted from $400 million to $435 million, and increase the annual dedicated allocation to ODOT from $35.7 million to estimated $41.7 million. This would allow for the increased funding for the debt service and ensure expanded project planning in the future to continue.
Car Tags: Legislation signed into law Monday will address problems that state, county, city and tribal law enforcement officials are facing due to lack of access of each other’s car tag information. SB 857 directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to develop a proposal for an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with all tribal governments that issue tribal license plates to collect and maintain ownership and registration information. Currently, the State of Oklahoma and tribal governments in the state issue and maintain their own license plates.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Senate Press Release:
Transportation intergovernmental cooperative bill signed into lawTaxpayer Transparency Act: House Bill 1489, the Taxpayer Transparency Act, passed unanimously the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate and now goes to the Governor for final approval. The intent of the measure is to increase public scrutiny of state road revenue.
House Press Release: Transportation Transparency Act One Step From Gov’s Desk
Port Authority: Senate Bill 593 by Senator Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, and Rep. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore: States account procedures for the Port Authority are required to be the same procedures enforced by the State Treasurer for state funds under the Treasurer’s office. The bill has been sent to the Governor.
Pension
Legislation to prohibit the officers of education associations from participating in the Oklahoma Teacher’s Retirement System has been signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin. The bill by Rep. Tom Newell, R-Seminole, will prevent the officers of local, state and national education associations appointed after Jan. 1 from participating in the state’s public pension system for teachers. Only seven of the teacher’s retirement system’s estimated 90,000 members fall into the category. The pension has an estimated unfunded liability of about $10.4 billion.
In addition to HB 1648, Fallin also signed the following pension reform measures into law, all authored by Senator Mike Mazzei and Representative Randy McDaniel:
• HB 2132 requires the Legislature to fully fund cost-of-living adjustment increases for those on the state’s pension system.
• HB 1010: increasing the retirement age for new members of the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges (URSJJ) who started work after January 1st of this year. For new members with 8 years of service, the measure increases the normal retirement age from 65 to 67 years old. For new members with 10 years of service, the measure increases the normal retirement age from 60 to 62 years old.
• SB 377: Raising the normal retirement age for new teachers from 62 to 65 years of age and establishing a minimum age of 60 for full retirement benefits for teachers who meet the rule of 90. Currently, there is no minimum age requirement for those employees whose age and service equals the sum of 90.
• SB 794: Ensuring that elected officials are treated the same as other public employees when calculating retirement benefits. Also, applying the same minimum retirement ages to all new public employees as SB 377 does to new teachers: a minimum age of 60 when the rule of 90 is met and a normal retirement age of 65.
• SB 347: providing for the forfeiture of a municipal officer or employee’s retirement benefits upon conviction of crimes
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Governor’s Press Release: Governor Fallin Signs Key Pension Reform Legislation into Law
• AP:
• Oklahoman: Pension measures signed into law by Oklahoma governor
Immigration
House Bill 1446 by Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee: Includes parts of Arizona‘s anti-illegal immigrant law passed last year and is designed to target human smugglers and others who prey on illegal immigrants. HB 1446 also would authorize state and local law enforcement officers to recommend illegal immigrants for certain types of three-year visas if they report and aid in the investigation of illegal criminal activity.
Gone from the original bill are provisions that bar children of illegal immigrants from receiving tuition assistance for postsecondary education, allow state agencies to report illegal immigrants who apply for state or federal aid, require employers to verify the immigration status of potential employees, outlaw the practice of illegal immigrants seeking work as an independent contractor and making it a crime to pick up illegal immigrants for the purpose of employing them.
Conference Committee report has been approved and the bill awaits a hearing on the House floor.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Oklahoman: Anti-illegal immigration bill heads to Oklahoma House
Public Health
Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program: Gov. Mary Fallin signed a measure Friday that allows eligible hospitals to pay a fee in order to draw more matching federal dollars. House Bill 1381, called the Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program, requires hospitals that treat Medicaid patients to pay a 2.5 percent fee on net patient revenue. The assessment could generate about $152 million in funds that would draw federal matching dollars of $269 million. The combined funds would go to reimburse participating hospitals for patient care. The fee would apply to 77 hospitals. About 70 others would be exempt. The annual assessment is scheduled to end in July 2014.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Journal Record: Fallin signs hospital fee measure
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signs hospital funding bill
• Tulsa World: Fallin signs hospital measure
• House Press Release: House Democrats Praise HB 1381 Passage
Energy
Landowner Protection: Senate Bill 124 by Senator Ron Justice: Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law an eminent domain measure that protects rural landowners from the threat of companies looking for locations to build wind turbines. The law prohibits use of the power of eminent domain for the siting or erection of wind turbines on private land. It says landowners have the right to decide whether they want turbines on their land.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signs eminent domain law to protect landowners from wind farm threat
• Senate Press Release: Republican Rural Caucus Chair pleased with signing of eminent domain bill to protect landowners
Agency Consolidation
House Bill 2140 by House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, and Senate President Pro Temp Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa: Merges the Department of Central Services, Office of Personnel Management, State Employees Benefits Council and State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board into the Office of State Finance. The director of the Office of State Finance, an appointee of the governor, would oversee all of the agencies. Conference Committee report has been approved.
The committee also approved a plan to consolidate all information technology, or IT, services of state agencies under the Office of State Finance.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• AP: Oklahoma panel OKs Fallin plan to consolidate agencies, IT
Corrections
Governor Fallin has signed House Bill 2131, authored by House Speaker Kris Steele, into law. HB 2131 is designed to relieve widespread fiscal and social strains caused by Oklahoma’s nation-leading incarceration rates.
HB 2131 has three key proposals:
• Expand offender eligibility for community sentencing programs
• Modify the governor’s role in the parole process for nonviolent offenders
• Establish requirements for members of the Pardon and Parole Board
COMMUNITY SENTENCINGCommunity sentencing is significantly less expensive than traditional incarceration. States such as Texas, Indiana and Kansas have seen dramatic cost savings and reductions in crime rates by adopting community sentencing policies like those proposed in HB 2131. In Oklahoma, it costs about $56 a day to incarcerate someone. By comparison, it costs about $3.50 a day to send an offender to supervised community sentencing.
HB 2131 also calls for increased use of Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of offenders. GPS monitoring costs about $4.75 per day. Releasing nonviolent offenders under GPS monitoring improves public safety and helps the offender reintegrate into society in a positive way, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.
Overall, the bill is expected to save the Department of Corrections at least $5 million a year. Oklahoma’s prisons are at 96 percent capacity, but staffing levels at the Department of Corrections are at 69 percent of authorized levels.
Many community-sentencing programs provide treatment for substance abuse and teach offenders vocational and relationship skills.
GOVERNOR’S ROLEUnder HB 2131, decisions made by the Pardon and Parole Board on paroles for most nonviolent offenders will be honored if the governor does not act on that parole within 30 days after receipt. The governor would still be required to act on all paroles for violent offenders and could act on any nonviolent parole matter if she chose to do so.
PAROLE BOARDHB 2131 proposes specific qualification requirements for Pardon and Parole Board members. There are currently no requirements. This bill becomes effective November 1, 2011.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Governor’s Press Release: Governor Fallin Signs Landmark Corrections Reform Legislation in to Law
• Speaker’s Comments: House Speaker Kris Steele on House Bill 1381
• Tulsa World: Gov. Mary Fallin signs bill to ease prison crowding
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma governor signs prison bill
Open Carry
CareerTech Open Carry: House Bill 1652, by Rep. John Enns, R-Enid, and Senator Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, received a majority vote in a House conference committee . HB 1652 would allow individuals who attend a CareerTech to park their cars on campus with a hidden concealed weapon in their vehicle. The measure now goes to a Senate conference committee and must clear both chambers.
Oklahoman: Oklahoma House panel advances CareerTech guns bill
Journal Record: Panel OKs CareerTech gun bill
Education
Quality Assessment and Accountability Task Force: Senate Bill 264 by Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, and Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City: Imposes new assessment requirements and changes the Quality Assessment and Accountability Task Force’s membership structure. The House amendment to the bill creates the School District Regulatory Exemption Act, which will empower locally elected school board members to govern school districts and make decisions based on the needs of their students and circumstances. A school district shall be allowed to submit a request to the State Board of Education for an exemption from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules from which charter schools are exempt. SB 264 is waiting to be heard in the House Conference Committee on Government Modernization and Rules.
Oklahoma Equal Education Opportunity Scholarship Act: Senate Bill 969 by Senator Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing: Allows students whose families meet certain income requirements or who live in low-performing school districts to be eligible for taxpayer-subsidized scholarships to private schools. Contributions from individuals are eligible for a 50 percent annual tax credit up to $1,000. Corporations could receive a 50 percent tax credit on contributions up to $100,000. Contributions eligible for tax credits are capped at $5 million. SB 969 is heading to the Governor’s desk.
State Board of Education: Senate Bill 435, by President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and Sen. John Ford: Authorizes the governor shortly after taking office to appoint six members to the board. They would serve during the same four-year period as the governor. Senate confirmation would be required. The state schools superintendent would remain as chairman. Members would continue to be appointed from each of the five congressional districts, and one would remain an at-large member. If SB 435 is signed into law, the current board members’ terms would expire July 1. The governor’s new appointments would take office by Aug. 1. After this year, governors would make their six appointments to the board shortly after taking office. The new board members’ terms would take effect April 2. The Conference Committee report has been submitted. It now awaits a hearing on the Senate floor.
Kindergarten Age Requirement: House Bill 1465 by Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan, and Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond: Changes the age requirement for starting kindergarten from five years old before Sept. 1 to five years old before July 1. If the bill passes as is, it would become effective Nov. 1, 2011. An amendment was made to the bill that would entitle a child who has reached the age of five after July 1 but on or before Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten if the child has been screened and determined ready. The Conference Committee on Education approved the report.
Charter School Sponsoring Commission: Senate Bill 260 by Senator Ford and Rep. Denney: Removes “issue bonds” from the list of actions a governing body of a charter school cannot do. It also establishes a state charter school commission authorized to establish charter schools in certain districts without the consent of the district. It applies to districts of at least 5,000 students in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties or districts with schools on the improvement list. SB 260 has been referred to the House GCCA.
Graduation Rates: Senate Bill 2 by Senator John Ford, R-Bartlesville, and Rep. Ann Coody, R-Altus: Proposes that the minimum percentage growth targets for graduation rates shall be 20 percent of the difference between the baseline rate established during the 2010-2011 school year. In alternating years new growth targets shall be established until all secondary schools and school districts have met the goal of 100 percent. The bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration of House amendments. The bill has been sent to the Governor.
Economic Development (Tulsa Chamber, GKFF, Holly)
Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption: House Bill 1954 by Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, and Senator Mike Mazzei, R-Bixby: Exempts some taxes for suppliers who are selling to someone purchasing on behalf of a manufacturer for use in operations. The Conference Committee report has been submitted.
Quick Action Closing Fund: House Bill 1953 by Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, and Senator Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa: Creates a quick action closing fund to allow Oklahoma to compete for high impact economic development projects that will bring jobs and investment to the state. Such funds are used by the governor and legislative leaders in the final negotiations to help companies offset relocation and expansion costs. Senate amendments to the bill prohibit the use of these funds for political purposes by the businesses that received them. The past several years, other states, notably Texas and Arkansas, have been riding rough shod over Oklahoma in the high stakes economic development sweepstakes largely because of the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Arkansas Quick Action Closing Fund.
HB 1953 gets Oklahoma in the game by:
- requiring a project to enter into an agreement with The Department of Commerce, who shall administer the Fund, and mandating that the agreement be performance based, providing a “net economic benefit” to the state;
- including a “claw back” provision for failure to meet performance provisions;
- establishing a five-year sunset provision that will be effective beginning the fiscal year after the program is funded; and
- requiring disclosure of all payments made from the Fund on the Department of Commerce’s website.
The Conference Committee report has been submitted.
Task Force for the Study of State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives: House Bill 1285 by Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, and Senator Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa: Creates the Task Force for the Study of State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives conduct a study regarding all state tax credits regardless of the tax type against which such credit be claimed and any other economic incentives that affect state or local tax liabilities. HB 1285 outlines the membership and duties of the Task Force. The Conference Committee report has been submitted.
Oklahoma Multi-modal Transportation Authority Act: House Bill 1990 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, and Senator Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa: Creates the “Oklahoma Multi-modal Transportation Authority Act” and allows establishment of public trusts by certain entities. The bill has been referred to the House Conference Committee on Insurance and Economic Development and a Senate Conference Committee including the following members: Senators Newberry, Stanislawski, Treat, Crain, Eason McIntyre, Laster.
Public Safety and Judiciary
Eminent Domain Property: House Bill 1226 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, and Senator Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore: Allows unused property acquired by eminent domain that has been declared as surplus shall be first offered for resale to the person the property was taken from. It creates a 90-day repurchase offer deadline before property can be sold at a public sale. The Conference Committee report has been approved.
Attorney-Client Privilege: House Bill 1559 by Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks, and Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa: Expands the attorney-client privilege between government entities and their lawyers. The Senate amendment replaces the word ‘confidential’ and replaces it with ‘privileged’ on several references. The Conference Committee report has been submitted.
Underage Drinking: House Bill 1211 by Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, and Senator Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa: Increases the punishment for persons who have knowingly allowed an individual under 21 years of age to consume any alcoholic beverage on any property that is owned by the person. The Conference Committee report has been approved and the bill awaits a hearing on the House floor.
Workers Compensation
Senate Bill 878 by Senator Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, and Rep. Dan Sullivan, Tulsa: Crafted in coordination with Governor Mary Fallin’s Workers Compensation Study Group, which includes members of the legislature and business professionals from various backgrounds. SB 878 substantially rewrites the state’s workers compensation system. The bill now goes to the House Conference Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Military Affairs and a Senate Conference Committee including the following members: Senators Sykes, Anderson, Newberry, David, Rice and Bass.
Agriculture
Pet Breeders: Senate Bill 637 by Senator Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland, and Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester: Requires federally licensed pet breeders to be inspected by a newly formed Oklahoma Board of Commercial Pet Breeders. An Oklahoma House committee had voted to exempt the federally licensed breeders two weeks earlier. The measure would also modify licensing and enforcement rules submitted by the Oklahoma State Board of Commercial Pet Breeders, a new board established to enforce the first licensing of breeders by the state. An amendment to the bill also passed the committee, which would exempt commercial breeders who are licensed by the U.S.D.A. from the provisions of the bill. The bill has been sent to the Governor.
Government Modernization and Rules
Public Petitions: House Bill 1225 by Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, and Senator Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore: States when a referendum is ordered by petition of the people against any measure passed by the Legislature or when any measure is proposed by initiative petition, whether as an amendment to the Constitution or as a statute, it shall be the duty of the parties submitting the measure to prepare and file one copy of the measure with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney General. The parties shall also submit to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General a statement outlining all sources of funding to be used in the measure. The House rejected Senate amendments, so the bill has been referred to the House Conference Committee on Modernization and Rules and the a Senate Conference Committee including the following members: Senators Simpson, R. Johnson, David, Allen, Burrage and Garrison.
Lawyer Bill Regarding State Bidding Requirements: House Bill 1223, by Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa: which Places bidding requirements on private attorney contracts with state agencies, with the intent to limit the use of outside counsel. The House-rejected amendment would have exempted higher education from the measure. The deadline to reject Senate amendments and send it to a conference committee has expired and an attempt to suspend the rules to send the bill to a conference committee was ruled out of order because the deadline is not a rule. McCullough, who has tried for the past three years to reduce the amount of money the state pays on outside legal fees, used a parliamentary procedure that would allow him to bring the bill up for another vote.
For more information, please see the following stories:
• Oklahoman: Oklahoma House deals setback to private attorney bill
• Tulsa World:
Review Weekly Bill Track
Please see the below listing of all action taken on legislation being tracked for you in this 14th week of the first session of the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature. Please thoroughly review the bill track and let me know of any concerns or any additional comments or insight you have about any legislation you see listed. If you have any questions, concerns or want to discuss a specific piece of legislation that has been filed, please contact me. If you have bills of interest you wish added to your track or any legislation you would like deleted, please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Thank you and have a great week.
Jami
SPIRITBANK AERO TRACKING REPORT 5/15/11
05-15-2011 – 22:02:26
HB 1285 Dank
MazzeiCreates the Task Force for the Study of State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives; outlines the membership and duties of the task force; EMERGENCY. Bill History: 05-11-11 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate GCCA
05-12-11 H Meeting set for 1:00 p.m., Room 419C, State Capitol, Senate GCCA
05-13-11 H Reported from House GCCA House GCCA
05-16-11 H Set on the House Floor Agenda
05-13-11 H Conference committee report submittedHB 1953 McNiel
MazzeiEstablishes the Oklahoma Quick Action Closing Fund which will be used by the Governor for economic development and infrastructure development; EMERGENCY. General Remarks: Deal Closing Fund Bill History: 05-11-11 S The conference committee report was approved by the
Conference Committee on Insurance and Economic Development.
05-11-11 S Referred to Senate Committee Senate GCCA
05-12-11 S Meeting set for 1:00 p.m., Room 419C, State Capitol, Senate GCCA
05-16-11 H Set on the House Floor Agenda
05-13-11 H Conference committee report submittedHB 1990 Sullivan
NewberryCreates the “Oklahoma Multi-modal Transportation Authority Act”; which allows establishment of public trusts by certain entities. General Remarks: Oklahoma Multi-modal Transportation Authority Act Bill History: 04-25-11 H House refused to concur in Senate amendments
04-25-11 H House appointed a conference committee: Conference Committee
on Insurance and Economic Development
04-27-11 S Senate appointed a conference committee: Newberry,
Stanislawski, Treat, Crain, Eason McIntyre, Laster
05-13-11 H Referred to House Committee on House Conf. Comm. on Insurance and Econ. Dev.
05-17-11 S Meeting set for 8:00 a.m., Room 512, State Capitol, House Conf. Comm. on Insurance and Econ. Dev.SB 154 Mazzei
DankChanges the cutoff date for incentive payments to July 1, 2003; makes an exception for a change of control event pursuant to the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act. Bill History: 05-03-11 S Senate appointed a conference committee: GCCA
05-03-11 H House appointed a conference committee: GCCA
05-09-11 H Remove GCCA as conferees and substitute with Mazzei,
Brinkley, Ford, David, Wilson, and Ballenger
05-13-11 H Referred to House Committee on House GCCA
05-16-11 H Meeting set for After Adjournment II, Room 432A, State Capit, House GCCASB 593 Brinkley
QuinnAccount procedures for the Port Authority are required to be the same procedures enforced by the State Treasurer for state funds under the Treasurer’s office; EMERGENCY. General Remarks: Port Authority bill Bill History: 05-11-11 S Set on the Senate Floor Agenda
05-11-11 S Laid out for consideration in the Senate
05-11-11 S Senate concurred in House amendments
05-11-11 S Passed/Adopted (Vote: Y: 45/N: 0)
05-12-11 G Sent to the GovernorAll Track Total Bills: 5 0 - End of Report -
