Oklahoma Volume 3 Policy Review 2018
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Oklahoma Volume 3 Policy Review 2018 Sponsored by: Empowering Oklahomans with vision loss to achieve their maximum potential since 1949. Vision Care is one of the Most Underfunded, Misunderstood 8 in 10 of our patients are & Neglected not identified in schools as having Services in Oklahoma. a significant visual impairment. $ The economic impact to Oklahoma 1.7 Billion because of untreated vision loss. Most children with Transportation significant visual 70% barriers in our impairments have The unemployment rate state prohibit not been identified among working-age blind and visually and are not receiving adults who are blind or impaired adults from services. visually-impaired. getting to work. NewView • Provides consultative and direct services to students with visual impairments in a number of Offering school districts across the state. • Teaches teens how to prepare for continuing education or employment through our Transitions Institute. Hope • Offers rehabilitation services to give Oklahoman’s the skills they need so they can work. • Works with individuals and their employers so they can retain employment. • Provides consultative services to businesses to help them create an accessible environment. (855) 811-9699 NVoklahoma.org Agriculture 5 Infrastructure 26 OKLAHOMA AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP ...................................................................6 Riches to Roads ..................................................................................................27 Education 8 Judiciary 29 The Scales of Justice ...........................................................................................30 Something’s Gotta Give: A look at Oklahoma Teacher Pay ...................................9 Tribal Affairs 32 Elections 12 The role of Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma at a glance ......................34 Oklahoma Legislature Facing Most Competitive Election Cycle Ever ................13 Veteran 35 Energy 15 Talihina Veterans Center: The End of an Era: Significant changes loom for the Wind Energy and Vision Fund Troubles at the Capitol .......................................16 Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and the town of Talihina ...............36 Health Care 19 Opinion 38 Oklahoma’s HIV infected organ donation policy ...............................................21 Fighting for Juvenile Justice ...............................................................................38 Ted Streuli Corey Perry Phone: (405) 278-2875 To order additional copies, Associate Publisher Legislative Report Administrator FAX: (405) 278-2877 please call: JRLR.net (405) 278-2877 Bo Broadwater Robin Graves Legislativereport.com or email: JRLRSales@journalrecord. Legislative Report Manager Graphic Designer com 23rd & Lincoln Web Manager Mailing Address: Technical or service Christopher Chesny 101 North Robinson Ave., Suite 101 questions, email: Capitol Reporter Oklahoma City, OK 73102 [email protected] All opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Policy Review belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Journal Record or The Journal Record Legislative Report. Contents copyright 2017. 4 4 • 2018 Oklahoma Policy Review Agriculture Total bills: 20 Signed: 20 Vetoed: 0 FARMS OPERATIONS CROPS BY VALUE OF PRODUCTION TOTAL FARM ACRES: 34,356,110 Hay - $490,938,000 TOTAL LAND AREA (ACRES): 43,901,399 #1 PRINCIPAL FARM OPERATORS #2 Wheat - $ 470,925,000 Principal Operators 34 or younger: 5,425 #3 Cotton - $202,666,000 Principal Operators 65+: 28,247 #4 Corn - $143,990,000 #5 Soybeans - $128,122,000 #6 Sorghum- $55,271,000 Principal Operators #7 Rye- $13,125,000 35-64: 87,931 #8 Canola- $11,400,000 LIVESTOCK COMMODITY TOTALS #9 Peanuts- $10,572,000 Cattle, Cows, Beef - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 ) 2,095,000 Cattle, Cows, Milk - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 )35,000 #10 Oats- $877,000 Cattle, Incl Calves - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 ) 5,000,000 Cattle, On Feed - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 ) 310,000 Oklahoma is Goats, Milk - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 ) 6,000 Ranked Goats, Meat & Other - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 )92,000 Sheep, Incl Lambs - Inventory ( First of Jan. 2017 ) 48,000 in total value of agriculture Hogs - Inventory ( First of Dec. 2016 ) 2,150,000 Chickens, Broilers - Production, Measured in Head 209,700,000 products sold Oklahoma Policy Review • Volume 3 Agriculture • 5 5 OKLAHOMA AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP BY JAGGER STINGLEY makes up some of the highest-ranking for average cattle inventory.6 From In lieu of many of Oklahoma’s cuts producers in the nation for certain crops. 2013-2017, Oklahoma ranked ninth to the budget, fatally impacting many Based on a five-year average, Oklahoma nationally in the average hog inventory.7 public services, the State has looked places fourth in production of sorghum As of January 1, 2018, Oklahoma had towards other methods of fostering for grain and wheat, fifth in pecans, sixth approximately 5.1 million heads of cattle, revenue. One of those methods is in hay, and ninth in peanuts, and tenth including calves, and 2.131 million were the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program in cotton.3 Of those, hay served as the dedicated to beef. Cattle is the leader spearheaded by Representative Dollens highest value of production in dollars at in Oklahoma livestock production with and Senator Paxton. approximately $498.380 million; wheat chickens following, and hogs in third.8 The agricultural sector in Oklahoma followed at $379.61 million; and cotton The possibility of a new cash crop is one of the most prolific industries in had the third highest value in production by the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot the state, and the addition of a new crop at $362.266 million.4 The crop with the Program offers a valuable revenue source that can be utilized in the production of lowest value of production was oats, only and one of many possible remedies for textiles, paper, construction materials, generating $1,982,000.5 Oklahoma’s strenuous budget issues. and more creates the possibility for a Livestock is another vital part of The pilot program was primarily highly lucrative opportunity for the Oklahoma’s agricultural economy. codified in HB 2913, which was written state.1 From 2014-2018, Oklahoma has ranked by Representative Dollens and Senator As of 2017, there was a reported second nationally in average beef cow Paxton.9 In its final draft signed by the 78,100 Farming Operations in inventory, and is ranked fifth nationally Governor, the law creates definitions Oklahoma spanning over 34,200,000 regarding the production of industrial acres.2 Amongst those farms, Oklahoma Statistics Pocket Facts. Print. 3 Ibid. 6 Oklahoma Agriculture Statistics Pocket Facts. 1 Congressional Research Center. (2017). Hemp 4 National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2017). 7 Ibid. as an Agricultural Commodity. Print. 2017 State Agriculture Overview: Oklahoma. 8 2017 State Agricultural Overview: Oklahoma. 2 Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, Web. 9 Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot Program and Forestry. (2017) Oklahoma Agriculture 5 Ibid. 2018 (US). Print. 6 6 • Agriculture 2018 hemp, and creates regulations and for hemp are expansive. In a report also believes it would solve carceral procedures for the licensing to cultivate produced by the Congressional Research population issue in the state.16 industrial hemp. Under Section 4(A), Service, industrial hemp is cited as There are, of course, opponents to the measure would allow universities having “more than 25,000 products this issue. There are fears that the passage to participate in the Pilot Program for in nine submarkets,” several of which of this measure is just a measure made in research.10 Following language outlines are textiles, recycling, furniture, food preparation for SQ 788, of which there more procedures regarding the type of and beverage, paper, and construction are many more opponents. Oklahomans seed cultivated, harvesting, inspections, materials.13 Therefore, the commercial Against 788 is one group that has raised license revocation, and amends language applications for industrial hemp go concerns for the issue, making a variety of to allow industrial hemp to be grown in beyond their initial sale as they create a posts regarding the impact on newborns, pursuance of the Pilot Program.11 variety of products that can be used in drivers, the environment and more in The possibility of a new revenue everyday life. relation to marijuana usage.17 Other source has not only gained interest It is important to note that the opponents have criticized the broad from the state legislature. Farmers have legislation passed is only a pilot program language in the state question, criticizing also shown interest in the new crop. that would allow only allow universities the expansive scopes on a variety of In a House Agriculture and Rural to research the crop, and it would issues, such as the qualifications of the Development committee meeting, it was allow the state to conduct research on physicians who can administer it to the mentioned that farmers are encouraged its potential commercial use both in amount one can possess.18 And although by the additional monetary source it the public and private sectors. Despite the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot offers as it can be used rotationally. this, progressive organizations see this Program has received bipartisan support, Representative Echols also stated as a victory in the step towards medical the same cannot be said for the upcoming that the Department of Agriculture and recreational