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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 49Th Oklahoma Legislature First Session – 2003

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 49Th Oklahoma Legislature First Session – 2003 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 49th Oklahoma Legislature First Session – 2003 OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION From: Carolyn McCoy & Lesa Jolly-Borin Friday, April 11, 2003 Highlights This Week: State Chamber Applauds Legislature on Budget Agreement From State Chamber (OKLAHOMA CITY) The State Chamber applauded lawmakers and the governor for agreeing to a state budget that addresses common education, higher education, and protects health care programs, while addressing the state’s financial woes. Senators Cal Hobson, Ben Robinson and Jim Williamson told the State Chamber’s board of directors at their executive committee meeting, Wednesday, that their input was critical to the Legislature’s ability to develop a budget. The State Chamber’s support was crucial in establishing priorities. “It would be fatal to the budget process if The State Chamber does not find a way to support the state budget agreement,” said Hobson. The State Chamber responded by unanimously supporting the budget agreement. “Oklahoma’s political leadership worked diligently in crafting a bi-partisan agreement that protects jobs and businesses, while responsibly collecting revenue for indispensable state government func- tions,” said Richard P. Rush, State Chamber president. Chamber leaders cautioned lawmakers to preserve the integrity of the agreement by not attaching addi- tional tax burdens during the legislative process. Throughout the budget deliberations, The State Chamber urged lawmakers to maintain economic de- velopment incentives and continue the progress Oklahoma has made to create new businesses and grow higher paying jobs. “We struggled just to keep the business accelerators already in place,” said Ronn Cupp, State Chamber senior vice president in charge of government affairs. “Our legislators showed tremendous courage and exhibited creative ways in resolving the state’s temporary budget crisis, rather than through quick fixes, that in the long run can make matters worse.” Cupp said several important elements of the budget include the implementation of zero-based budget- ing, which promotes government efficiency by requiring state agencies to justify their entire budgets, rather than only justifying budget increases; replenishing the ad valorem reimbursement fund; funding voluntary school consolidation, and the strong emphasis on education funding. “Everything government can do to make Oklahoma companies more competitive will help improve our state’s business climate, strengthen our economy, improve the quality of jobs for Oklahoma fami- lies and broaden our tax base,” said Rudy Alvarado, chairman. Organizations Line Up in Support of Cigarette Tax By Erin Israel - Staff Writer (GIT) When Dr. T.J. Brickner Jr., Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) Chairman, made a mo- tion for the authority to send a letter to the Legislature recommending the institution of a one dollar per pack cigarette tax Thursday, a line of organization officials who wished to express support formed towards the podium. In making the motion, Brickner said, "This organization is in danger of going down the tubes if the Legislature cannot find funding." According to Brickner, OHCA has cut as of much as it can. He said he was afraid that cutting services could have disastrous effects on the health Oklahomans. He said a one-dollar per pack cigarette tax ought to go exclusively for health care of those in need in Oklahoma. Representatives who approached the podium in support of the proposal were from organizations in- cluding the Oklahoma Institution for Child Advocacy, the Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA), the OklahomaMental Health Association, Planned Parenthood, the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the Oklahoma Alliance on Healthcare and Tobacco, the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association, Oklaho- mans for Reasonable Healthcare, SSM Healthcare (an individual hospital), the National Association of Social Workers, Partners for Healthcare Investment and the Academy of Family Physicians. Patti Davis, OHA executive vice president, announced publicly Wednesday that the organization is in support of an additional one-dollar sales tax on tobacco. The Oklahoma Public Employees Association, in the release of their Budget Crisis Solutions Program last week, also advocated an additional cigarette tax. President Pro Tempore Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, has also come out in support of a cigarette tax. Sen. Ben Robinson, D-Muskogee, spoke in support of the tax at the meeting. He warned the OHCA that a compact with Oklahoma Indian tribes would be the most important component of passing the tax. "A tribal compact is going to be the most important part of getting this through," he said. Robinson said he would only support the tax if a tribal compact were reached. He said 46 percent of all tobacco sales in Oklahoma occur at Indian smoke shops and he was not willing to simply give over the rest of tobacco sales to those shops. After organizations pledged their backing, Brickner said, "Thank you, I'm overwhelmed with all of the support." 2 The OHCA Board voted unanimously to pass the motion to send the letter. It also agreed to allow each organization representative that spoke to sign the letter. Lottery for Education Bill Transmitted to Secretary of State By Jeff Packham - Staff Writer (GIT) The education lottery measure officially moved to the Secretary of State's office Thursday after it became law without the signature of the governor. HB 1278, by Rep. Ron R. Kirby, D-Lawton, and Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, calls for a vote of the people to establish the "Lottery for Education Act." Paul Sund, communications director for Gov. Brad Henry, said the measure was not signed due to confusion related to the procedural rules. The bill was put on his desk and became law after five days. Other measures signed into law on Thursday: HB 1065, by Rep. Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, and Sen. Johnnie C. Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, requires the Board of Education to adopt rules to ensure that students who transfer into an Oklahoma school district from out-of-state after the student's junior year of high school would not be denied, due to dif- fering graduation requirements, the opportunity to be awarded a standard diploma. HB 1270, by Rep. Danny Hilliard, D-Sulphur, and Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, expands the powers of the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. HB 1329, by Rep. Fred Perry, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, creates the "Okla- homa Online Bidding Act," and includes definitions and procedure pursuant of such an act. The act allows state agencies to bid online if purchasing in fashion proves to be economical, and the director of the Department of Central Services promulgates rules to implement the act. The measure modifies relevant measures to include online bidding. HB 1683, by Rep. Debbie Blackburn, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Angela Monson, D-Oklahoma City, adds the definition of "deceptive use of another's name in notification or solicitation." The measure also adds making deceptive use of another's name in notification or solicitation, falsely stating or im- plying that any person, product or service is recommended or endorsed by a named third person, or falsely stating that information about the consumer has been provided by a third person, whether that person is named or unnamed to the list of acts that are considered unlawful under the Oklahoma Con- sumer Protection Act. HJR 1015, by Hilliard and Shurden, removes the six-month requirement for the oversight of an ap- prentice by a licensed embalmer during the entire embalming procedure and the entire arrangement conference. SB 454, by Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward and Rep. Frank W. Davis, R-Guthrie, modifies re- quirement for issuance of dealer license relating to aircraft registration. SB 495, by Laughlin and Braddock, exempts schools maintained in state reformatories from provi- sions related to class size and prohibits the State Board of Education from assessing penalties or sanc- tions on schools. 3 SB 584, by Sen. Bruce Price, D-Hinton, and Rep. James Covey, D-Custer City, creates the "Oklahoma Farm Animal, Crop, and Research Facilitation Act.” House Passes Private Institution Tuition Grant Bill By Bill Duncan - Staff Writer (GIT) After extensive questioning and debate, the House passed a bill Thursday authorizing the Okla- homa State Regents for Higher Education to award tuition equalization grants to Oklahoma residents enrolled as undergraduate students in private or independent state institutions of higher education. CS for SB 520, by Sen. Ben H. Robinson, D-Muskogee, and Rep. Barbara Staggs, D-Muskogee, passed 66-27. The emergency clause passed 71-20. Staggs was able to table numerous attempts to amend the measure by Rep. Dale Wells, D-Cushing, who led the opposition to the bill. Staggs pointed out the regents would only award the equalization grants if money was available. To be eligible for a grant, a student would have to be a resident of Oklahoma and enrolled as a full- time undergraduate student. The grants would be limited to $2,000 per academic year, or $1,000 per academic semester. The bill also provides that students would have to establish a financial need. Wells argued that state revenues should not be given to private institutions. "Public education is what made this country great, not private education." Staggs argued that the grants would not be awarded to institutions but rather to students. She said, in many cases, private institutions offer specialties not available at state institutions. Students to Attend Black College Radio Conference From Langston University (LANGSTON) Four Langston University students will be attending the Black College Radio Confer- ence in Atlanta, Ga April 11-12. The conference is geared to enable students from Historically Black Colleges from around the country to network with industry professionals and meet fellow college students. “This year students will attend sessions on sales, public affairs, how to land that first job and proper announcing techniques.
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