[OACADA] Legislative Update – February 6, 2015

[Kyle Foster]

Good afternoon, everyone.  For your information, here are the bills introduced in the state legislature this session which could impact higher education.

Best,

Kyle Foster
Liaison Coordinator
Oklahoma Academic Advising Association



OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION


Memo


To:                  Legislative Network
From:             Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
Date:               Friday, February 6, 2015
Subject:          Legislative Update – February 6, 2015


The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of February 2, 2015 – February 6, 2015.

If you have any questions, please contact Hollye Hunt at hhunt at osrhe.edu<mailto:hhunt at osrhe.edu> or 405.225.9424.

Legislative Report
February 6, 2015

Appropriations and Budget

HB 1174// Representative Earl Sears// The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education appropriations shell bill.

SB 332 // Senator AJ Griffin // The legislation repeals the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act.


OKPromise

HB 2180 // Representative Jeff Hickman // The legislation requires that OKPromise students enroll in a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours per academic year.  The legislation also extends the application eligibility to the end of a high school student’s 11th grade year.

SB 137 // Senator Corey Brooks //  The legislation directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to develop an appeals process for students who have been denied participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. The legislation also eliminates disability compensation in determining financial qualification for the program.

SB 177 // Senator Jim Halligan // The legislation increases the income eligibility for the OKPromise scholarship to $55,000 adjusted gross income.

SB 504 // Senator Clark Jolley // The legislation allows the OKPromise scholarship to be used to attend a nonprofit university that offers online, competency-based degree programs and is accredited.


Weapons on Campus/ Campus Security

SB 557 // Senator Ralph Shortey // The legislation allows any full-time, part-time or adjunct faculty member of a public college, public university or technology center who is in possession of a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a weapon on campus. The faculty member must provide proper notification to the college, university or technology center of the intent to carry licensed weapon on campus.

SB 461 // Senator Nathan Dahm // The legislation allows individuals with a valid handgun license to carry a concealed weapon onto public college or university property or a public technology center property.  Additionally, under no circumstances shall consent to carry a concealed handgun by a citizen with a valid handgun license on any public college, public university or public technology center school property be denied by the public college or public university president or public technology center school administrator unless evidence is shown that the licensee has previously been involved in a violent incident that showed deliberate or reckless disregard for the health or safety of faculty, other students or any other person.   The legislation also allows an individual who has been issued a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act  to carry a concealed or unconcealed weapon onto a private college, private university or private career technology center property provided a policy has been adopted by the governing entity of the private university, private college or private vocational-technical school that authorizes the carrying and possession of a weapon on private university, private college or private vocational-technical school property.

SB 212 // Senator AJ Griffin //  The legislation requires the board of regents for every institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to provide notice to the public utilizing a public method that sets out the firearm policy relevant to that campus and the procedure for requesting permission to carry on the college, university or technology center campus.

SB 553 // Senator AJ Griffin // The legislation requires all public institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that have established a campus police department to enter into mutual aid agreements with county sheriff departments to investigate cases of sexual assault or violent crimes.  The campus police officers shall notify county sheriff departments with which the institution of higher education has entered into a mutual aid agreement upon observing, receiving a report or otherwise gaining knowledge of a sexual assault or violent crime. Upon receiving such notification or report, the county sheriff department shall, with the assistance of the campus police, conduct the investigation of the sexual assault or violent crime.
Additionally, all employees of institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education who observe, receive information or have knowledge of a sexual assault or violent crime involving a student shall notify the county sheriff department serving the area in which the institution is located.

HB 1143 // Representative George Faught // The legislation allows a citizen in possession of a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a concealed handgun into or upon any public college, public university, or public technology center school property.

HB 1265 // Representative Ken Walker // The legislation allows an individual who has been issued a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act  to carry a concealed or unconcealed weapon onto a private college, private university or private career technology center property provided a policy has been adopted by the governing entity of the private university, private college or private vocational-technical school that authorizes the carrying and possession of a weapon on private university, private college or private vocational-technical school property.


Scholarships

HB 1733 // Representative Sean Roberts // The legislation creates the Oklahoma Community College Scholarship Trust Fund.  The scholarship will cover a student’s tuition and fees at a two year institution.  To be eligible the student must be admitted and enroll at an 2-year institution after graduating from high school or getting a GED before they are 19, fill out the FAFSA, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and be involved in community service.  The scholarship is funded by reallocating lottery monies.  The legislation would require twenty percent (20%) of our current lottery funding be diverted to the trust fund.   The scholarship would be less all other gift aid a student may receive.

HB 2040 // Representative George Young // The legislation encourages the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to use appropriations in order to support entrepreneurship with special emphasis upon providing such support to minority communities in the state.


Endowed Chairs

HB 1732 // Representative Sean Roberts // The legislation expands and allows funds from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Fund to be used for expenses incurred by any institution governed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to endow chairs relating to research, treatment and prevention of cancer.


Academic


HB 2081 // Representative Jason Nelson //  The legislation directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, which shall be offered by institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.



SB 589 // Senator Stephanie Bice //  A private educational institution accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education or a national or regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education shall annually publish on its website a report concerning the cost of its programs and the transferability of its courses. The report shall contain the following information:  1.) the estimated cost of tuition and fees for each semester; and 2.) the transferability of courses to other private educational institutions and institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.


Task Force/ Advisory Committees

HB 1021 // Representative George Faught // The legislation extends the P-20 Data Council composition and its functions until July 1, 2022.

HB 2043 // Representative George Young // The legislation creates a Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee which shall have oversight over implementation of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and shall advise the operation of the Center.

SB 288 // Senator Anastasia Pittman // The legislation creates a Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee which shall have oversight over implementation of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center and shall advise the operation of such Center.


Telecommunications

SB 550 // Senator Anthony Sykes //  The legislation places the judicial branch under the State Chief Information Officer and OMES.


Accreditation

HB 1971 // Representative David Brumbaugh // The legislation allows an exemption for religious institutions to offer degrees not approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.  The degree must be used solely for religious purposes within a religious organization or be offered by an institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide religious training or theological education.  Additionally, each degree title offered pursuant to this subsection shall include a religious modifier. The religious modifier must be placed on the degree, on the transcript, and wherever the title of the degree appears in official school documents or publications.

SB 245 // Senator Nathan Dahm // The legislation allows an exemption for religious institutions to offer degrees not approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.  The degree must be used solely for religious purposes within a religious organization or be offered by an institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide religious training or theological education.  Additionally, each degree title offered pursuant to this subsection shall include a religious modifier. The religious modifier must be placed on the degree, on the transcript, and wherever the title of the degree appears in official school documents or publications.


Shell Bills

HB 1704 // Representative Lee Denney // The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.

HB 2113 // Representative Lewis Moore // The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.


State Ballot Questions

HJR 1009 // Representative Dan Fisher // The ballot question would affirm the second amendment as a fundamental right.  Regulations by the state on the right to keep and bear arms would be subject to strict scrutiny.

SJR 20 // Senator AJ Griffin // The ballot question would affirm the second amendment as a fundamental right.  Regulations by the state on the right to keep and bear arms would be subject to strict scrutiny.


Retirement

SB 405 // Senator Marty Quinn // The legislation allows an institution to contract with a retired employee for a teaching position or a research position for more than 6 semester hours or the equivalent.


Other


SB 441 // Senator John Sparks // The legislation creates a cause of action against a third party who engages or conspires with another to engage in conduct in violation of the rules of the governing authority that causes the educational institution to incur sanctions by the governing authority or other economic penalties or losses.


HB 1058 // Representative Dennis Casey // The legislation authorizes institutions within the State System of Higher Education to process federal tax withholding without claim forms.

SB 612 // Senator Dan Newberry // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.


HB 1859 // Representative Harold Wright // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.




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