[Oasfaa] Final State Legislative Update

Tue Jun 7 16:41:18 CDT 2011

Following is a summary of the final legislative actions related to our
state financial aid programs.  Further below is the final overall
legislative update provided by the State Regents' legislative liaison.

Oklahoma's Promise:

*         College GPA Requirements - SB 610 delays (but does not repeal)
the unique statutory OKPromise college GPA requirements until the
entering freshmen class of 2012.  The requirements will apply only to
students entering college in 2012 and thereafter; they will not apply to
OKPromise students already enrolled in college prior to 2012.  The GPA
requirements include a cumulative 2.0 for courses taken by the end of
the student's sophomore year and a 2.5 GPA only for courses taken as a
junior and above.  Data indicates that the about 18% of OKPromise
college juniors could lose the award based on the requirements. (Sen.
John Ford, R - Bartlesville and Rep. Todd Thomsen, R - Ada) Final bill
text:
https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/53rd/2011/1R/SB/610.pdf 

*         Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement - Beginning
in 2012-13, HB 1421 will require all OKPromise students receiving the
award in college (not just entering freshmen) to meet federal
satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards.  This requirement is in
addition to the statutory GPA requirement discussed above and will apply
to all OKPromise award recipients whether or not they are also receiving
federal aid.  Based on a survey of institutions earlier this year, it is
estimated that about 500 OKPromise students (out of about 20,000) could
potentially lose their eligibility for the award.  As originally
introduced, the bill would have required OKPromise college students to
repay awards for courses from which the student withdrew after the
add/drop deadline or if the student received a failing grade, but this
language was removed in the committee process and replaced by the SAP
requirement.  (Rep. Dennis Casey, R - Morrison and Sen. Jim Halligan, R
- Stillwater)   Final bill text:
https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/53rd/2011/1R/HB/1421.pdf
<https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/53rd/2011/1R/HB/1421.pdf>

*         Definition of Income for Second Income Check - SB 610 also
changes the definition of income counted toward the $100,000 2nd income
limit applied at the time the OKPromise student begins college from all
"taxable and nontaxable" income to "federal adjusted gross income."
The second income check becomes effective for 2012 OKPromise high school
graduates and each graduating class thereafter.  The definition of
income used for the student's initial application to the program in the
8th, 9th, or 10th grade remains as all "taxable and nontaxable" income.
(Sen. John Ford, R - Bartlesville and Rep. Todd Thomsen, R - Ada) Final
bill text:
https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/53rd/2011/1R/SB/610.pdf

Children of Military Personnel Killed in the Line of Duty

*         HB 1343 provides eligibility for an Oklahoma's Promise award
for the children of any person in the U.S. Armed Forces killed in the
line of duty after January 1, 2000.  To be eligible, the student must be
a resident of Oklahoma, the parent killed must have filed an Oklahoma
income tax return for the year prior to their death, and the student
must enroll in college prior to reaching age 21.   Eligible students are
exempt from the OKPromise high school requirements and family income
limits.  (Rep. Eric Proctor, D - Tulsa and Sen. Tom Ivester, D - Elk
City)   Final bill text:
https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/53rd/2011/1R/HB/1343.pdf 

Undocumented Immigrants Students

*         Although several bills that would have repealed the
eligibility of certain undocumented immigrant students for resident
tuition moved part-way through the legislative process, none were
eventually passed.  Therefore, there is no change in state law or policy
regarding these students. 

Final Update

Appropriations 

HB 2170// Representative Earl Sears and Senator David Myers// The
legislation is the general appropriation bill.  

UPDATE:    The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 24,
2011.  

SB 972// Representative Earl Sears and Senator David Myers// The
legislation is the supplemental appropriation bill in which higher
education will receive $10 million.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 24, 2011.

CIO

HB 1304// Representative David Derby and Senator Clark Jolley// The
legislation is currently a shell bill related to the Chief Information
Officer.  Representative Derby offered a committee substitute that
consolidates all state agency IT under the Information Services Division
of the Office of State Finance and the Chief Information Officer.  The
State Regents, OneNet, and the colleges and universities are exempt from
the legislation.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 24, 2011.

SB867 // Senator Anthony Sykes and Representative Jason Murphey // The
legislation would not allow for any state agency to own, lease, or
lease-purchase any telecommunications fiber networks used for conveying
electronic communication or information systems data to multiple
physical locations.  The State Regents, OneNet, and the colleges and
universities are exempt from the provisions.  The legislation requires
the Chief Information Office to conduct a technology consolidation cost
savings survey each year and any state agency not experiencing cost
savings may have their assets deconsolidated upon approval of the State
Governmental Technology Applications Review Board. The Information
Services Division of the Office of State Finance shall maintain or
increase security standards.  The bill also provides for a website to be
created to that the public may monitor the status of every information
technology project resulting in expenditure in excess of One Hundred
Thousand Dollars.  
UPDATE:  The legislation failed to get out of conference.  

OKPromise 

HB1421// Representative Dennis Casey and Senator Jim Halligan//  The
legislation would require OKPromise students to repay awards for courses
from which the student withdraws or receives a failing grade in the
course.  Representative Casey amended his bill to eliminate the language
requiring students to repay for failed or withdrawn courses.  The
language now requires the student to maintain satisfactory academic
progress  

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on April 21,
2011.  

SB 610// Senator John Ford and Representative Todd Thomsen//  The bill
states the federal adjusted gross income should be used to verify the
student's income does not exceed $100,000 at the time they enter
college.  The legislation also delays additional GPA requirements. 

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 20, 2011.

HB 1343 //  Representative Eric Proctor and Senator Tom Ivester// The
legislation states that a student shall be eligible to participate in
the OKPromise program if they are the child of any person killed after
January 1,2000, in the line of duty in any branch of the United States
Armed Forces.  

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 20, 2011.

Tuition Waivers 

SB 251// Senator Steve Russell and Representative Paul Wesselhoft// The
bill requires the State Regents to adopt a policy for members of the
United States Armed Forces who serve in the State of Oklahoma, whether
on active duty, guard or reserve status shall be charged tuition at a
rate not to exceed the rate charged to state residents, regardless of
the service member's resident status.
UPDATE:    The legislation failed to get out of conference.   

 Appointments 

No pending legislation at this time. 

Agency Lobbying 

No pending legislation at this time.  

Undocumented Student Issues 

HB 1446 // Representative George Faught and Senator Ron Justice// This
measure repeals resident tuition eligibility for undocumented immigrant
students.  

Update:  The House failed to adopt the conference committee report on
May 17, 2011. 

Remediation 

No pending legislation at this time.  

Other

 HB 1854// Representative Jabar Shumate and Senator Gary Stanislawski//
The legislation requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
to adopt a policy for each higher education institution to provide equal
access to statewide professional associations.
UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin May 20, 2011.  

HB 1227// Representative Pat Ownbey and Senator Frank Simpson//  The
legislation directs all interests in real property, facilities,
equipment and appurtenances, state-appropriated monies and all duties,
obligations and liabilities of the Ardmore Higher Education Program and
any and all obligations of the Board of Trustees of the Ardmore Higher
Education Program are transferred to the Regional University System of
Oklahoma.  The Ardmore Higher Ed center should serve as the branch
campus in Ardmore of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.  The RUSO
board may provide resources to the branch campus in Ardmore of
Southeastern Oklahoma State University to maintain its facilities.
Murray State College shall have the exclusive authority to offer all
lower division courses and programs at the branch campus of Southeastern
Oklahoma State University at Ardmore.  The current Board of Trustees for
the Ardmore Higher Education Center shall serve as an advisory board to
the president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Courses offered
at Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Ardmore shall not duplicate
nursing program courses offered at East Central University campus at
Ardmore.   The consolidation of Ardmore Higher Education Center and
Southeastern Oklahoma State University shall protect the continuing and
historic relationships which exist between Ardmore Higher Education
Center, Murray State College, and East Central University.  Southeastern
Oklahoma State University shall assume all the duties and powers
provided for in this act by July 1, 2014.  No additional appropriated
dollars shall be used in the consolidation of the Ardmore Higher
Education Center into Southeastern Oklahoma State University, nor shall
appropriated dollars be used in the expansion of the existing campus or
for the construction of a new campus in Ardmore.

UPDATE:  Governor Fallin vetoed the bill on May 2, 2011.  

HB 1586// Representative Todd Thomsen and Senator Brian Bingman//  The
legislation creates the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.  The bill modifies
prohibited conduct of agents and strengthens the criminal penalty and
increases the fine if an agent is in violation of the act. 

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 11, 2011.

SB 206// Senator John Ford and Representative Ann Coody//  The bill
creates a task force to study the feasibility of a P-20 council.  The
task force will consist of 9 members including the Chancellor of Higher
Education or his designee.  

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 9, 2011.  

Legal Services 

HB 1223// Representative Mark McCullough and Senator Anthony Sykes//
The legislation outlines new procedures for state agencies needing to
retain private attorneys.  A state agency needing to obtain outside
legal services that will exceed $20,000 must use the RFP (request for
proposal) process before hiring the outside counsel.  

UPDATE:  The House did not adopt Senate amendments on May 10, 2011.
Representative McCullough laid the bill over after the amendments were
not adopted.   The House voted to table a motion to concur with Senate
amendments on May 18, 2011 with a vote of 51-35.

Tax Credits 

No pending legislation at this time.  

English as Official Language

No pending legislation at this time.  

Workforce and Training

No pending legislation at this time.  

Agency Efficiency/ Consolidation 

HB2140// Representative Kris Steele and Senator Brian Bingman//  The
legislation creates the State Government Administrative Process
Consolidation and Reorganization Act of 2011.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 24, 2011.

HB 1207// Representative Jason Murphey and Senator Anthony Sykes//  The
bill directs state agencies to use the Trip Optimizer for trips that
exceed 100 miles.  Additionally, the bill directs the Office of State
Finance to perform an assessment of state agencies financial services.
Those agencies ranking in the bottom 10% of the performance assessment
will enter into a contract with OSF for the provision of financial
services.  The State Regents and the institutions are exempt from this
section of the bill.   

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 26, 2011.

HB 1086// Representative Jason Murphey and Senator Clark Jolley//  The
legislation creates the "Oklahoma Government 2.0 Act of 2011."  The
legislation provides for numerous electronic mechanisms to be put in
place by the Chief Information Officer.  The legislation relates to
payment of claims and payrolls.  The legislation would require
disbursement through electronic payments mechanism.  Additionally, the
bill directs the Chief Information Officer to develop and maintain three
new websites.  The first would be an online web presence at the web
address "documents.ok.gov".  It would require state agencies and boards
to submit to the site all publications otherwise required by law to be
submitted to either the Publications Clearinghouse of the Department of
Libraries, the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or
the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate.  The procedures shall require the
electronic documents to be provided in an indexed format which enables
the document to be searched by specific term.  The Chief Information
Officer shall also develop and maintain an online web presence at the
web address "forms.ok.gov". The Chief Information Officer shall
promulgate procedures by which each state agency, board, commission, and
public trust having the State of Oklahoma as a beneficiary to submit a
searchable electronic version of each form to the "forms.ok.gov"
website.  The procedures shall require the forms to be provided in an
indexed format which enables the form to be searched by specific term.
Finally, to develop a website named "Oklahoma State Government IT
Project Monitoring and Transparency Initiative". The Chief Information
Officer shall develop and maintain an online web presence at the web
address "projects.ok.gov".  The site shall allow the public to monitor
the status of every information technology project resulting in
expenditures in excess of $100,000.00.  A report of each project subject
to the terms of this initiative shall be updated regularly and provide
the public with updates as to the status of the project's estimated
completion time, deliverables and cost.  Projects shall be judged
against clear metrics which shall be articulated on the website prior to
the commencement of each project.  The effective date of section 2 to
has been changed to July 1, 2012.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 24, 2011.

SB 541// Senator Anthony Sykes and Representative Jason Murphey// The
bill directs state agencies to use the Trip Optimizer for trips that
exceed 100 miles.  Additionally, the bill directs the Office of State
Finance to perform an assessment of state agencies financial services.
Those agencies ranking in the bottom 10% of the performance assessment
will enter into a contract with OSF for the provision of financial
services.  The State Regents and the institutions are exempt from this
section of the bill.  The legislation to not allow state agencies to
expend funds on computers, software, telecom, information hardware,
firmware or information technology services before July 1, 2011.  
UPDATE:   The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 16, 2011.

Concealed Weapons// Open Carry 

 SB 856// Senator Steve Russell and Representative Paul Wesselhoft// The
legislation makes certain conduct between individuals and licensed
dealers or private sellers unlawful.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on April 7, 2011.

HB1652// Representative John Enns and Senator Steve Russell// The
legislation allows concealed handgun license holders to carry a
concealed handgun on certain technology center school property.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by the Governor on May 25, 2011.  

HB 1255// Representative Wade Rousselot and Senator Kim David// The
legislation allows any US Attorney or Assistant Attorney to carry a
firearm anywhere in Oklahoma if they have completed the specified
training course.  

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on April 19,
2011.  

Tuition 

No pending legislation at this time.  

Academics

HB 1456// Representative Lee Denney and Senator Clark Jolley//  The
legislation requires the State Department of Education to prepare an
annual report on school achievement.  

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 4, 2011.  

SB 264// Senator Clark Jolley and Representative Jason Nelson//  The
legislation creates the Quality Assessment and Accountability Task
Force.  The Oklahoma State Regents shall provide support and information
as requested by the task force. 

UPDATE:  The legislation failed to get out of conference.  

Retirement/Pensions/Benefits 

SB 891//Senator Mike Mazzei and  Representative Randy McDaniel// This
measure changes benefit calculation for TRS for members who first join
the System after June 30, 2011.  The calculation  shall mean the average
of the salaries for the last five years on which contribution to the
Teachers' Retirement System was paid.  Only salary on which required
contributions have been made may be used in computing average salary.
The measure also changes normal retirement age for members who join
after June 30, 2011 from 62 to 65.  Individuals who become a member
after June 30, 2011 shall be employed by public school or state colleges
or universities for a minimum of eight and be a contributing member for
8 years to qualify for monthly benefits for TRS.  The legislation now
states any retiree participating in the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement
System will be eligible for part-time employment at a college or
university within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, subject
to the limitations of part-time employment of the college or university.

UPDATE:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 18, 2011.

SB 377// Senator Mike Mazzei and Representative Randy McDaniel // The
legislation relates to teachers retirement.  The bill eliminates the
Rule of 90 and sets the minimum retirement age at 65 for new OTRS
members joining after Nov. 1, 2011.  

Update:  The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin May 10, 2011.

HB 2132 // Representative Kris Steele and Senator Brian Bingman// The
legislation removes provisions allowing a cost-of-living adjustment to
be used in a non-fiscal retirement bill.

UPDATE: The legislation was signed by Governor Fallin on May 10, 2011.

Bryce Fair

Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Phone:  405-225-9162

Fax:  405-225-9392

e-mail:  bfair at osrhe.edu <mailto:bfair at osrhe.edu> 

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 108850

Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850

Street address:

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200

Oklahoma City, OK  73104

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