[Oasfaa] State Legislative Update

[Fair, Bryce]

Below is the weekly update of state legislative action for February
20-24.  

Three OKPromise bills (HB 2679, HB 3112, and SB 1380; highlighted below)
have now cleared committees and will next be considered on the floors of
their house of origin.

 

Also, SB 1624 (highlighted in the "Tuition Waiver" section below)
related to eligibility for resident tuition was amended in committee to
include a provision that would eliminate the eligibility of undocumented
immigrant students for resident tuition.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Bryce Fair

 

 

 

 

The update below reflects the current status of major legislation
concerning Higher Education during the week of February 20, 2012
-February 24, 2012.

 

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

 

Legislative Report

February 20, 2012- February 24, 2012  

 

Appropriations 

 

SB 1432// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation directs $7 million to
the Physician Manpower Training Commission.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.    

 

Tuition/ Funding 

 

HB 2354// Representative Steve Kouplen// The legislation is currently a
shell bill relating to graduate tuition and fees.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations
Committee.  

  

HB 2517// Representative Sally Kern and Senator Jim Halligan// The
legislation creates the Higher Education Outcomes Based Funding Task
Force.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Rules committee on February
15, 2012.
 HB 2593// Representative Corey Holland// The legislation directs that
tuition and fees shall be set by the Oklahoma Legislature beginning with
the 2013-2014 academic year.
UPDATE:  The bill failed to pass out of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Education on February 16, 2012, with a vote of 2-9.  
 HB 2597// Representative Corey Holland// The legislation eliminates the
lottery funding that is directed to Higher Education.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations
Committee.
HB 2639// Representative Colby Schwartz// The legislation repeals the
language allowing unlawful residents to receive in-state tuition.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. 
HB 2677// Representative Jabar Shumate// The legislation is currently a
shell bill related to private institutions coordinating with OK State
Regents.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and
Career Tech Committee.    
SB 1595// Senator Ralph Shortey// The legislation directs the OK Lottery
Commission to enter into a management agreement with a private manager
for the total management of the Oklahoma Education Lottery.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.    

Joint Resolutions 
HJR 1079// Representative Jerry McPeak and Senator Earl Garrison// The
state question modifies the distribution of the proceeds of section
thirteen and indemnity lands.
UPDATE:  The resolution passed out of the House Rules Committee on
February 8, 2012, with a vote of 6-5.  
HJR 1091// Representative Randy McDaniel and Senator Patrick Anderson//
The state question requires the Legislature to establish standards to
adequately fund the public retirement system.
UPDATE:  The resolution passed out of the House Rules Committee on
February 15, 2012.  
SJR 76// Senator Eddie Fields// The state question removes the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction from the RUSO board.  The
resolution also calls for each appointed board member to reside in the
county of a RUSO school.

UPDATE:  The resolution has been referred to the Senate Education
Committee.

 

SJR 79// Senator Anthony Sykes// The state question would allow the
legislature to set tuition and fees. 

UPDATE:  The resolution has been referred to the Senate Education
Committee.

 

SJR 49// Senator Josh Brecheen// The state question would require the
legislature to meet every other year rather than annually and that
legislative salaries be reduced accordingly.  
UPDATE:  The resolution has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

 
Concurrent Resolutions 
SCR 30// Senator Patrick Anderson// The resolution disapproves the
Medical Examiner's Facility Project proposed by the University of
Central Oklahoma which appears on the Master Lease list submitted by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
UPDATE:  The resolution has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

CIO
HB 2940// Representative David Derby// The legislation would transfer
the State Regents and OneNet under the state CIO. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on February 9, 2012, with a vote of 6-5.  
HB 2471// Representative Doug Cox// The legislation would allow an
exemption for the Grand River Dam Authority from the Technology
Consolidation and Coordination Act (CIO).

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee. 

   

SB 1259// Senator John Sparks// The legislation would allow an exemption
for the J.D. McCarty Center from the Technology Consolidation and
Coordination Act. 

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.    

  
Consolidation/ Transparency/ Modernization   
HB 2196// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Transparency of State Government Process Act. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on February 23, 2012.  Representative Murphey introduced a
committee substitute that outlines funding and criteria for performance
audits by the State Auditor.
HB2197// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Strategic Cost Reduction and Saving Act.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Government
Modernization Committee.   
HB 2482// Representative Lewis Moore// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Government Modernization Act of 2012.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Government
Modernization Committee.   
HB2603// Representative Corey Holland// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the State Government Reform Act.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee. 
 
 
OKPromise  
HB 2679// Representative Gary Banz and Senator Clark Jolley// The
legislation alters the second income check so that the amount of tuition
a student would receive from the OK Promise scholarship is based on
their income level.  A student would receive 100% of the scholarship if
their parent's income was below $50,000.  A student would receive 90% of
the scholarship if their parent's income is greater than $50,000 but
less than $60,000.  A student would receive 80% of the scholarship if
their parent's income is greater than $60,000--$70,000. A student would
receive 70% of the scholarship if their parent's income is greater than
$70,000 but less than $80,000.  A student would receive 60% of the
scholarship if their parent's income is greater than $80,000 but less
than $90,000.  And finally a student would receive 50% of the
scholarship if their parent's income is greater than $90,000 but less
than $100,000.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on
February 22, 2012.
HB3112// Representative Jeff Hickman and Senator Josh Brecheen// The
legislation does not allow OK Promise scholarship funds to be used to
pay for remedial courses.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on
Education on February 22, 2012.  
HB 2780// Representative Todd Russ// The legislation is currently a
shell bill relating to the OK Promise program. 
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations
Committee.
SB 1380// Senator Tom Ivester and Representative Paul Roan// The
legislation allows a student to still be eligible for the OK Promise
scholarship if their parent dies while the student is in the their 11th
or 12th grade year of high school.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 13, 2012 and Senate Appropriations Committee on February 15,
2012.  
 
 Governance 
HB 2999// Representative Tom Newell// The legislation is currently a
shell bill relating to the RUSO board.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education
Committee.  The legislation will be heard in committee on February 28,
2012.  
HB 2443// Representative Dale DeWitt and Senator Eddie Fields// The
legislation creates a board of nine (9) trustees to be appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the administrative
agency for the University Center at Ponca City.
UPDATE:  The bill failed to pass out of the House with a vote of 34-58
on February 21, 2012.  
HB 2843// Representative Pat Ownbey// The legislation authorizes that
the Ardmore Higher Education Center serve as a branch campus for
Southeastern Oklahoma State University. 

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Education.   

SB 1111// Senator Eddie Fields and Representative Lee Denney// The
legislation creates a board of nine (9) trustees to be appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the administrative
agency for the University Center at Ponca City.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 13, 2012.  

SB 1382// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation states that
undergraduate courses offered at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa shall
not be unnecessarily duplicate those offered at Langston
University-Tulsa. 

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
The legislation will be heard in committee on February 27, 2012.  

SB 1527// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation states that the State
Regents shall not issue any waivers or otherwise allow a student to
graduate with a baccalaureate degree in accounting without satisfying
the minimum standards that the State Regents have established as a
minimum number of hours taught by faculty in order to earn a
baccalaureate degree in accounting.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
The legislation will be heard in committee on February 27, 2012.   

SB 1444// Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Pat Ownbey// The
legislation authorizes that the Ardmore Higher Education Center serve as
a branch campus for Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 20, 2012.  

SB 1786// Senator John Ford// The legislation is currently a shell bill
relating to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.  
SB 1801// Senator Clark Jolley// The legislation is currently a shell
bill relating to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.  
SB 1925// Senator Susan Paddack// The legislation is currently a shell
bill relating to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma. 
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.  
SB 1926// Senator Susan Paddack// The legislation is currently a shell
bill relating to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.  
 
 Faculty 
HB 2598// Representative Corey Holland// The legislation directs
governing boards to adopt new employment and hiring policies.  Any
instructor or administrative personnel hired after July 1, 2013, would
be hired on a one year probationary contract and then only be awarded
annual contracts after.  The legislation eliminates tenure, multiyear
contracts and continuing contracts from being awarded or extended after
July 1, 2013.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and
Career Tech Committee.    
 HB 2599// Representative Corey Holland// The legislation directs
governing boards to adopt a system of post-tenured faculty evaluation
and review.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.    
 
 Reporting  
HB3040// Representative Leslie Osborn// The legislation requires higher
education to report data and information in a common format and on a
public website on institutional profile, affordability, student and
faculty engagement, student achievement, and institutional efficiency.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and
Career Tech Committee.    
SB 1819// Senator Jim Halligan// The legislation directs the State
Regents to provide information to the legislature regarding graduation
rates, debt loads, student employed by specific disciplines, and
information provided to students on employment possibilities and debt.  

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
The legislation will be heard in committee on February 27, 2012.  

 

 

Legal Reform 
HB 2549 // Representative Mark McCullough// The legislation prohibits
state entities from contracting for any legal representation by one or
more private attorneys until the agency obtains the approval of the
attorney general.   
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Administrative Rules
and Agency Oversight Committee.  
HB 2663// Representative Fred Jordan// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Private Attorney Retention Transparency Act. 
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.    
Academic 
SB 1563// Senator John Sparks// The legislation is currently a shell
bill creating the Oklahoma Higher Education Code.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
HB3073// Representative Joe Dorman and Senator Susan Paddack// The
legislation directs the OSRHE to establish a dyslexia teacher training
pilot program.  The program should be designed to evaluate and
demonstrate the effectiveness of having trained teachers who can provide
assistance to children with risk factors for dyslexia.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 2012.
HB2970// Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation requires
institutions in the State System of Higher Education, including
technology center districts, to create annual reports on completion and
attendance rates.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 2012.  Representative Thomsen introduced
a committee substitute that requires students to take high school,
college, and job skills readiness exams.  Beginning with the 2013-2014
school year, each school district shall ensure that each student
enrolled in grade eight is administered the ACT Explore high school
readiness assessment, each student enrolled in grade ten is
administered, by no later than April 1 of each year, the ACT Plan
college readiness assessment, and each student enrolled in grade eleven
is administered the ACT WorkKeys job skills assessment.  The results of
the assessments administered shall be reported to the State Department
of Education and the individual school districts.
SB1565// Senator Susan Paddack// The legislation directs the OSRHE to
establish a dyslexia teacher training pilot program.  The program should
be designed to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of having
trained teachers who can provide assistance to children with risk
factors for dyslexia.  

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 13, 2012 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on February
15, 2012.  

 

Tuition Waivers
HB 2689// Representative Gary Banz// The legislation allows students who
are dependents of certain military personnel be eligible for in-state
residency status.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and
Career Tech Committee.  The legislation will be heard in committee on
February 28, 2012.  

SB 1624// Senator John Sparks and Representative Emily Virgin// The
legislation directs the State Regents to adopt a policy which allows a
student to enroll in an institution within Oklahoma and be eligible for
resident tuition if the student was an Oklahoma resident at the time the
student received a high school diploma.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 13, 2012 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on February
15, 2012.  The legislation was amended in committee to include language
to not allow unlawful residents to receive in-state tuition.   

 

HB3077// Representative Joe Dorman// The legislation allows students who
are dependents of certain military personnel be eligible for in-state
residency status.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Education on February 13, 2012.  The legislation will be heard in the
House Appropriations Committee on February 27, 2012.  

 

Bond Issues 
SB 1134// Senator Patrick Anderson// The legislation requires the State
Regents to provide an itemized list of master lease projects to all
members of the Legislature within the first seven days of the
legislative session.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.    

 

Other 
HB 2762// Representative Lee Denney and Senator Clark Jolley// The
legislation is currently a shell bill relating to the State Regents
duties and responsibilities for the Office of Accountability.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 14, 2012.      
HB 2611// Representative Doug Cox//  The legislation transfers the
operations and resources of the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of
Enid, the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center of Pauls Valley, and the
Hissom Memorial Center of Sand Springs to the University of Oklahoma
University Hospitals Authority and Trust.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.    
SB 1280// Senator Mike Schulz and Representative Kris Steele// The
legislation creates the OK Hospital Residency Training Program.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services
Committee on February 13, 2012.  The bill has also been referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.  
HB3014// Representative Randy Terrill// The legislation creates the
Oklahoma Official English Language Implementation Act.  The legislation
requires the state to preserve and enhance the role of English as the
official language and prohibits actions which diminish or ignore the
role of English as the official language.  The bill defines actions
which preserve, enhance, diminish, or ignore the role of English. The
bill outlines the procedures requirements for using languages other than
English.  

UPDATE:  The bill had been referred to the House Rules Committee. 

SB 1387// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation moves the Physician
Manpower Training Commission to the OK State Department of Health.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services
Committee on February 13, 2012.   The bill has also been referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.  
SB 1417// Senator Ralph Shortey and Representative Mike Christian// The
legislation creates a five (5) member advisory committee for the
Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services
Committee on February 13, 2012.   The bill has also been referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.     
SB 1526//  Senator Jim Wilson//  The legislation directs the State
Regents to promulgate rules establishing a uniform process for filling a
vacancy for the position of president at public institutions of higher
education.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

 

SB 1218// Senator David Holt and Representative Randy McDaniel//  The
legislation authorizes beer and wine establishments that are licensed by
the  ABLE Commission to operate within 300 feet of a college or
university if the campus is located within an improvement district
created pursuant to Title 11, Section 39-103.1.  

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Business and Commerce
Committee on February 16, 2012.
HB 2967// Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation relates to the
Uniform Athlete Agents Act and requires submission of a surety bond if
an athlete agent is charged with a violation and sets the amount of the
surety bond.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 2012.
HB 2971// Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation is currently a
shell bill relating to the Oklahoma Higher Education Code.      
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 2012.  Representative Thomsen introduced
a committee substitute that creates the Higher Education Branch Campus
Study Task Force until October 31, 2012.
 
Energy 
HB2833// Representative Scott Martin// The legislation directs state
agencies and higher education to reduce energy costs for all state
buildings.   The Office of State Finance will oversee the implementation
of an organizational behavior-based energy conservation program.  The
program will target a cumulative energy savings of at least twenty
percent (20%) by the year 2020 when compared to the 2012 fiscal year
utility expenditures. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Energy Committee on February
21, 2012.  
SB 1096// Senator Brian Bingman// The legislation directs state agencies
and higher education to reduce energy costs for all state buildings.
The Office of State Finance will oversee the implementation of an
organizational behavior-based energy conservation program.  The program
will target a cumulative energy savings of at least twenty percent (20%)
by the year 2020 when compared to the 2012 fiscal year utility
expenditures.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate General Government
Committee.   
 
 
 Retirement/Health Insurance 
HB 2321// Representative Randy McDaniel and Senator Patrick Anderson//
The legislation modifies the number of unused sick days that can be used
for creditable service in the Teachers' Retirement System and the OK
Public Employees Retirement System. For members who join the System on
or after November 1, 2012, unused sick leave shall be credited at the
same rate but not used to round up to another year.  Instead, any
additional months of unused sick leave credit shall be added to other
service credit without rounding.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Economic Development, Tourism
and Financial Services Committee on February 22, 2012.  
HB 2491// Representative Dennis Casey and Eddie Fields// The legislation
modifies the insurance plan start date.  The plan year for education
employees will begin on the first day of July effective for the plan
year beginning January 1, 2013. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on
February 15, 2012.  
HB 3053// Representative Kris Steele// The legislation creates the
"Office of Enterprise and Management Services and the Capital Assets,
Human Capital Management, and Employee Benefits divisions.  
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Government
Modernization Committee.  
 
Carry Over Bills from Last Legislative Session 
 Concealed Weapons

HB 2087// Representative Randy Terrill// The legislation allows faculty
and administration who possess a valid concealed handgun license to
carry handguns on college property.  

UPDATE:  The bill is set on the House Floor Agenda but has not been
placed on the House Floor Calendar to be heard.   

   

HB 1463// Representative Tom Newell// The bill states that colleges and
universities may not establish rules or policies prohibiting individuals
with concealed handgun licenses from possessing a handgun on college or
university property.  

UPDATE:  The bill is in the House Public Safety Committee.

SB 1785// Senator Steve Russell// The legislation allows out-of-state
persons in compliance with the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a
concealed firearm in the State.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on
February 23, 2012.  

 

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