[Oasfaa] State Legislative Update

[Fair, Bryce]

Below is the state legislative update for the week of Feb. 27 - March 2.


 

In a somewhat unusual turn of events, on Thursday, March 1, HB 2679
failed narrowly on the House floor by a vote of 48 yes, 36 no (15 not
voting; 2 vacancies; bills must receive at least 51 yes votes in the 101
member House to pass).  HB 2679 is the bill that would pro-rate the
OKPromise award based on the parents' income at the time of the second
income check (see the bill text at:
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20FLR/HFLR/HB2679%20HFLR.DO
C
<http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20FLR/HFLR/HB2679%20HFLR.D
OC> ).   However, the author of the bill lodged a motion that will allow
him to request another vote on the bill within 3 legislative days, if he
so chooses.  The discussion of the bill on the House floor ranged widely
over various aspects of the OKPromise program (and some of the facts
discussed were not always completely accurate).  If you are interested
in watching and listening to the floor discussion of the bill, which is
about 30 minutes long, go to
http://okhouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=419
<http://okhouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=419>  and
click on HB 2679 under the video image.

 

March 1 was the deadline for bills to pass out of committee in their
house of origin.  Many bills that did not survive the deadline have been
removed from the tracking list.

 

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 27, 2012 -March
2, 2012.

 

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

 

Legislative Report

February 27, 2012- March 2, 2012  

 

Appropriations 

No pending legislation.  

 

Tuition/ Funding 

 

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 2677// Representative Jabar Shumate// The legislation is currently a
shell bill related to private institutions coordinating with OK State
Regents.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education Committee on
February 28, 2012.  Representative Shumate offered a committee
substitute that states no higher education institution shall take any
action or enforce any policy that would deny a religious student group
any benefit available to any other student group based on the religious
student group's requirement that its leaders or members adhere to its
sincerely held religious beliefs or standards of conduct. 
HB 2927// Representative Don Armes and Senator Bryce Marlatt// The
legislation creates a revolving fund for the Commissioners of the Land
Office to be designated the "Multiyear Education Distribution
Stabilization Revolving Fund".  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not
subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of bonus and delay
rental income received by the Commission, and if it is determined by the
Commission to be in the best interest of the trust it may make
distributions of the income upon a five-year rolling average.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on March 1, 2012 with a vote
of 87-2.  
SB1649 // Senator Bryce Marlatt and Representative Don Armes// The
legislation creates a revolving fund for the Commissioners of the Land
Office to be designated the "Multiyear Education Distribution
Stabilization Revolving Fund".  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not
subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of bonus and delay
rental income received by the Commission, and if it is determined by the
Commission to be in the best interest of the trust it may make
distributions of the income upon a five-year rolling average.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on
February 15, 2012.  
  
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 on February 29, 2012
with a vote of 66-24.  

 

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.   
Consolidation/ Transparency/ Modernization  
 
HB 2196// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation outlines
funding and criteria for performance audits by the State Auditor. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on February 23, 2012.  
HB2197// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Strategic Cost Reduction and Saving Act.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on March 1, 2012.  Representative Murphey offered a committee
substitute that directs the State Purchasing Director to form an
advisory committee consisting of representatives from entities exempted
from the provisions of The Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act.  The purpose
of the committee is to allow committee members to provide input into the
development of shared state purchasing contracts, collaboratively
participate in the integration of their purchasing platforms or
electronic purchasing catalogs, analyze solutions that may be used by
state government to meet the purchasing needs of the entities, explore
joint purchases of general use items that result in mutual procurement
of quality goods and services at the lowest reasonable cost and explore
flexibility, administrative relief, and transformation changes through
utilization of procurement technology.
HB 2482// Representative Lewis Moore// The legislation is currently a
shell bill creating the Government Modernization Act of 2012.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on March 1, 2012.   Effective November 1, 2012, institutions
of higher education, common education and career technology centers may
obtain workers' compensation insurance through third-party vendors.
Additionally, effective November 1, 2012, all state agencies, boards and
commissions shall obtain workers' compensation insurance through the
Office of State Finance.  The state Risk Management Administrator shall
manage the process and shall ensure that information needed for the
quoting process shall be available no less than sixty (60) days before
the expiration date of the current policy.  In addition, the Risk
Management Administrator shall have oversight authority of the claims
and risk management processes of any private carrier or insurance agency
insuring the risk.  
 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 failed to pass out of the House on March 1, 2012 with
a vote of 
48-36.    
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.  
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 on February 29, 2012 with a
vote of 45-0.  
 Governance 
HB 2999// Representative Tom Newell and Senator Josh Brecheen// The
legislation is currently a shell bill relating to the RUSO board.  
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education Committee on
February 28, 2012.  Representative Newell offered a committee substitute
that creates the Regional University System of Oklahoma Study Task
Force.   
 HB 2971// Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation creates the
Higher Education Branch Campus Study Task Force until October 31, 2012. 
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 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.  
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 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.  

 

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.      
SB 1797// Senator Clark Jolley and Representative Lee Denney// Creates
Commission for Education, Instruction Quality and Accountability.  The
Secretary of Education will oversee the commission.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on
February 29, 2012.    
 Faculty 
No pending legislation.  
Reporting 
SB 1819// Senator Jim Halligan and Representative Lee Denney// 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 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on
February 27, 2012.  

 

Legal Reform 
No pending legislation.  
 
Academic 
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 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.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career
Tech Committee on February 21, 2012.  
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.  

 

SB1818// Senator Jim Halligan and Representative Lee Denney// The
legislation increases units of mathematics required from three to four
for students entering the ninth grade in the 2012-2013 school year.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on
February 29, 2012.  

 

SB1863// Senator Steve Russell and Representative Ann Coody// The
legislation authorizes institutions or career and technology centers to
award educational credits to a student enrolled in the institution or
career and technology center for courses that are part of the student's
military training or service and that meet the standards of the American
Council on Education (ACE) or equivalent standards for awarding academic
credit if the award of educational credit is based upon the
institution's or technical career center's admission standards and its
role, scope and mission.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on
February 29, 2012.  

 

 
Tuition Waivers
HB 2689// Representative Gary Banz and Senator Jerry Ellis// 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 Higher Education and Career
Tech 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 and Senator Don Barrington// 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 Committee on
February 27, 2012.  

 

Bond Issues 
SB 1134// Senator Patrick Anderson and Representative Jason Murphey//
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 passed out of the Senate General Government Committee
on February 27, 2012.   

 

Other 
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 passed out of the Senate
Appropriations Committee on February 29, 2012.  

 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 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.
 
Energy 
HB2833// Representative Scott Martin and 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 passed out of the House on March 1, 2012 with a vote
of 71-9.
 SB 1096// Senator Brian Bingman and 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 Senate General Government Committee
on February 27, 2012.   
 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 passed out of the House Government Modernization
Committee on March 1, 2012.  
 
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.   

   

SB 1785// Senator Steve Russell and Representative Leslie Osborn// 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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