[Oasfaa] First State Legislative Update

Tue Feb 5 15:54:43 CST 2013

Below is the first legislative update for the 2013 session that begins today.  You will see that there have been eight bills introduced to make changes to Oklahoma's Promise (see the OKPromise section).  One of the bills would repeal the Oklahoma's Promise program in its entirety (see HB 1281 by Rep. Lewis Moore, R - Arcadia).  Several of the other OKPromise bills are "shell" bills at this point without meaningful language in them.  I've added links to the bill text for a few of the bills.

We haven't found any other bills that would affect our other state grant and scholarship programs.   There are bills related to the statutory authority for setting tuition and fees as well as some tuition waiver bills (see the sections on "Tuition and Fees" and "Tuition Waivers").

To find the text and more information on any of the bills, go to http://www.oklegislature.gov/BasicSearchForm.aspx and type in the bill number.

The first legislative action deadline is at the end of February when bills must have passed out of committee in their House of origin.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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

The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of January 28, 2013 - February 1, 2013.

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

Legislative Update
January 28, 2013 - February 1, 2013

Appropriations

SB 281// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation transfers thirty thousand ($30,000.00) from the general revenue fund for the implementation of the city manager and municipal officials program at the University of Oklahoma/Oklahoma State University Graduate Center at Tulsa.

Tuition and Fees

SB 760// Senator Anthony Sykes// The legislation requires student fees to be submitted to the legislature for approval.  If the Legislature fails to approve the increase in fees, as proposed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, on or before the last day of the legislative session, the increase is disapproved.

HB 1332// Representative James Lockhart// The legislation requires legislative approval by concurrent resolution prior to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education commencing any action to implement an increase in resident or nonresident tuition.

HB1457// Representative Mike Reynolds//  The legislation repeals the State Regents authority to set tuition and fees and transfers the authority to the Oklahoma State Legislature beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year.

HB 2133// Representative Jeff Hickman// The legislation limits the annual increase to resident tuition and mandatory fees to the lesser of three percent (3%) or the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the most recent complete year, as determined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Campus Safety

SB 312// Senator Tom Ivester// The legislation requires institutions that have campus police to partner and notify local municipal police departments upon receiving a report of sexual assault or violent crime or upon observing or gaining knowledge of a sexual assault or violent crime.

SB 835// Senator Ralph Shortey// The legislation allows members of the legislature to carry a firearm on his or her person anywhere in the State of Oklahoma if the person has successfully completed an approved course of firearm training conducted by a certified firearms instructor which is equal to the minimum requirements for firearms training as set forth by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

SB 855// Senator Frank Simpson// The legislation eliminates the language that makes it unlawful to carry a gun in any meeting of a city, town, county, state or federal officials, school board members, legislative members, or any other elected or appointed officials.

SB 840// Senator Ralph Shortey// The legislation eliminates the language that makes it unlawful to carry a gun in any meeting of a city, town, county, state or federal officials, school board members, legislative members, or any other elected or appointed officials.

HB 1059// Representative Mark McCullough//  The legislation eliminates the language that makes it unlawful to carry a gun in any meeting of a city, town, county, state or federal officials, school board members, legislative members, or any other elected or appointed officials.

CIO

HB 1435// Representative Mike Turner// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "the State Fiber Optic Resource Study Act of 2013."

HB 1840// Representative David Derby// The legislation deletes the exemption and transfers OneNet under the control of the State Chief Information Officer.

HB 2062// Representative David Derby// The legislation directs the State Chief Information Officer to annually complete an assessment of all the information technology and telecommunication systems of all state agencies in the state, including the systems of higher education and OneNet.

OKPromise

HB 1281// Representative Lewis Moore// The legislation repeals the language creating the OKPromise scholarship program.  (text: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/hB/HB1281%20INT.PDF)

HB 1288// Representative Lewis Moore// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Oklahoma Higher Education Scholarship Act of 2013".

HB 1601// Representative Scott Martin// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Higher Learning Access Program Reform Act of 2013".

HB 1721// Representative Leslie Osborn// The legislation eliminates the language creating the second income check of $100,000 before a scholarship recipient enters college.  (text:  http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/hB/HB1721%20INT.PDF)

HB 2273// Representative Jadine Nollan// The legislation is a shell bill relating to OKPromise.

HB1898// Representative Josh Cockroft// The legislation allows for the OKPromise award to pay for certain courses at career tech.  If the OKPromise student starts at a higher education institution and then changes and enrolls in a career tech program the award can be used to pay for the program or course.  (text: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/hB/HB1898%20INT.PDF)

SB 432// Senator John Ford// The legislation expands the OKPromise program to pay the tuition and fees for students who are pursuing certification in a postsecondary vocational-technical program or program offered at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education identified by the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  (text:  http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/SB/SB432%20INT.PDF)

SB 399// Senator Tom Ivester// The legislation creates an exception for students in the 11th and 12th grade to sign up for the OKPromise scholarship program if their parent or guardian passes away.   (text:  http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/SB/SB399%20INT.PDF)

Transparency and Accountability

HB1003// Representative Jason Murphey//  The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Transparency, Accountability and Innovation in Oklahoma State Government 2.0 Act of 2013".

HB 1002// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Cost Reduction and Savings Act of 2013."

HB 1464// Representative Jason Murphey//  The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Innovation, Efficiency and Reform Act of 2013".

HB 1465// Representative Jason Murphey// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Qualification of State Government Performance Act of 2013".

Governance

SB 171// Senator John Ford// The legislation alters the membership of the Career Tech Governing Board.  The bill removes the State Superintendent from the Career Tech Board.  Additionally, the bill directs the Governor to appoint to members of the State Regents to serve as ex officio voting members.

SB 867 // Senator Clark Jolley// The legislation transfers the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority to the OK State Regents for Higher Education.

Academic

SB 160 //Senator Brian Crain//  The legislation requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish a program for city managers and other municipal officials at the University of Oklahoma/Oklahoma State University Graduate Center at Tulsa and shall direct the University of Oklahoma to provide all necessary courses at the Tulsa campus.

Reporting

SB 156// Senator Jim Halligan// The legislation requires the State Regents to report the following to the legislature on all baccalaureate programs offered, the average five-year graduation rate for first-time college enrollees; the average debt incurred by students who incurred student loan debt to complete their studies; the percentage of students employed within the discipline of their studies upon graduation; and information presented at the conclusion of the sophomore year of study to students and their parents reporting the projected level of debt incurred by those students who, in obtaining their degree, incurred debt, and information detailing other academic programs which are in high demand in the Oklahoma economy.

HB 1878// Representative Ken Walker// The legislation requires institutions to provide perspective students, their parents, the public and the legislature information comparing the  Oklahoma institution to their peer institution in the following categories costs, student success, graduation rates, test scores, and admissions.

Other

SB 56// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation indicates that OSRHE shall not issue any waivers or allow a student to graduate with an accounting degree without meeting the minimum number of hours taught by faculty being satisfied.

SB 57// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation directs that Oklahoma State University-Tulsa shall not unnecessarily duplicate degree programs offered at Langston University-Tulsa.

SB 58// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation indicates that the Langston Board of Trustees may establish a branch campus in Tulsa.  The legislation currently statue uses the word shall.

SB 59// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation directs the OSRHE to establish an accounting degree program at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.

HB 1317// Representative John Enns// The legislation creates legislative intent that directs institutions to develop and adopt drug and alcohol education and prevention program for student athletes involved in any sport which is overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

SB 891// Senator John Sparks// The legislation creates a cause of action for any public or private institution on a third party who engages 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. The educational institution may recover damages in the amount of the sanctions, penalties or economic losses incurred as a result of the conduct of the third party.

SB 49// Senator John Sparks//  The legislation expands the Oklahoma Mutual Aid Compact to allow public universities which maintain CLEET-certified law enforcement agencies to elect to be considered jurisdictions under the provisions of the compact and shall retain the right to later withdraw from the system;

SB 682// Senator Don Barrington// The legislation defines the purpose of the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training and outlines the educational duties and mission.

SB 337// Senator Tom Ivester// The legislation allows the Special Agency Account Board to  approve an agency special account for money received for the purposes of payment of expenses by an institution of higher education, where such expense is shared by more than one department.

Textbooks

HB 1434// Representative Mike Turner// The legislation creates legislative intent to give students more information about the textbook, instructional material and other costs associated with each course.  Specifically, higher education faculty and staff members when developing a syllabus for a course to must include in the syllabus the cost of: a. all instructional materials required for the course, b. any license which the student may be required to acquire in order to access on-line or supplemental course-specific material and c. any laboratory fees required for the course.

Higher Education Shell Bills

SB 172// Senator Jim Halligan// The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.

SB 593// Senator Clark Jolley// The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.

HB 1715// Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.

HB 2043// Representative TW Shannon// The legislation is a shell bill creating the "Higher Education Act of 2013."

HB 2082// Representative Mike Jackson// The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.

SB 724// Senator Bring Bingman// The legislation is a shell bill related to the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority.

Task Force

SB 317// Senator Brian Crain// The legislation creates a task force to examine the need for a doctorate nursing program within the State of Oklahoma and the capital and operational requirements necessary for Langston University to develop and maintain a doctorate nursing program.

Housing

HB 1453// Representative Mike Reynolds// The creates legislative intent  that each board of regents for each institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education adopt a student housing policy that gives all students, regardless of their enrollment status or financial ability, the option to live in institution-owned on-campus housing or reside off-campus while enrolled in the institution.

Endowed Chairs

SB 495// Senator Clark Jolley// The legislation allows the OK State Regents for Higher Education utilize the prudent man standard when dealing with investments.

Bonds and Master Lease

SB 158// Senator Patrick Anderson// The legislation restricts the master lease program.  The master lease program can be for lease transactions having a minimum value of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) and a maximum value of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00.)  The legislature will also have to approve any project through concurrent resolution before it can commence.

SB 525// Senator Brian Crain//  The legislation authorizes the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority to acquire the real property located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for purposes of providing a building for a nursing school at Langston University in Tulsa.  The obligation should not exceed twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) and the legislature shall appropriate monies to the State Regents for the debt payments.

SB 558 //Senator Brian Crain//  The legislation authorizes the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority to acquire the real property, for purposes of constructing a teaching hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma on behalf of the University of Oklahoma.  The obligation should not exceed twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) and the legislature shall appropriate monies to the State Regents for the debt payments.

SB 653// Senator Clark Jolley// The legislation relieves the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education of the responsibility of constructing and financing the Medical Examiner Office and directs the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority to issue bonds for the project.

Tuition Waivers

HB 1121// Representative Wade Rousselot// The legislation creates a full tuition waiver for dependents for Oklahoma public school employees.  The bill also creates the "Oklahoma Children of Educators Trust Fund," to fund the program.

HB 1381// Representative Emily Virgin//  The legislation creates a student's eligibility for in-state status at institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education regardless of the residency of the student if the student has been selected to participate in a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program associated with an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.

HB 2162// Representative Sean Roberts// The legislation eliminates graduate tuition resident tuition or mandatory fees for members of the Oklahoma National Guard who are: 1. Senior noncommissioned officers; 2. Warrant officers; or 3. Commissioned officers. The waiver of resident tuition and mandatory fees shall be limited to a period of thirty-six (36) months.

HB 2267// Representative John Treblicock// The legislation creates a resident tuition waiver for the dependents and spouses of persons who served in military combat zones.

SB 423// Senator John Sparks// The legislation allows for students who have received a diploma from a public Oklahoma High School to receive resident tuition.  The student must reside in the state to receive the resident tuition.

SB 486// Senator Frank Simpson// The legislation allows for  a one hundred percent (100%) disabled veteran of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, their spouse and dependents, to attend any state support institution without payment of tuition or fees.

Tax Credits

SB 94// Senator John Sparks// The legislation provides an income tax deduction for full time students enrolled at an Oklahoma higher education institution.

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