[Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – February 13, 2015

[Fair, Bryce]

Below is the state legislative update for this week.
To find the text of a bill and information about any action on the bill, go to http://www.oklegislature.gov/BasicSearchForm.aspx and type in the bill number.
I’ve added a little commentary in [italics] to the description of a couple of Oklahoma’s Promise bills.
Let me know if you have questions.
Bryce Fair

Bryce Fair
Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships and Grants
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
P.O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850
Email:  bfair at osrhe.edu
Phone: 405-225-9162
Fax: 405-225-9230



The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of February 9, 2015 – February 13, 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 13, 2015

Appropriations and Budget

HB 1174// Representative Earl Sears// The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education appropriations shell bill.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 332 // Senator AJ Griffin // The legislation repeals the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.


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.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee.

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.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee and will be heard in committee on February 16, 2015.

SB 177 // Senator Jim Halligan // The legislation increases the income eligibility for the OKPromise scholarship to $55,000 adjusted gross income.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 9, 2015.  [Changing the statutory definition of “income” from “taxable and nontaxable income” to “adjusted gross income” would dramatically simplify the application process in the 8th-10th grade.  Increasing the income limit from $50,000 to $55,000 would expand the eligible pool of students about 5%.  The number of students enrolling in the program and receiving the scholarship in college have been declining in the past few years, due in large part to the lack of adjustment in the income limit, which has not changed since 2000.  You can find this data in our most recent annual report for Oklahoma’s Promise at http://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/pdf/okp-report-13-14.pdf.]

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.  [This would allow the scholarship to be used at institutions like Western Governors University.]
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 9, 2015.


HB 1848 // Representative Scott Inman // The legislation expands eligibility for the OKPromise program to include students in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The student is exempt from meeting all other high school eligibility criteria. The contact person for OHLAP is responsible for identifying students who are in the permanent custody of DHS and providing those names to the State Regents.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education on February 9, 2015.



HB 1672 // Representative Kouplen // The legislation expands eligibility for the OKPromise program to include students in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The student is exempt from meeting all other high school eligibility criteria.

UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee on February 9, 2015.




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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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


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.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and will be heard in committee on February 16, 2015.

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.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee.

SB 404 // Senator John Ford // The legislation creates the Oklahoma Career Promise Act.  A student may receive a scholarship for tuition and fees in certain critical industry certifications designated by the Department of Commerce.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee and will be heard in committee on February 16, 2015.

HB 1533 // Representative Todd Thomsen// The legislation creates the Oklahoma Higher Education Scholarship Program for middle income students.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.


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.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health and will be heard in committee on February 16, 2015.


Academic

SB 414 // Senator Rick Brinkley // The legislation lists the independent, not-for-profit institutions that are eligible for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.


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.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee.



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


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.

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

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.

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

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


Telecommunications

SB 550 // Senator Anthony Sykes // The legislation places the judicial branch under the State Chief Information Officer and OMES.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.


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.

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee.

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

Shell Bills

HB 1704 // Representative Lee Denney // The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.

HB 2113 // Representative Lewis Moore // The legislation is a shell bill relating to higher education.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.


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

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

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


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


HB 1058 // Representative Dennis Casey // The legislation authorizes institutions within the State System of Higher Education to process federal tax withholding without claim forms.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee on February 11, 2015.

SB 612 // Senator Dan Newberry // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.


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

UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to Economic Development, Commerce and Real Estate Committee.



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oasfaa/attachments/20150213/4ab1f36d/attachment.html>