[Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – March 20, 2015

[Fair, Bryce]

Following is the state legislative update for last week, March 16-20.
Bills have now been assigned to committees for possible hearing before the April 9 deadline for committee action.
Bryce Fair



OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION


Memo


To:                  Legislative Network
From:             Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
Date:               Friday, March 20, 2015
Subject:          Legislative Update – March 20, 2015


The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of March 16, 2015 – March 20, 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
March 20, 2015

Appropriations and Budget

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


OKPromise

HB 2180 // Representative Jeff Hickman and Senator Gary Stanislawski // The legislation requires that OKPromise students enrolled at four-year colleges complete 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 is assigned to the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 137 // Senator Corey Brooks and Representative Lee Denney //  As introduced, 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.  [The current version of the bill now requires the State Regents to review the financial qualifications of certain applications if the parental income includes Social Security benefits due to the death or disability of a parent, or untaxed military benefits.]
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee.

SB 177 // Senator Jim Halligan and Representative Lee Denney // The legislation increases the income eligibility for the OKPromise scholarship to $55,000 adjusted gross income.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee.

SB 504 // Senator Clark Jolley and Representative Jason Nelson // The legislation allows the OKPromise scholarship to be used to attend a nonprofit university that offers online, competency-based degree programs and is accredited.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee.

HB 1848 // Representative Scott Inman and Senator Greg Treat // 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 is assigned to the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

HB 1672 // Representative Kouplen and Senator Roger Thompson // 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 is assigned to the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 763 // Senator Randy Bass and Representative Jeannie McDaniel //  The legislation directs the Department of Human Services to work with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to ensure that foster parents are given information about Oklahoma’s Promise.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee.


Weapons on Campus/Campus Security

No pending legislation.


Scholarships


SB 138 // Senator Corey Brooks and Representative Tommy Hardin // The legislation would provide in-state status for tuition for certain veterans, their spouses and children.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee.


Endowed Chairs

HB 1732 // Representative Sean Roberts and Senator Eddie Fields // 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 is assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.


Academic

HCR 1002 // Representative Dan Fisher // The concurrent resolution urges the College Board to change the Advanced Placement United States History course framework and examination. The resolution also directs the State Board of Education not to award grants or expend certain money for any Advanced Placement United States History course or examination until certain conditions are met.
UPATE:  The House Concurrent Resolution was introduced on February 2, 2015.

SB 414 // Senator Rick Brinkley and Representative Tom Newell // The legislation lists the independent, not-for-profit institutions that are eligible for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee.

HB 2081 // Representative Jason Nelson and Senator Kim David //  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 is assigned to the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 707 // Senator John Ford and Representative Lee Denney // The legislation eliminates end of instruction exams and requires the State Board of Education to develop new high school graduation requirements.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Common Education committee on March 16, 2015.


Task Force/ Advisory Committees

No pending legislation.


Telecommunications

No pending legislation.


Accreditation

No pending legislation.


Shell Bills

No pending legislation.


State Ballot Questions

No pending legislation.


Retirement

SB 405 // Senator Marty Quinn and Representative Kevin Wallace // 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 is assigned to the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee.


Other

SB 23 // Senator Marty Quinn and Representative Mark Lepak //  The legislation creates an open records exemption for certain business information kept by higher education.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Government Oversight and Accountability Committee.

HB 1058 // Representative Dennis Casey and Senator Jim Halligan // The legislation authorizes institutions within the State System of Higher Education to process federal tax withholding without claim forms.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

SB 612 // Senator Dan Newberry and Representative Harold Wright // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the House Economic Development, Commerce and Real Estate Committee.

HB 1859 // Representative Harold Wright and Senator Dan Newberry // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
UPDATE:  The bill is assigned to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.


Glen D. Johnson
Chancellor
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
405.225.9122
gjohnson at osrhe.edu<mailto:gjohnson at osrhe.edu>

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