State Capitol remains quiet

July 28--Around the Oklahoma Capitol it is quiet, except for the hubbub around the medicinal marijuana.

"I talked to my executive assistant, and she said it is like a tomb up there [at the Capitol,] said State Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee. "We haven't been doing much other than keeping up with the marijuana stories in the papers. I think [State Sen. Greg] McCortney [R-Ada] is trying to speak to all the parties and make the best decision possible [on the bipartisan bicameral group examining medical marijuana implementation]. Other than that, it is quiet."

State Rep. Matt Meredith, D-Tahlequah, concurred that there was much silence around the Capitol, except on medical cannabis, but he was in Oklahoma CIty during the week and sat in on a meeting of the working group.

"It was very well-attended by the public, from what I could tell," Meredith said. "The medical marijuana thing is still going on around the Capitol, mainly with the interim studies, but other than that...."

A Friday afternoon call to State Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, inviting comment was not returned by press time.

Lawmakers representing parts of Cherokee County in the statehouse include Meredith; Pemberton; Faught; State Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove; State Rep. Will Fourkiller, D-Stilwell; and State Sen. Kim David, R-Porter.

Some of the bills passed into law this spring by Fallin include:

--SB 1346: Amends language to require the court clerk to obtain and record the full date of birth, rather than the year of birth, of a defendant when a conviction is rendered. Passed the House without dissent. Passed the Senate 34-4 with Pemberton in favor, Shaw opposed and David excused.

--SB 1439: Adjusts eligibility of state motor license agent applicants, requiring the agency be the primary source of income if the agent lives in a county with a population greater than 30,000. Passed the House 76-18 with Faught and Fourkiller in favor, and Meredith opposed. Passed the Senate without opposition.

--SB 1446: Places a limit on the number of pain pills a doctor can prescribe. Patients can usually receive a week's worth of opioids during a first visit. To write a second prescription, doctors must determine the necessity, and the risk of abuse, addiction or diversion of the pills to someone else. The only no vote was cast by State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow.

--SB 1516: Continues the Lay Caregivers Act, which allows hospital patients to designate a lay caregiver after admission to a hospital, and requires hospitals to notify the caregiver of the patient's discharge. Also requires hospitals to consult with designated caregivers regarding aftercare of hospital patients. Approved without dissent.

--SB 1520: Modifies job requirements for the state's liquefied petroleum gas administrator to include two years in LPG management or safety. Removes language that exempted trucks carrying LPG out of state, and not required to carry an Oklahoma license, from Oklahoma LPG Act permit fees. The only dissenting vote was cast by State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow.

--SB 1023: Allows the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training to conduct full-time basic peace officer certification academies and other training for people not commissioned or appointed by a law enforcement agency under council rules. Provides tuition or fees for attending academies or training at a rate established by CLEET and approved by the council. Revenue will be deposited in the Peace Officer Revolving Fund. Requires trainees to meet minimum statutory requirements established for peace officers. State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, was the only lawmaker to cast a nay vote.

--SB 1130: Extends terms of county election board secretaries to four years. Provides for raises for election board secretaries beginning May 1, 2019. Passed the House 75-10 with Meredith in favor, Faught opposed and Fourkiller excused. Passed the Senate without opposition.

--SB 932: Allows any Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs employee administrative leave with pay for volunteer service activities under any terms the executive director may establish, in service to veterans or dependents of veterans in the state, in connection to the department. Passed without opposition.

--SB 1296: Modifies prepaid funeral benefits to be placed in interest-bearing investments authorized by the insurance code. Approved by the House 81-11 and the Senate 34-4 with the support of Cherokee County lawmakers. David was excused.

* SB 1303: Allows the use of debit cards to purchase lottery tickets. Passed the House 72-16 with Meredith in favor, Faught opposed and Fourkiller excused. Passed the Senate 26-12 with David and Pemberton in favor and Shaw opposed.

--HB 3117: clarifies the responsibility of the State Board of Education to notify school boards that a member has not completed certain instructional or continuing education requirements. Modifies the time period to two years during which a person disqualified from serving on a school board for failing to meet the instructional or continuing education requirements. Grants a member notified of failure to meet the continuing education requirements 10 days after receipt of notice to file a written appeal with the State Board of Education requesting a hearing. Passed the House 85-2 and the Senate unopposed with the support of Cherokee County legislators. David was excused.

--HB 3284: Changes language on imposing monthly $35 fee on anyone booked into jail. The inmate need not be serving a sentence. Approved by the House 78-9 with the support of Faught, Fourkiller and Meredith. Approved by the Senate without opposition.

--HB 3309: As funds are available, requires the State Department of Education to administer an induction program for teachers to provide support, mentorship and coaching to educators at the beginning of their careers or as they transition to new roles within a school or district. Changes the name of the residency program. Passed the House 88-2 with Fourkiller and Meredith in favor and Faught excused. Passed the Senate unopposed.

--SB 1184: Removes requirement that the Oklahoma Department of Commerce assist the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, and places that authority under the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Directs all funds held in the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority Fund to remain in the fund for use by the OMES. Passed the House without opposition. Approved by the Senate 33-8 with the support of David, Pemberton and Shaw.

--SB 1005: Establishes distinct felonies and penalties for sodomy and rape committed upon a person at least 16 but younger than 18 by anyone responsible for the child's health, safety or welfare. It makes it a felony to, in a lewd and lascivious manner, force or require a child to defecate or urinate upon the body or private parts of another, or for the purpose of sexual gratification.

--SB 1570: Makes it illegal for a wholesaler to discriminate in price between one wine and spirits wholesaler and another within a county. Passed the House 64-16 with Meredith in favor, Faught opposed and Fourkiller excused. Passed the Senate without dissent.

--SB 1579: Creates the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Reimbursement and Donation Fund, a OTRD revolving fund that includes donations, insurance reimbursement, FEMA payments and other reimbursements. Passed the House 75-1 and the Senate 38-3 with the support of the Cherokee County delegation. Fourkiller was excused.

--SB 1581: Allows state employees to use donated annual or sick leave from employees at other agencies, if leave options within the employee's agency are exhausted. Authorizes the Human Capital Management Division within the Office of Management and Enterprises Services to designate a shared leave liaison between agencies. Passed without dissent.

--HJR 1029: Voted down three rules proposed by the Ethics Commission, including a mandatory two-year "cool-off" between any former lawmaker's legislative service and employment as a lobbyist; a requirement for those in office to apply surplus campaign funds to the expense of a special election if they resign during their terms; and a rule allowing compliance notices to be sent via email instead of the postal service. Passed the House 64-27 with Faught and Meredith opposed and Fourkiller excused. Passed the Senate 34-8 with the support of David, Pemberton and Shaw.

--HB 2308: Authorized the insurance commissioner to relocate the Department of Insurance's offices to a single site in Oklahoma City. Grants the commissioner power to purchase, lease-purchase and-or build-out a facility. Passed the House 51-29 with Faught in favor, and Fourkiller and Meredith opposed. Passed the Senate 38-3 with Daivd, Pemberton and Shaw in favor.

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