New State Laws Take Effect

In addition to the new ethanol labeling law, several more laws are in place on Tuesday. New state laws deal with issues from license plates to prenatal care.

First, House Bill 2272 authorizes a $300 million bond issue for state roads and bridges.

Also starting on Tuesday, expectant mothers in Oklahoma are required to take prenatal classes with warnings against using alcohol and drugs during pregnancy.

Residents who need to renew their car tag can expect a new design. Motorists will not be charged any additional fee for the new tag, unless they want to keep their old number.

Senate Bill 1601 is in effect as well. This bill required the employees of childcare facilities to sign a statement saying they have not been convicted of a violent crime. Under the law, childcare operators will also have to check a database at least once a year to ensure employees are not on the list of convicted, violent criminals.

Other new laws call for a $5,000 death benefit to be paid to the family of any emergency medical technician who dies on duty.

For EMT Keith Johnson, who risked his life by jumping into a freezing pool to rescue a man in November of last year, this is a battle won!

Businesses were gearing up to start screening employees through an immigration database in July of 2008, but that part of House Bill 1804 remains on hold due to concerns that it may be unconstitutional.

In addition, nearly 200 appropriation bills funding government for the next year went into effect.

House Bill 3060 allows the State Department of Health to establish a public umbilical cord blood bank "for the purpose of collecting and storing umbilical cord blood and placental tissue donated by maternity patients at hospitals licensed in this state."

Cord blood is a source of stem cells that does not require the killing of an unborn baby. Authors hope the bill will lead to ethical stem cell research in Oklahoma.