Oklahoma Legislature bill status

The status of some of the major legislation in the 2002 session of the 48th Oklahoma Legislature as of April 19: <br><br>HB 1968 by Corn _ The Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act.

Saturday, April 20th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The status of some of the major legislation in the 2002 session of the 48th Oklahoma Legislature as of April 19:

HB 1968 by Corn _ The Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act. Would appropriate about $35 million to raise the level of financial support for health care benefits to 75 percent for state teachers and 100 percent for school support personnel, effective July 1. Committee substitute passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee's Education Subcommittee; committee substitute passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee; amended and passed by full House; committee substitute passed by Senate Appropriations Committee; floor substitute adopted and passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments.

HB 2041 by Pope _ Tax Reform. Would lower the state's maximum 7 percent income tax rate to a flat 5 percent of federal taxable income. Committee substitute passed by House Revenue and Taxation Committee and full House; amended and passed by Senate Finance Committee; passed by full Senate; House rejects Senate amendments and requests conference; House names conferees.

HB 2216 by Morgan _ The Kristie LaGrange Act. Would permit a photograph of murder victims to be admissible evidence during the trial of the accused assailant to show the general appearance and condition of the victim while alive. Passed by the House Criminal Justice Committee and full House; passed by Senate Judiciary Committee and full Senate; House accepts Senate amendments and passes bill; sent to governor.

HB 2635 by Toure _ Executing the Mentally Retarded. Would prohibit the state from sentencing mentally retarded defendants to death. Assigned to the House Criminal Justice Committee; withdrawn from the House Criminal Justice Committee and assigned to the House Judiciary Committee; committee substitute passed by the House Judiciary Committee; amended and defeated by the full House; held on notice to reconsider; reconsidered and passed by full House; sent to Senate Appropriations Committee; withdrawn from Senate Appropriations Committee and assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee; amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments.

HB 2637 by Toure _ Wrongful Conviction. Would authorize claims under the Government Tort Claims Act for wrongful criminal felony convictions resulting in imprisonment and limiting recovery to a maximum of $200,000. Passed by House Judiciary Committee; floor substitute amended and passed by full House; amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee; passed by full Senate; emergency provision failed; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments.

HB 2772 by Tibbs _ Voter ID. Would require that proof of identity be presented when voting. Committee substitute passed by House Rules Committee; amended and passed by full House; passed by Senate General Government Committee, sent to full Senate.

HB 2895 by Blackburn _ Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan Act of 2002. Would establish a moratorium on the sale of public water outside the state for five years, create a commission to develop a water plan and prohibit the sale of Oklahoma water to another state without legislative approval. Assigned to House Environment and Natural Resources Committee; committee substitute passed by House Environment and Natural Resources Committee; floor substitute adopted and passed by full House; sent to Senate Appropriations Committee; committee substitute passed by Senate Appropriations Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; House rejects Senate amendments and requests conference.

HB 2921 by Morgan _ Address Confidentiality Program. Would establish an address confidentiality program through the Office of the Secretary of State for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking. Passed by the House Criminal Justice Committee and full House; amended and passed by Senate Appropriations Committee; passed by Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments.

SB 815 by Rabon _ Moment of Silence. Would require local school boards to require one minute of silence in public school classrooms each day for students to meditate, reflect or engage in any other silent activity. Passed by Senate Education Committee and full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Rules Committee, sent to full House.

SB 816 by Crutchfield _ Sales Tax Holiday. Would provide for a three-day sales tax exemption during the first weekend in August for the sale of articles of clothing or footwear having a sale price of less than $100. Amended and passed by the Senate Finance Committee; passed by full Senate; passed by House Revenue and Taxation Committee; amended and passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments; Senate rejects House amendments and requests conference.

SB 822 by Shurden _ Oklahoma Anti-terrorism Act. Would establish crimes and penalties for acts of terrorism, terrorism hoaxes, biochemical assaults and manufacturing a substance with the intent of terrorist activity. Amended and passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee; passed by full Senate; passed by House Homeland Security Committee; amended and passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments; Senate rejects House amendments and requests conference; House grants conference and names conferees.

SB 834 by Cain _ Income Taxes. Would increase the standard deduction for Oklahoma income tax purposes to equal the federal standard deduction. Amended and passed by the Senate Finance Committee and full Senate; passed by House Revenue and Taxation Committee; amended and passed by House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments.

SB 908 by Muegge _ Got Milk? Would designate milk as the state beverage. Passed by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, sent to full House.

SB 950 by Leftwich _ Don't Call. Telemarketer Restriction Act would require the attorney general to establish a list of customers who do not wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing sales calls. Amended and passed by Senate Business and Labor Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Energy and Utility Regulation Committee; amended and passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments; Senate accepts House amendments and passes bill; signed by Governor.

SB 992 by Rozell _ School Bullying Prevention Act. Would provide a comprehensive approach for public schools to create an environment conducive to the learning process by implementing policies for the prevention of harassment, intimidation and bullying. Passed by Senate Education Committee; amended and laid over in Senate; passed by full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Education Committee; amended and passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments.

SB 1231 by Morgan _ Teacher Retirement. Would require benefit increases for members of the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma. Amended and passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee; passed by full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Retirement Laws Committee; amended and passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments; Senate rejects House amendments and requests conference.

SB 1553 by Robinson _ No Smoking. Would prohibit smoking in the State Capitol Building, indoor theaters, libraries, art galleries, museums, indoor roller skating rinks and concert halls, if proper and separate ventilation is provided. Committee substitute passed by the Senate Human Services Committee and full Senate; committee substitute passed by House Commerce, Industry and Labor Committee; sent to full House; discussed and laid over in House on general order; floor substitute passed by full House; passed by Senate; signed by governor.

SB 1681 by Fair _ Oklahoma Congressional Redistricting Act of 2002. Divides the state into five congressional districts, beginning with the terms of members of the U.S. House at the November 2002 general election. Introduced.