Source: http://okhighered.org/leg-info/1997/6-6dist2.htm
Timestamp: 2017-04-30 07:03:51
Document Index: 96369317

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1210', '§ 500', '§ 6', '§ 595', '§ 1', '§ 6060', '§ 1316', '§ 1306', '§ 1303', '§ 2946', '§ 2881', '§ 41', '§ 1210', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 3207', '§ 63', '§ 3204', '§ 139', '§ 57', '§ 1210', '§ 695', '§ 1356', '§ 401', '§ 404', '§ 41', '§ 1356', '§ 230']

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Friday, June 6, 1997
From: Bryce Fair & Carolyn McCoy The following document consists of three sections. Section I provides a brief narrative of legislative highlights and a summary of actions on bills during the week. Section II is an index of the bills we are tracking and Section III provides a short description of each bill and the latest legislative action on the bill. (Note: Our next and final report will not be distributed until after the deadline for the Governor to act on remaining legislation. The final report should be distributed no later than June 20.)
Numerous Bills Remain on Governor's Desk: Some forty-two bills we are tracking still await action by the Governor. These bills were passed within the last five days of the legislative session and the Governor has until fifteen days following the end of the session to approve or reject the bills. Any bills not receiving the Governor's signature are automatically "pocket" vetoed.
We have removed over 40 bills from our tracking list which were not passed by the Legislature prior to the end of the session.
Affirmative Action Plans to be Submitted to State Regents: According to language in a bill passed late in the legislative session, HB 1147, all higher education institutions will be required to submit affirmative action plans to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The bill also calls for the State Regents to establish standards for the plans. The new legislation becomes effective July 1, 1997.
Citizens’ Commission on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education; Wednesday, June 25; 10:00 a.m.; at the Raider Room in the Student Center at Rose State College in Midwest City. The Commission will begin the process of finalizing the its recommendations.
June 14, Saturday	Deadline for Governor to sign bills passed
during the last 5 days of session	Actions on Bills This Week: Bills Awaiting Action of the Governor
SB 1 -- science/math curriculum; pilot project SB 25 -- plumbing technicians SB 30 -- groundwater education SB 43 -- related to the Ok. Employment Security Act SB 79 -- employee leave SB 90 -- travel reimbursement; alternative lodging SB 122 -- budgetary limitations; Ok. Cntr. for Advancement of Science & Tech. SB 244 -- health insurance; pre-authorization requirements SB 337 -- Advanced Placement Incentive Program SB 398 -- technology training for teachers; professional development SB 693 -- child support enforcement SB 699 -- Oklahoma Privatization Functions Act SB 706 -- child support enforcement SB 730 -- workers' compensation SB 706 -- child support enforcement HB 1077 -- health insurance; offering mental health coverage HB 1085 -- retirement; continuation of life insurance HB 1091 -- health insurance; submission of bids to state plan HB 1222 -- health insurance; coverage for adopted children HB 1337 -- ad valorem; Task Force on Centrally Assessed Property HB 1338 -- ad valorem; public service property HB 1434 -- computer systems; year 2000 conversion HB 1455 -- criterion-referenced tests; state textbook committee HB 1467 -- school counselors; professional development HB 1559 -- teacher preparation; competencies; professional development HB 1601 -- workers' compensation; providing coverage HB 1807 -- sales tax exemption; medical research HB 1815 -- "Oklahoma Telecommunications Act of 1997" HB 1854 -- appropriations; University Hospitals Authority HB 1860 -- University Hospitals/Medical Technology and Research HB 1884 -- appropriations; State Regents HB 1895 -- related to the Bond Oversight Commission HB 1907 -- related to Langston University Building Revenue Bonds of 1963 HB 1970 -- alternative education plans HB 1992 -- bond oversight HB 1995 -- University Hospitals; sales tax exemption HB 2017 -- teacher preparation HB 2120 -- administrative procedures; "Oklahoma Regulatory Review Act" HB 2133 -- child care facilities HB 2138 -- automated telephone systems; restrictions HB 2140 -- University Hospitals sales tax exemption HB 2170 -- "Oklahoma Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act"
SB 30 -- groundwater education SB 79 -- employee leave SB 244 -- health insurance; pre-authorization requirements HB 1807 -- sales tax exemption; medical research HB 1860 -- University Hospitals/Medical Technology and Research HB 1884 -- appropriations HB 2140 -- University Hospitals sales tax exemption HR 1031 -- need for physical and occupational therapist graduates
Bills Deleted from the List: SB 13 -- arts academies; alternative education SB 143 -- shell bill related to the State Regents SB 144 -- shell bill related to Physician Manpower Training Comm. SB 174 -- shell bill related to Employee Benefits SB 182 -- Teachers Retirement; apportionment of natural gas tax SB 298 -- automated telephone systems SB 305 -- licensure of plumbing, electrical & mechanical trades SB 336 -- Technology Endowment Fund SB 420 -- OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine; name change SB 523 -- campus police SB 541 -- capital improvement program; higher education institutions SB 569 -- child care facilities SB 642 -- health insurance; managed health care plans SB 684 -- student advisory boards SB 736 -- Teachers Retirement; re-purchase of service SB 743 -- "Temporary Assistance to Promote Self-sufficiency Program Act" SB 746 -- increase in student library fee SB 760 -- National Assessment of Education Progress SCR 28 -- recognizing UCO President George Nigh upon his retirement
HB 1009 -- State Aircraft Regulation Act HB 1019 -- aeronautical commission HB 1024 -- Ok. Educational Television Authority HB 1038 -- workers' compensation HB 1094 -- shell bill related to Teachers' Retirement HB 1100 -- shell bill related to Teachers' Retirement HB 1203 -- workers' compensation; 24-hour health coverage HB 1246 -- "Workforce Training Incentive Act" HB 1342 -- teacher education; alternative certification; teacher preparation HB 1560 -- norm-referenced tests HB 1562 -- "Preferred Provider Organizations Act" HB 1607 -- journeyman technicians HB 1859 -- University Hospitals; budgetary limitations HB 1878 -- shell appropriations bill HB 1885 -- appropriations shell bill HB 1887 -- appropriations shell bill HB 1897 -- shell bill related to sole source contracts HB 1990 -- related to the State Board of Equalization HB 2102 -- "Oklahoma Tuition Savings Account Act" HB 2105 -- NSU College of Optometry HB 2202 -- "Alfred P. Murrah Building Remembrance Day" HCR 1029 -- creating the College Savings Task Force HCR 1046 -- creating the Task Force on Reading Improvement HCR 1050 -- Bd. of Oklahoma Colleges; waiving rule review period HR 1005 -- recognizing OSU Extension Service wheat test plot at Claypool
Note: Our weekly legislative updates are available on the internet homepage of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education at: http://www.osrhe.edu. The updates are located under "Legislative Updates" in the Directory of Documents. Each week's update should be posted on the homepage by late Friday afternoon.	If you need copies of any of the bills, please contact Carolyn McCoy at (405) 225-9165 or e-mail her at "cmccoy@osrhe.edu". SECTION II
HB 1467	Psychology programs
Statewide Temporary Assistance Reintegration System (STARS)
HB 2170	Surplus
Reported Status as of 6/5/97
* SB 1 (Fisher/Tyler) - SCIENCE/MATH CURRICULUM PILOT PROJECT. Requires the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics to solicit proposals and award grants for pilot projects that develop and establish model programs implementing advanced science and math curriculum at local vo-tech sites, local colleges or universities, or at local school sites by distance learning; requires that an Advisory Council be established to assist the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in development of the model programs; requires the participating area vo-tech school district to provide transportation for those students attending the program at the area vo-tech school site and the local schools to provided transportation for students attending at college or university sites. (70 § 1210.404) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* SB 25 (Long/Fields) - TECHNICIANS. Prohibits state and municipal inspectors from issuing citations for work exempt from permit requirements under the International Plumbing Code; requires certain weldments to meet the standards of certain codes; prohibits unlicensed persons from installing, replacing or repairing floor furnaces or wall heaters. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/23/97
* SB 79 (Dickerson/Askins) - LEAVE. Deletes existing law that provides that temporary state employees shall be eligible for paid holiday leave at the discretion of the appointing authority; provides that upon the transfer of a function in state government to an entity outside state government, an employee may, with the agreement of the outside entity, waive any payment for leave accumulations to which the employee is entitled and authorize transfer of the leave accumulations to the outside entity; provides that unclassified positions include students who are employed on a part-time basis in a State System institution and who are enrolled in and making satisfactory progress in a minimum of five hours of accredited graduate courses, a minimum of 10 hours of accredited undergraduate courses, or a minimum of six hours of accredited undergraduate courses during the summer.
SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 90 (Dickerson/Stites) - TRAVEL. Permits the Commission for Teacher Preparation to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food and other expenses incidental to the hosting of conferences and in-service training sessions; permits reimbursement of local transportation expenses for state officers and employees who choose to acquire less expensive lodging at an alternative public lodging place; limits such reimbursement to the difference between the cost of the designated lodging and the cost of the optional lodging. (74 § 500.9) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 122 (Haney/Hamilton) - OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (OCAST). Requires that certain portions of funds appropriated to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) be allocated for research and development partnership projects involving State System institutions, for the operation of a technology-business incubator located in the Oklahoma Health Center Research Park, and for deposit into the Research Support Revolving Fund. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/28/97
* SB 244 (Monson/Seikel) – HEALTH INSURANCE. Amends Section 4 of HB 1416 to exempt insured benefit plans from the provision that preauthorization requests may be denied only by a physician licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision or the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, subject to the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma courts. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* SB 337 (Roberts/Begley) – ADVANCED PLACEMENT/TESTING. Requires the State Board of Education to establish an Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program to be administered by the State Department of Education; states purpose is to establish, organize and administer a program designed to improve the course offerings available to high school students throughout the state and to prepare students for admission to and success in a post-secondary educational environment; requires the Board to ensure participation of the Oklahoma public school system in the National Assessment of Educational Progress; requires that the results be included as a separate result in annual reports on the Oklahoma State Testing Program; requires the Board to evaluate and make recommendations to the Legislature to revise the performance standards for the criterion-referenced tests required in the Oklahoma Testing Program. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 398 (Roberts/Begley) - TEACHER PREPARATION/TECHNOLOGY TRAINING. Modifies teacher training requirements to require that technology training be included in professional development institutes. (70 § 6-200) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 693 (Cain/Blackburn) - CHILD SUPPORT. Establishes procedures for tribunals to determine which child support becomes enforceable if more than one order has been issued concerning the same parent and child; provides for continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; provides for enforcement of child support orders between states; states procedures pertaining to contesting the validity of certain income-withholding orders; states procedure for receipt of multi-income withholding orders; states conditions of modification of certain child support orders; requires filing of documents and provides penalty for failure to do so. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/27/97
* SB 699 (Dunlap/Bryant) - PRIVATIZATION FUNCTIONS. Creates the Oklahoma Privatization Functions Act for the purpose of setting guidelines for privatization of state services and contracts and to ensure that, if approved, privatization is cost-effective and in the best interests of the citizens of the state. The committee substitute refers only to privatizing state services; requires that, before an agency can contract to privatize a function, it must allow its employees an opportunity to submit proposals for improving operation of the entity being considered for privatization; provides privatization procedure; requires any agency deciding to privatize a function must certify to the Governor that certain conditions have been met. (74 § 595.1) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 706 (Cain/Seikel) - CHILD SUPPORT/PAYROLL. Pertains to child support orders and income assignment. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SB 730 (Maddox/Askins) - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. This a Workers’ Compensation reform bill; provides for the shortening of the period for maximum temporary total disability to 156 weeks from 300 weeks unless "good cause" is shown for an extension and is determined by the Workers’ Compensation Court; shortens from 60 days to 30 calendar days the time period in which an employee or a former employee is required to notify their employer that they have suffered an on-the-job injury; increases the death benefit for a surviving spouse from 50 percent of the average weekly earnings of the deceased to 70 percent and increases the death benefit to children where there is no surviving spouse from 35 percent of the average weekly wages of the deceased to 50 percent of those wages for one child and from 15 percent of those wages for each additional child to 20 percent divided equally among all children; amends the definition of "injury" by stating that only injuries having as their source a risk not purely personal but one that is causally connected with the conditions of employment shall be deemed to arise out of the course of employment; removes the requirement that the court must appoint an independent medical examiner whenever any party requests one and giving the court discretion to appoint the examiner when one is really necessary; restricts attorney fees and medical deposition costs borne by the employee; clarifies the definition of "occupational disease" to mean that it arises out of employment only if there is a direct causal connection between the occupational disease and the conditions under which the work is performed; defines "cumulative trauma" to mean an injury resulting from employment activities which are repetitive in nature and in which the employee has engaged in over a period of time. (85 § 1.1) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* SCR 36 (Morgan) – OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizes the Board of Regents for the A&M Colleges to issue $18 million in revenue bonds for completing construction of the West Chilled Water Plant – Phase I and distribution system improvements on OSU’s Stillwater campus. TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF STATE 05/30/97
* HB 1077 (Seikel/Monson) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires that individual and group health insurance and health benefit plans, except as exempt under federal ERISA provisions, provide coverage for treatment of adults, children and adolescents with severe mental illness equal to coverage for other physical diseases and disorders and subject to the same preauthorization and utilization review mechanisms and other terms and conditions as all other physical diseases and disorders; provides an exception for policies that provide coverage for a specified disease or other limited-benefit coverage. (36 § 6060.10) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/28/97
* HB 1085 (Roberts/Monson) - RETIREMENT/LIFE INSURANCE. Increases from three-fourths to the full basic life insurance coverage the amount certain members of state retirement systems may elect to continue after severance from state employment. The conference committee substitute provides that the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board shall approve the amount of insurance premiums no later than the bid submission date for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) set by the State Employees Benefits Council, which shall be no later than the third Friday of December of the previous year; prohibits the board from adjusting premium rates after approval, with certain exceptions; modifies provisions relating to distribution of plan information to employers and employees; authorizes the Council to procure indemnity insurance for Council members; requires that the benefit of any HMO shall be determined on a competitive bid basis. (74 § 1316.1) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1091 (Roberts/Monson) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to approve the amount of premiums for insurance plans no later than the third Friday of December of the previous fiscal year; allows the State Regents, counties, municipalities, political subdivisions or school districts to participate in certain flexible benefit plans; provides conditions under which the board may provide information to participants; provides that the Employees Benefits Council may procure insurance indemnifying the council from liability resulting from a member’s action as a council member; excludes the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board’s contracts for certain services from Central Purchasing; directs the council to create a Task Force on State Employee Cafeteria Plans. (74 § 1306) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/27/97
* HB 1222 (Steidley/Monson) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Provides that a person who is employed on a seasonal or temporary basis but works full-time during that period shall be considered an employee for purposes of the State and Education Employee’s Group Insurance Act. (74 § 1303) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1337 (Begley/Weedn) - AD VALOREM TAX. Creates a 25-member Task Force on Centrally Assessed Property to review state laws, rules and procedures relating to the definition of public service corporations, as used in the ad valorem tax code, relating to determining the values of public service corporations, relating to determining the values of business personal property, and relating to the Court of Tax Review; requires the task force to make recommendations for changes related to centrally assessed property and submit a report by Jan. 31, 1998; requires notifying the State Auditor and Inspector the total amount of protested taxes; directs the Auditor and Inspector to distribute this information in specified formats; directs State Board of Equalization to certify corrected valuation if changed by appeal; directs payment of refunds and distribution of taxes to be paid; directs the county treasurers to make certain reports for tax years 1994, 1995, and 1996. (68 § 2946.4) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1338 (Begley/Roberts) - AD VALOREM TAX. Modifies process for handling ad valorem tax protests by railroads, air carriers and public service corporations; increases from 20 to 30 days the amount of time such firms have to file a tax protest; requires the Tax Commission to deposit taxes paid under protest to a Protested Ad Valorem Tax Escrow Fund created by the bill; requires that any portion of such taxes not paid under protest be apportioned as provided by law; requires that the Commission would determine the amount of protested taxes that would have otherwise been apportioned to each school and vocational-technical school district and would reimburse such amount to each district from monies in the Education Cash Flow Fund; provides for proportional distribution of such monies if such fund does not contain sufficient revenues; prohibits the Commission from reimbursing such amount if the ad valorem taxes being protested, which are directly attributable to an affected district, do not exceed $2,000; provides that the assessed property valuation in a school district would not include the property on which taxes have been protested until the year when the district actually receives the tax proceeds. The conference committee substitute creates a one-year moratorium on pipelines or oil and gas gathering systems shifting from centrally assessed to locally assessed for ad valorem purposes; provides that if a taxpayer fails to file a written complaint within 30 days the assessed valuation stated in the notice shall be come final; requires the State Board of Equalization to notify the Attorney General and all affected school districts of ad valorem tax protests; requires that for each case brought before the Court of Tax Review, the presiding judge of the judicial administrative district to which the case is assigned to appoint a three-judge panel to determine in what county the case will be heard. (68 § 2881) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1434 (Deutschendorf/Robinson) - COMPUTER SYSTEMS. Requires all state agencies of the executive branch that use date-dependent computer systems, such as legacy systems, programs, databases and security systems, to have completed work on converting the systems for the year 2000 by Jan. 1, 1999; requires agencies to report by July 1, 1999, on operations of the system after the conversion and outlining any system problems the agency may still be experiencing and plans the agency has to address any continuing problems; prohibits agencies from purchasing additional hardware or software or add additional personnel to convert and prepare the computer systems for the millennium unless the purchase has been included in the long-range plan of the agency submitted to the Information Services Division of the Office State Finance. (62 § 41.5o) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1455 (Staggs/Robinson) - CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTS. Requires that the results of criterion-referenced tests be returned to school districts prior to May 1 of each year. (70 § 1210.508) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 1467 (Staggs/Robinson) - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Requires that, at a minimum, once every four years the professional development committees of local boards of education will include at least one school counselor in its membership; provides that each adopted professional development program shall allow school counselors to receive at least one-third of the hours or credit required each year through programs or courses specifically designed for school counselors. (A local professional development committee shall consult with a higher education faculty, and programs adopted by the committee may include higher education courses.) (70 § 6-194) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1534 (Steidley/Leftwich) – RESIDENT TEACHERS. Authorizes certain due process hearings before the State Board of Education for any resident teacher not recommended for certification, after completing two years in the residency program. GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/19/97
* HB 1559 (Hager/Williams) - TEACHER PREPARATION. Expands membership of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee to 25, to include the executive director of the Commission for Teacher Preparation or a designee; adds to competencies included in the teacher preparation system competencies for administrators which include skills necessary to be an effective leader of a school or school district; authorizes the Commission to accept federal grants and other federal funds. (70 § 6-130) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 1561 (Wells/Morgan) - CREDITS/EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE/PREPAYMENT PROGRAM. Extends to Jan. 1, 1998, the date by which the State Regents must submit to the chairs of the respective legislative education subcommittees a report on the progress made in ensuring that students move smoothly from one level of education to another. (70 § 3207.1) GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/21/97
* HB 1601 (Roach/Henry) - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Provides that if an employer secures workers’ compensation insurance within 30 days after receiving notice of a violation for failure to provide such insurance, the employer shall be liable for a civil penalty of $50 per employee; provides that an employer who knowingly and willfully requires an employee or subcontractor to obtain a Certificate of Noncoverage for which the individual is not eligible, shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first offense, and not more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. (85 § 63.1) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1644 (Ervin/Robinson) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Changes certain references to Oklahoma Memorial Hospital to University Hospitals; provides for a governing committee for the University Hospitals, to include both state appointees and individuals appointed by the private entity with which the state enters into an agreement to operate the hospitals; requires that the committee approve termination or transfer or material addition or diminution of medical services at the Oklahoma Medical Center related to and part of a teaching program of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and other major decisions as may be agreed upon by the trust and the private entity; requires that the agreement be submitted to the Contingency Review Board; provides that if the board does not disapprove the proposed agreement, within 30 days after time for the board to act has expired, the University Hospitals Authority and the University Hospitals Trust may petition the Oklahoma Supreme Court for a declaratory judgement on the validity of the proposed agreement; provides for a 10-day protest period prior to the hearing on the petition; provides that the Institutional Maintenance and Construction Unit and the Architecture and Engineering Planning Unit of the Department of Human Services shall have authority to submit bids and enter into contracts with and to perform services for the Oklahoma Medical Center for construction and remodeling projects that fall within the scope of services of the unit. (63 § 3204) GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/08/97
* HB 1687 (Hefner/Helton) – BOMBING VICTIMS LICENSE PLATES. Creates various special license plates; Section 53 provides for Oklahoma City Bombing Victims and Survivors License Plates. GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/19/97
* HB 1807 (Langmacher/Wilkerson) - TAXES. Relates to taxes; Section 16 adds to general tax exemptions, beginning July 1, 1998, sales of tangible personal property or services to tax-exempt independent nonprofit biomedical research foundations that provide educational programs for Oklahoma science students and teachers; Section 29 amends HJR 1024 by requiring members of the Citizens’ Task Force on Taxation to be appointed by Aug. 1, 1997, providing for staff support, and requiring the submission of a report by Sept. 1, 1999. GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/29/97
* HB 1815 (Adair/Robinson) - TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Creates the "Oklahoma Telecommunications Act of 1997"; relates to local exchange telecommunications service rates; prohibits application of the act to OneNet or any other component of the Oklahoma Government Telecommunications Network; prohibits Internet providers from pricing such Internet service in an anti-competitive, discriminatory or predatory manner; prohibits the resale of OneNet access directly to the general public at any nonpublic site; prohibits certain applications requiring a circuit of 1.544 Mbit with capacity sufficient to simultaneously transmit 24 voice or data channels at 64 Kbits/sec unless OneNet is the circuit provider; creates the "Oklahoma Telecommunications Technology Training Fund" which shall be administered by the Department of Vocational and Technical Education working in conjunction with OneNet to provide statewide teacher training in the most effective use of telecommunications and distance learning technology. (17 § 139.108) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 1854 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Appropriates to various health agencies; Section 20 states legislative intent that certain appropriations be used for the establishment of the Children First Program; requires the State Department of Health to contract with a university-related program for a performance-based evaluation of the program [Section 20 amended by HB 1884]; Sections 28, 29, and 30 set budgetary limitations for the University Hospitals Authority. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 1860 (Hamilton/Haney) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Authorizes the University Hospitals Board instead of the Director of the Department of Human Services to appoint one member of the Medical Technology and Research Authority of Oklahoma. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1872 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to various educational entities. Section 16 provides that, contingent upon the enactment of HB 1336, $500,000 shall be allocated by the State Department of Education for scholarships to the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers offered by a State System institution; provides that $1 million be expended on a competitive application basis to the State Board of Vo-Tech Education for the purpose of implementing technology programs designed to train teachers in public school districts in the use of technology for the classroom and in classroom applications of technology information; Section 17 apportions $280,344 to be expended on a competitive application basis to a State System institution for implementing telecommunications curriculum statewide; Section 18 provides that of the funds allocated for Community Education Grants, $25,000 be expended on a contractual basis to a community education consortium group which is associated with a state system institution; Section 19 designates certain funds in the Education Leadership Oklahoma Revolving Fund for program development and evaluation by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and curriculum enhancement and monitoring programs for teacher applicants on a contract basis with a State System institution; Section 22 requires the State Department of Education to develop and implement by June 30, 1998, a student identification system to be used, among other purposes, for the School Testing Program and the collection of data for the Educational Indicators Program; Section 26 designates $247,463 of funds allocated to the State Department of Education to ensure participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress; Section 27 designates that $48,105 of funds allocated to the State Department of Education be available for contracting with the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education to provide in-service training and material for geography instruction; Section 38 designates $300,000 of the funds appropriated to the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics be expended for outreach programs in science and math as directed in Section 1 of SB 1; Section 41 appropriates to the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and Sections 42 and 43 provide budgetary limitations; Section 49 appropriates $724,581, contingent on the enactment of HB 1338, for payments to vo-tech school districts for protested ad valorem taxes; Section 50 allocates funds appropriated in Section 49 to vo-tech school districts for ad valorem taxes not received because of protested 1994 and 1995 taxes; provides for insufficient funds. GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/29/97
* HB 1884 (Hamilton/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Modifies the source of funding for various appropriations; Sections 18 and 19 amend Section 13 of SB 160 by changing the source of appropriations to the State Regents to $42 million from the Cash-flow Reserve Fund ("096" Fund) and $8 from the General Revenue Fund; Section 23 authorizes the Oklahoma Historical Society to operate and manage the Robert S. Kerr Museum on the grounds of the Kerr Conference Center; Section 29 amends Section 20 of HB 1854 by adding that the State Department of Health develop and provide to the Governor and Legislature an implementation plan for the Children First program no later than Oct. 1, 1997; requires the plan to address criteria for site selection, funding formula, number of nurses and other staff, training and other funding issues, population target definition and evaluation methodology; Section 45 appropriates $150,000 to the State Regents for the education and general operating budgets of the institutions and for other programs, construction, renovations or repairs administered by the State Regents. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1895 (Hamilton/Haney) –BENEFITS/TRAVEL/APPROPRIATIONS. Relates to compensation and benefits; Section 12 provides a lump-sum payment of $225, in lieu of the increase in the flexible benefit plan allowance, to qualified employees of the University Hospitals Authority; Section 15 provides that, effective Jan. 1, 1998, for each qualified participating state employee (which includes State Regents’ and governing board employees, but not institution employees), the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) will pay each month from funds appropriated to the Oklahoma State Employees Deferred Savings Incentive Plan Fund $25 to a benefit plan; Section 18 increases the mileage reimbursement for use of privately owned motor vehicles to the federal mileage rate; Section 23 increases the Teachers’ Retirement System death benefit from $4,000 to $5,000; Section 29 appropriates $68,773 to the State Regents for the general operating budget of the Administrative Offices; Section 32 appropriates $2,972 to the Physician Manpower Training Commission; Section 35 appropriates $8,421 to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology; Section 37 appropriates $991 to the Teacher Preparation Commission; Section 64 appropriates $570,133 to the University Hospitals Authority; SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 1907 (Hamilton/Rozell) – LANGSTON UNIVERSITY BUILDING BONDS. Authorizes the restructuring or liquidating of certain escrow accounts for the purpose of redeeming or defeasing the Langston University Building Revenue Bonds of 1963. (62 § 57.200) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/27/97
* HB 1921 (Stites/Robinson) – TUITION/FEES. Provides for tuition increases of 5 percent at the two-year colleges, 7 percent at the regional universities, and 9 percent at the comprehensive universities; increases the limit on tuition for professional programs; states legislative intent concerning a higher education fee and tuition study and the development and implementation of a four-year fixed rate of tuition. (70 § 1210.581) GOVERNOR ACTION - SIGNED 05/29/97
* HB 1970 (Hager/Williams) – ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION. Requires each school district to update and submit on an annual basis the student needs assessment and alternative education plan; requires the plan to provide for specific professional development programs for the teachers teaching in or working with an alternative education program. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 1992 (Hamilton/Rozell) - BOND OVERSIGHT. Prohibits state government entities from entering into leases or other contracts that provide for payments that are directly or indirectly used for the retirement of a local government obligation unless such obligation has satisfied certain requirements; authorizes the Executive and Legislative Bond Oversight Commissions to review proposed issuances of obligations to fund capital additions or expenditures by local governmental entities only when there is a lease, contract or other agreement under which payments from the state are directly or indirectly used for the retirement of such obligations. (62 § 695.7) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/28/97
* HB 1995 (Hamilton/Robinson) - UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Amends HB 1807 by exempting from the state sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property made by the University Hospitals Trust. (68 § 1356) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 2017 (Betty Boyd/Williams) - TEACHER PREPARATION. Creates the "Reading Sufficiency Act"; states purpose to ensure that each child attains the necessary reading skills by completion of the third grade which will enable that student to continue development of reading skills and to succeed throughout school and life; provides that each student in first and second grade be assessed for acquisition of reading skills for the proper grade level; requires that students not reading at the appropriate grade level be provided a reading assessment plan, with certain exceptions; provides for development of a new plan for third grade students not reading at grade level; requires the Commission for Teacher Preparation to develop professional development institutes to train elementary school teachers in reading education. SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 2120 (Hilliard/Maddox) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Creates the "Oklahoma Regulatory Review Act"; requires agencies to review and list every regulation within their jurisdiction by Dec. 31, 1998; extends deadline for agencies with more than 100 pages of rules; requires an agency finding unnecessary regulations to repeal, rescind, amend, or modify the regulation, if taking such action is within the agency’s authority, or to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature that such action be accomplished; requires agencies to file a report by July 1, 1999 summarizing the actions taken to comply with the act. (75 § 401) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/27/97
* HB 2133 (Seikel/Weedn) - CHILD CARE FACILITIES. Section 20 directs DHS to require a criminal background investigation for any person making an application for establishment and operation of a child care facility prior to issuance of a license certification to operate a facility; requires a criminal history investigation of any person to be employed by a child care facility. (10 § 404.1) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 2138 (Paulk/Herbert) - AUTOMATED TELEPHONE SYSTEM. Prohibits a state agency from using an automated telephone system for answering phone calls during regular hours of operation unless the system provides as the first menu option an option that permits a caller to speak directly to an employee without listening to the entire recorded message; prohibits state employees from using an automated phone answering system to screen telephone calls for the purpose of refusing to communicate with any person if the subject matter of the telephone message or the identity of the caller relates to a duty or responsibility of the employee; requires the Director of State Finance to ensure that each state government entity establishes a procedure for answering telephone calls placed to the entity during its regular business hours. (62 § 41.5h) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/29/97
* HB 2140 (Rice/Easley) – UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. Amends HB 1807 by exempting from the state sales tax the transfer of tangible personal property made by the University Hospitals Trust. (68 § 1356) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97
* HB 2170 (Seikel/Cain) - WELFARE/WORK TRAINING. Changes the "Oklahoma Welfare Self Sufficiency Initiative" to the "Statewide Temporary Assistance Reintegration System (STARS); provides for STARS to consist of integrated and coordinated programs and services to provide recipients with necessary tools to make them self-reliant; includes programs such as career guidance and employment preparation, job referral, vo-tech training, child care initiatives, literacy development, adult basic education, and medical assistance; requires certain reports; specifies requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; states legislative intent to establish one-stop career/employment centers to link federal/state resources and programs by encouraging interorganizational collaborative partnerships between certain state governmental agencies, including the State Regents, and private and nonprofit entities; states purpose of such partnerships to assist persons receiving temporary assistance, employed low-income persons and unemployed persons to explore career and employment and job referral opportunities, improve skills through education and training and to obtain information on various services and programs in the state. (56 § 230.70) SIGNED & TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 05/30/97