![](https://www.soonerpolitics.org/uploads/1/6/2/2/16224166/capitolbeat-vertical2_orig.png)
Oklahoma State Senate approves bill modifying RID Program
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure to allow more people to qualify for the state’s Delaying Sentencing Program for Young Adults received unanimous approval Wednesday evening by the Senate.
Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 140 to allow nonviolent, first time male offenders to participate in the program up to the age of 25, rather than 21.
“Oklahoma leaders have finally realized that we must be smarter on crime and help address the issues that cause people to commit crimes. As a criminal defense attorney, this is the single most impactful program for these nonviolent, first time offenders and has proven successful in significantly reducing recidivism,” Brooks said.
“This bootcamp-type program gives young men the opportunity to get a second chance at life and teaches them important life skills and how to be a productive citizen—something many of them weren’t taught at home.”
The Department of Corrections (DOC) started the program – also known as the Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID) program -- which is a deferred sentencing option for young adults who aren’t juveniles or youthful offenders.
To be eligible for the program, offenders must be between the ages of 18-21 as of the date of a guilty verdict or a guilty/no contest plea for a nonviolent felony offense or a juvenile who has been certified to stand trial as an adult for a nonviolent felony offense, who has no charges pending for a violent offense.
The offender also cannot have been convicted for several crimes including assault and battery, first- or second-degree murder, kidnapping, any crime against a child or any kind of drug trafficking.
Participants go through a strict “boot camp” type program where they learn respect for authority, themselves and others. Services while in the program include counseling, psychiatric or medical treatment, education or vocational training, work, restitution, and other program help in their rehabilitation.
Sentencing is delayed until the individual finishes the program at which time, a judge can defer the judgement, sentence the offender, suspend the sentence, sentence the individual to community sentencing or dismiss the criminal charges altogether.
S.B. 140 was requested by DOC as the number of qualified participants dropped dramatically after State Question 780 changed simple possession to a misdemeanor. Given the success of the program, the agency asked that the maximum age for participants be increased for the state to fully utilize the program.
Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, is the principal House author of the bill, which now goes to the House for further consideration.
Oklahoma State Senate approves bill modifying RID Program Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
0 Comments
![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that protects the rights of sexual assault victims and facilitates faster trauma care passed the House on Monday (March 8) with a vote of 94 to 0.
Sexual Assault Victims' Right to Information Act (House Bill 2546), authored by Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, expands protections to victims of sexual assault regardless of participation in a criminal investigation of their assault. The act also allows for an advocate to be made available during a sexual assault examination.
“I have dedicated many years to listening to survivors of sexual assault,” Munson said. “I’ve learned that equipping and empowering survivors with access to information and a victims’ advocate are impactful ways to help them navigate a vulnerable time.”
Munson, elected to the state House in a 2015 special election, was the first member of her party in five decades to capture the near-north Oklahoma (District 85) seat she holds.
( https://ift.tt/3rDomRJ)
A 2019 OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) report showed that while most crime is down, rape and domestic abuse are on the rise in Oklahoma.
“Sexual assault is a horrific trauma that should never be faced alone,” Munson said. “Now survivors are one step closer to ensuring they never have to.”
In a February House staff press release focused on the legislation – when it passed in the House Judiciary Committee with 9-0 support – Munson reflected, “The government has no role in whether or not a sexual assault victim should come forward and tell their story,” Munson said. “However, we do have a responsibility to protect these individuals and ensure they have the opportunity to do so at a later date and in a meaningful way.”
The legislation would, if enacted, put into place measures that increase the likelihood that a sexual assault victim knows their rights during an investigation.
“We need to ensure that at a person’s most vulnerable moment they know there are people there to help,” Munson said. “Victims need to know there are experts, people who regularly deal with the horrific fallout of sexual trauma, that are ready to jump in and help in any way they can. Sometimes, when we are most vulnerable, knowing there is a helping hand can make all the difference.”
As a result of this week’s actions, H.B. 2546 is eligible to be heard in the Senate.
Note: Publisher Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.
Sexual Assault Victims' Right to Information Act Passes in Oklahoma House Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate advanced a slate of pro-life measures, demonstrating the chamber’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life, the Senate leader said Wednesday (March 10).
Among the measures passed by the Senate was Senate Bill 918 from Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. Treat’s bill would repeal regulations on abortions and restore Oklahoma’s prohibition on abortion should the central holdings of
"Roe v. Wade" or "Planned Parenthood v. Casey" be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Each life has worth and value and must be protected from conception all the way through the very end. My commitment, and the commitment of Senate Republicans, to protecting the sanctity of life is unwavering and unfaltering. The measures passed by the Senate today are practical steps that will help save lives. I appreciate my Senate colleagues for their votes to protect life and look forward to these bills advancing in the House of Representatives,” Treat said.
Senate Bill 918 now moves to the Oklahoma House where the primary co-sponsor is Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City. (Text of S.B. 918 can be read here: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/SFLR/SB918%20SFLR.PDF)
Among the measures approved by the Senate on Wednesday were:
• Senate Bill 584 by Senator Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, which would prohibit state funding or funding from any political subdivision of the state for any health care provider found guilty of trafficking in fetal body parts. (http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/SFLR/SB584%20SFLR.PDF)
• Senate Bill 612 by Dahm, which would prohibit an abortion procedure in Oklahoma unless it is required to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.(http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/SFLR/SB612%20SFLR.PDF)
• Senate Bill 723 by Dahm, which would prohibit an abortion procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected. (http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/SFLR/SB723%20SFLR.PDFf)
• Senate Bill 778 and Senate Bill 779, both by Senator Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, which would provide safeguards surrounding the use of abortion-inducing drugs. (LINKS : https://ift.tt/38qE8bi
and https://ift.tt/3tddVVz)
• S.B. 918 by Treat which would repeal regulations allowing abortions and restore Oklahoma’s prohibition on abortion should the central holdings of “Roe v. Wade” or “Planned Parenthood v. Casey” be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Oklahoma State Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat applauds Senate’s passage of pro-life measures Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Staff Report
Oklahoma City – On Tuesday (March 9), the State Senate approve Senate Bill 334. According to a press release from Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR), S.B. 334 “would damage the impact of prior criminal justice reforms that safely reduce Oklahoma’s prison population and reinvest in alternatives.”
Criminal Justice Reform leader speaks out
Kris Steele, Executive Director with OCJR, commented on S.B. 334 in a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations. Steele spoke in response to upper chamber’s passage of the measure:
“We’re deeply disappointed that legislators voted to undo the will of the people by passing Senate Bill 334 out of the Senate today. This bill rolls back State Question 780, which made simple drug possession and low-level property offenses a misdemeanor, and received overwhelming support from voters in 2016. This comes after four years of the legislature attempting to undo S.Q. 780, despite mounting evidence that the reform is benefiting our state.
“Oklahomans have already spoken on this issue, and the message remains clear: Our state must stop criminalizing addiction, poverty, and mental health crises. S.B. 334 is a step backwards and will increase incarceration and prison spending without making us safer.
“We need additional reform if we want to safely decrease our state’s prison population. We need to reinvest in solutions that actually address the root causes of crime. We need to provide people who commit offenses with treatment that helps them heal, successfully transitions them back into their communities and saves the state money. S.B. 334 is not an evidence-based reform and goes against the will of the people. We urge representatives in the House to vote no on this bill.”
Eight Senate Democrats opposed rolling back reforms in S.Q. 780, and they voted against S.B. 334.
This put them in favor of the reforms enacted through the historic S.Q. 780. Those senators included Mary Boren of Norman, Jo Anna Dossett of Tulsa, J.J. Dossett of Owasso, Carri Hicks of Oklahoma City, Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City, Kevin Matthews of Tulsa, George Young of Oklahoma City, and Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City, who serves as leader of the Minority Caucus in the Senate.
Three Republicans opposed S.B. 334, including Nathan Dahm of Broken Arrow, Frank Simpson of Springer and Senate President Pro Tempore Great Treat of Oklahoma City.
In all, 35 Republicans voted to reverse some of the S.Q. 780 reforms by supporting S.B. 334.
These included Mark Allen of Spiro, Micheal Bergstrom of Adair, David Bullard of Durant, George Burns of Pollard, Bill Coleman of Ponca City, Julie Daniels of Bartlesville, Tom Duggar of Stillwater, Jessica Garvin of Duncan, Chuck Hall of Perry, Warren Hamilton of McCurtain, John Haste of Broken Arrow, Brent Howard of Altus, Darcy Jech of Kingfisher, Shane Jett of Shawnee, Chris Kidd of Waurika, James Leewright of Bristow, Greg McCortney of Ada, John Michael Montgomery of Lawton, Casey Murdock of Felt, and Joe Newhouse of Tulsa.
Also voting to rollback S.Q. 780’s reforms were Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle (author of S.B. 334), Roland Pederson of Burlington , DeWayne Pemberton of Muskogee, Adam Pugh of Edmond, Dave Rader of Tulsa, Cody Rogers of Tulsa, Paul Rosino of Oklahoma City, Rob Standridge of Norman, Brenda Stanley of Midwest City, Blake Stephens of Moore, Zack Taylor of Seminole, Roger Thompson of Okemah, and Darrell Weaver of Moore.
One Democrat, Michael Brooks of Oklahoma City, did not vote and was listed as “excused.”
Back to Back Disappointments
The upper chamber’s approval of Senate Bill 334 marked the second consecutive week with major disappointment for bipartisan advocates of criminal justice reform.
Senate Bill 704, as described in Patrick B. McGuigan’s news story (February 18, 2021) drew high praise from conservative analysts seeking reforms needed to address spiraling prison costs, as well as the backing and broad support from prison reformers across the spectrum of Oklahoma opinion (https://capitolbeatok.worldsecuresystems.com/reports/sentencing-reform-legislation-aimed-at-non-violent-offenses-would-protect-safety-reduce-prison-popul).
That proposal was sponsored by Senator David Rader, a Tulsa Republican. S.B. 704 aimed to address concerns some conservative critics had raised last year in opposition to State Question 805 (which failed on the November 2020 ballot).
Despite attempts to seek discussion of the that reform (which had gained approval in the Public Safety Committee earlier this session), S.B. 704 did not secure a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
As a result of the procedural stiff-arm, S.B. 704 did not, for now, advance in the legislative process.
Frustrating Opposition to incremental criminal justice reform continues
After the November 2020 general election election – in a statement first posted on Facebook, McGuigan, founder of CapitolBeatOK.com (an online news service) and publisher of The City Sentinel newspaper, commented, “I was proud to support State Question 805, and to carry pro-805 messages on the Facebook pages and websites I manage – and in our November 2020 print edition of The City Sentinel. Although the measure garnered 54 percent [support] in Oklahoma County, it lost statewide.”
McGuigan was co-editor of 'Crime and Punishment in Modern America', a compilation of scholarly conservative and libertarian essays making the case for broad reforms of the criminal justice system, released during the Reagan Administration.
McGuigan has written frequent news stories and commentaries focused on problems with Oklahoma’s death penalty process.
McGuigan said in his post-election comments that The City Sentinel’s editorials and commentaries would advocate for new incremental reforms of the state’s judicial system.
Additionally, McGuigan is a member of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP).
The diverse support coalition for S.Q. 805 included scholars and leaders at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-Oklahoma).
Opponents of S.Q. 805 contended they supported further criminal justice reforms, but “not this state question.”
Among their criticisms was the measure was crafted to amend the state constitution, rather than revise statutes.
However, the fate of S.B. 704, a statutory measure, indicates many legislators oppose incremental reforms of existing state measures that have made the Sooner State the nation’s top incarcerator of non-violent offenders.
Many members of the state organization for District Attorneys have opposed every step taken to reform the state’s system, including State Question 805.
Governor Kevin Stitt, who supported incremental criminal justice reforms early in his administration, opposed last November ballot initiative, as did other Republican elected officials.
In Oklahoma County, both candidates for Sheriff (Democrat Wayland Cubit and Republican Tommie Johnson, the GOP nominee who won the office on November 3) opposed S.Q. 805.
Another prominent opponent of the ballot proposition was Steve Fair, a high-ranking Republican and a conservative columnist whose essays appear frequently on the CapitolBeatOK website.
Bill that rolls back S.Q. 780 clears the Oklahoma Senate, laying out strong opposition to reform impetus Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
OKLAHOMA CITY – February Gross Receipts to the Treasury were down by less than one percent compared to collections from last year, but sales tax receipts are up by almost 8 percent, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced early this month.
Collections from all sources in February total $950.8 million, down by $6 million, or 0.6 percent, from February 2020. Since March of last year, monthly gross receipts have been below prior year collections every month except one, and that was due to the delayed income tax filings in July.
February sales tax collections exceed those of the prior February by $28.2 million, or 7.9 percent. It marks only the second time in the past year that sales tax receipts have exceeded those of the same month of the prior year. Both instances are likely due to expenditure of the two rounds of federal stimulus payments.
“The Oklahoma economy is performing better than many other states,” Treasurer McDaniel said. “While gross receipts indicate the pandemic is constraining business and personal activity, the state is responding to the significant financial and social challenges relatively well.”
Combined income tax receipts for the month dropped slightly, with individual income tax collections up by 2.2 percent and corporate receipts down by 56.4 percent. Gross production collections are down by 45.9 percent and motor vehicle receipts are off by 9 percent.
The largest percentage of revenue growth for the month and past year is from the medical marijuana tax.
The marijuana tax produced $5.5 million in February, a 64.7 percent increase over the year. For the past 12 months, the marijuana tax has produced $60.3 million, a jump of more than 100 percent from the trailing period.
Combined gross receipts from the past 12 months of $13.11 billion are below collections from the previous 12 months by $601.6 million, or 4.4 percent. All major revenue sources show contraction during the period ranging from gross production taxes at 43.6 percent to combined income taxes at 0.8 percent.
Other economic indicators
The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index in February remained above growth neutral for a third month. The February index was set at 67.1, compared to 65.4 in January, 55.9 in December and 49.4 in November. Numbers above 50 indicate economic expansion is expected during the next three to six months.
The latest unemployment data available is from December, when the rate in Oklahoma was set at 5.3 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s jobless rate was down from 6.1 percent in November, but up from 3.4 percent in December 2019. The U.S. unemployment rate was set at 6.7 percent in December.
February collections
Compared to gross receipts from February 2020, collections in February 2021 showed:
• Total February 2021 gross collections are $950.8 million, down $6 million, or 0.6 percent.
• Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $292 million, down by $1.3 million, or 0.4 percent.
* Individual income tax collections are $286.2 million, an increase of $6.2 million, or 2.2 percent.
* Corporate collections are $5.8 million, down by $7.5 million, or 56.4 percent.
• Combined sales and use tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $449.1 million – up by $39.8 million, or 7.9 percent.
* Sales tax collections total $384.5 million, an increase of $28.2 million, or 7.9 percent.
* Use tax receipts, collected on out-of-state purchases including internet sales, generated $64.6 million, an increase of $11.7 million, or 22 percent.
• Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas total $45.9 million, a decrease of $39 million, or 45.9 percent.
• Motor vehicle taxes produced $50.9 million, down by $5 million, or 9 percent.
• Other collections composed of some 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, medical marijuana, and alcoholic beverages, produced $113 million – down by $493,273, or 0.4 percent.
* The medical marijuana tax produced $5.5 million, up by $2.1 million, or 64.7 percent from February 2020.
Twelve-month collections
Combined gross receipts for the past 12 months compared to the trailing 12 months:
• Gross revenue totals $13.11 billion. That is $601.6 million, or 4.4 percent, below collections from the previous period.
• Gross income taxes generated $4.73 billion, a decrease of $38.3 million, or 0.8 percent.
* Individual income tax collections total $4.09 billion, down by $93.9 million, or 2.2 percent.
* Corporate collections are $642.6 million, an increase of $55.6 million, or 9.5 percent.
• Combined sales and use taxes generated $5.52 billion, a drop of $63.8 million, or 1.1 percent.
* Gross sales tax receipts total $4.71 billion, down by $142.2 million, or 2.9 percent.
* Use tax collections generated $810 million, an increase of $78.4 million, or 10.7 percent.
• Oil and gas gross production tax collections generated $560.3 million, down by $433.5 million, or 43.6 percent.
• Motor vehicle collections total $769.2 million, a decrease of $22 million, or 2.8 percent.
• Other sources generated $1.54 billion, down by $44 million, or 2.8 percent.
* Medical marijuana taxes generated $60.3 million, up by $30.4 million, or 101.5 percent.
About Gross Receipts to the Treasury: The monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report, developed by the state treasurer’s office, provides a timely and broad view of the state’s economy. It is released in conjunction with the General Revenue Fund report from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which provides information to state agencies for budgetary planning purposes. The General Revenue Fund, the state’s main operating account, receives less than half of the state’s gross receipts with the remainder paid in rebates and refunds, remitted to cities and counties, and apportioned to other state funds.
Total Receipts Down, Sales Tax Up, Oklahoma state Treasurer Randy McDaniel reports Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]() Ellyn Hefner, The City Sentinel's continuing series on OKSTABLE
Note: This is a February 2021 story, published on page 7 of The City Sentinel print edition. We regret the long delay in sharing this with online readers. Visit our upgraded and improved website at: www.City-Sentinel.com. Print copies can be found each month at locations all across Oklahoma City.
OK STABLE exists to allow people with disabilities to save and invest money without jeopardizing their eligibility for public benefits programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). When asked why one of its participants was saving money, the response was ideal… “I want to do what smart adults do. I want to save money”.
Notice that this young adult account owner doesn’t just want to do what adults do. He wants to do what SMART adults do.
Saving and investing money is not a practice that all people do. Whether you are living with a disability or not, people choose to manage their finances differently. However, OK STABLE makes it possible for persons with disabilities to save money.
This is a change in mindset for people with disabilities that had been forced to keep their own financial resources below $2,000 if their life required the supports provided through public benefits programs. In 2017, Oklahoma put state regulations into place that were enabled by the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, and created OK STABLE.
“Imagine being told throughout your life that you could not save money… and now being told you can”, stated Doug Jackson, Deputy Director of the national STABLE Account program. Jackson went on “this means we have to teach new financial habits.”
The Power of Saving Over Time
We all have things we regularly spend money on. A cup of coffee. A lottery ticket. Or, a pizza. Using pizza as an example, imagine saving the cost of a $10 pizza each week over ten years. Without any interest earned, you would have saved $5,200. Perhaps if you invested this money over the same period of time, you could have even more.
Reasons to Save
If you are a parent of a child with a disability, you know you won’t be around forever. Your child is likely to outlive you. Saving money now could provide the resources to pay for the things you buy now for your child once you are gone.
If you are the person with a disability, saving your money could help you attain whatever financial goal you have. Vacation. Purchasing a home. A vehicle. Saving for the season of life when you can no longer earn a paycheck.
Begin Saving Today
“Smart adults save money” is an idea that would not have existed for people with disabilities. But with OK STABLE, people with disabilities can save much more like a smart adult.
To learn more about OK STABLE, visit okstable.org, or contact disability advocate and financial planner Ellyn Hefner by phone at: 405-640-9408.
OKSTABLE accounts and a good life Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Steve Fair
Election integrity is fundamental to a stable Republic.
In the 2020 general election, President Trump maintained ballot fraud occurred in several states. Because of varying rules on balloting, several states were still counting votes in the presidential election three weeks after polls closed. That needs to be addressed -- but Democrats are pushing for sweeping election reform.
On Sunday (March 7) President Biden signed an executive order designed to increase voter access. It orders federal agencies to expand access to voter registration, provide voting access and education to prisoners in federal custody. It also orders the feds to examine barriers to citizens with disabilities voting and the process for overseas voters, including active-duty military.
"During this current legislative session, elected officials in 43 states have already introduced over 250 bills to make it harder to vote. We cannot let them succeed," Biden said.
Biden also urged the Senate to pass H.R. 1.
Last week U.S. House Democrats passed H.R. 1, a sweeping election reform bill that if signed into law would put the federal government in charge of elections. Some troubling provisions in HR1 include: (1) grants Washington DC statehood(2) removing of the notarization or witnesses of a voters signature for mail in voters, (3) nationwide same day registration, (4) automatic registration when you register a car, apply for food stamps or any federal entitlement program, (5) bans requirement to provide identification to vote, (6) allow convicted felons to vote, (7) allows Congress to dictate to states how to do redistricting for U.S. House representation, (8) establishes a ban on knowingly making false or anonymous statements about a candidate in a federal election, (9) pre-registers 16 year olds to vote, (10) eliminates ‘dark money’ in elections, (11) makes ballot harvesting legal.
Three observations about H.R. 1 and election/balloting reform:
First, individual states should remain in charge of their own elections, not the federal government.
Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution says: The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations except as to the places of choosing Senators.
The provision allowing Congress to ‘alter the regulations’ didn’t mean promoting cheating. The founders never envisioned the federal government running elections in the states. H.R. 1 is a clear power grab by the Democrats.
Second, H.R. 1 is not about integrity at the ballot box, it’s about staying in power.
By eliminating voter ID and expanding voter eligibility to felons, young people, and illegal immigrants, Democrats virtually guarantee Republicans could not win a future presidential election. For years, Ds have claimed ‘voter suppression’ when Republican controlled state legislatures passed voter ID laws insuring the person voting is actually that person. That should raise red flags. How can anyone oppose verifying voter ID unless they want to cheat?
Third, HR1 could be the undoing of America.
That is no exaggeration! If ballot box integrity or probity is compromised, citizens have no voice and the result will be a total lack of respect for authority- anarchy. All Americans, no matter their Party affiliation should demand elections be run in a fair and honest way.
Pray H.R.1 does not pass the Senate and is signed into law. Election reform is needed, but it best done through state legislatures. That is why 43 states are running 250 bills.
It should not be done by Executive Orders and Congressional involvement.
On Thursday evening, the Stephens County Republican Party will hold their biannual precinct meetings and county convention. The location will be: Faith Church, 1404 W. Main Street, Duncan. The precinct meetings will start at 6 p.m. and the convention will convene at 7 p.m.
The primary business will be the election of county GOP officials and selection of delegates to the state convention in April.
State Senator Darrell Weaver from Moore will be the keynote speaker at the convention.
NOTE: A conservative and a Republican Party leader, Steve Fair is a widely published Oklahoma writer. For more information about the event mentioned at the end of this commentary, email [email protected] or go to their Facebook page. Fair is chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party’s Fourth Congressional Distirct. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Steve’s blot is stevefair.blogspot.com.
H.R. 1 could unravel us: Analyzing and sketching its pro-fraud provisions, and President Biden’s executive order of March 7 Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation to help small businesses and support economic development throughout Oklahoma passed the Oklahoma House this week with a vote of 69 to 21.
House Bill 2726, authored by Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, introduces language into the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act that would allow Oklahoma small businesses to offer bottle service to their customers.
“This bill was a request bill from many small businesses in my district and throughout Oklahoma City,” Pittman said. “What we are doing is creating parity with what other states offer and what consumers want. Economic Development was at the top of my list of priorities when we started this journey, now we can see how we can restore our business communities from multiple things that challenge their success.”
The legislation does not increase or encourage alcohol consumption nor does it remove any safeguards put in place to curb alcohol-related incidents. This measure will also promote additional safety precautions that prevent hospitality staffers from making additional trips to serve patrons.
“This legislation isn’t about alcohol as much as it is about helping small businesses in House District 99 and throughout Oklahoma,” said Pittman. “This legislation will add a second layer of safety for families or patrons that gather in support of our professional sports teams and other celebrations.”
H.B. 2726 is now eligible to be heard in the Oklahoma Senate.
Bottle Service Legislation by Rep. Ajay Pittman passes in Oklahoma House Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Oklahoma schools would be required to get explicit authorization from teachers every year before withholding union dues under legislation that has passed the Oklahoma Senate.
Supporters said the bill complies with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31," and ensures the free-speech rights of school employees are prioritized.
“As the First Amendment right is critically important and a foundational right of individual liberty, I think it is best to take that portion of the decision and make sure to protect the First Amendment rights of these public-school employees,” said Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville.
Senate Bill 634, by Daniels, requires schools to get annual reauthorization for dues withholding from employees.
(https://ift.tt/3qmUSq2 ).
Under the bill, teachers or other school employees joining a union would have to sign a form each year that states, “I am aware that I have a First Amendment right, as recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court, to refrain from joining and paying dues or making political contributions to a professional employee organization. I further realize that membership and payment of dues or political contributions are voluntary and that I may not be discriminated against for my refusal to join or financially support a professional employee organization. I hereby authorize my employer to deduct dues and/or political contributions from my salary in the amounts specified in accordance with my professional employee organization’s bylaws. I understand that I may revoke this authorization at any time.”
School districts would also have to confirm the authorization by separately contacting the employee via email.
Should a school employee notify a school that he or she is terminating payroll deductions to a union, the legislation also prevents the union from accruing any new debt from the employee.
In its Janus decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, “… States and public-sector unions may no longer extract agency fees from nonconsenting employees. The First Amendment is violated when money is taken from nonconsenting employees for a public-sector union; employees must choose to support the union before anything is taken from them. Accordingly, neither an agency fee nor any other form of payment to a public-sector union may be deducted from an employee, nor may any other attempt be made to collect such a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to pay.”
Opponents said the legislation is unnecessary and unwanted by teacher union members.
“The people who this would affect, they do not want this,” said Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso.
“This is very demoralizing to teachers,” said Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, who said the legislation could lead to “passion fatigue” among educators.
Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, argued the Janus decision was “very narrow” and did not require any changes to state law.
“The changes that have been proposed are unnecessary based on the Supreme Court case,” Floyd said. Sen. Floyd is leader of the upper chamber’s minority caucus.
The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), tweeted in opposition to the bill, declaring, “Out-of-state interests are pushing this membership red tape to stop #oklaed from organizing!” An accompanying graphic said SB 634 “specifically targets collective power” and “descriminates against educators and support staff.” (Spelling error in original.) [https://twitter.com/okea/status/1367115309656776704 ]
Boren defended the work of teachers’ unions, although she acknowledged that their work has upset many families this year.
“I understand that collective-bargaining units, especially teachers, have been targeted for lots of criticism, especially in the middle of COVID where we’re at,” Boren said. “They’ve had a lot of criticism and blame for shutting our schools. I totally understand that.”
But supporters said the legislation bolsters the power of many teachers who do not want to support the political agenda of major teacher unions.
“We should respect teachers who may have a different political ideology than the group that they are forced to do their collective bargaining with if they choose to join a union in their school district,” said Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. Treat is president pro tempore in the upper chamber of the Legislature.
He noted that OEA dues support its NEA parent, which has explicitly supported abortion without restrictions under the banner of “reproductive justice” and claimed opposition to abortion is driven by “misogynistic forces.”
The American Federation of Teachers has similarly supported abortion and Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, declaring opposition to both to be the product of “extremist groups.”
“Many of my constituents may belong to OEA. They may belong to AFT,” Treat said. “And they are tremendous teachers. They are tremendous educators, dedicated. But they don’t share the belief of these national organizations.”
One lawmaker noted that the current process leaves teachers feeling exposed to potential union retribution.
“I’ve actually had teachers in my district that have reached out and said that they felt discriminated against because they asked for a waiver to opt out,” said Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan.
Daniels said the legislation is pro-teacher and pro-free speech.
“We should never be demoralized by supporting the First Amendment,” Daniels said. “It’s not an insult to somebody to say, ‘Your individual liberty is so important that we are going to add this extra step for your employer to take to make sure that your First Amendment rights are protected.’”
Senate Bill 634 passed the Oklahoma Senate on a 25-21 vote. All those in support were Republicans, while another 12 Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.
[https://ift.tt/3sVaiDn ].
NOTE: An award-winning journalist, Ray Carter is director of the Center for Independent Journalism. This post first appeared at the website of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA – https://ift.tt/3c8ahoX ). It is reposted here with permission.
Measure to protect teachers’ free speech rights advances through Oklahoma Senate Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Legislation to address the issue of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Native American people has been approved unanimously by the full Senate. Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 172, known as Ida’s Law.
The measure is named for 29-year-old Ida Beard from El Reno. A citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, she went missing in 2015 and has never been found. Legislators from Oklahoma City have assumed leading roles in advancing the proposed law.
Rosino said there are currently more than 220 missing American Indians in Oklahoma, with about 14 of those from his own Senate District.
“It’s a national problem, and it’s a problem right here in Oklahoma. One of the biggest issues is the lack of solid data, which is exactly what Ida’s Law would help us address,” Rosino said. “We had tremendous momentum for this legislation last session, but it was another of many important bills that the clock ran out on due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m encouraged and grateful for the Senate’s support this session.”
S.B.172 directs the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to coordinate with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department to obtain federal funding to create a database. The measure would also create the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons under the OSBI.
The office would work with tribal, state, and federal authorities on missing persons and homicide cases, provide guidance to victims’ families, facilitate training, promote best practices, and consult with community organizations to promote community relations.
Also advocating for the legislation as it moves through the legislative process have been state Senator Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and state Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton. In a recent “Point of View” commentary for The Oklahoman, Pae and Hicks explained the utility of the data base the law envisions:
“In Oklahoma, 9.4 percent of the population is Indigenous, and we’re one of the Top 10 states in the nation for missing or murdered Indigenous women. Without guidelines and with limitations in data collection and reporting, it’s impossible to fully understand how many Indigenous members of our community are missing or murdered every year.”
[https://ift.tt/3c5y5tr]
The measure next moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Rep. Collin Walke, D-Oklahoma City, is the House principal author.
Note: Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.
Oklahoma State Senate approves Ida’s Law, measure moves to House of Representatives Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
Pat McGuiganThe dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know. Archives
September 2021
Categories |