Political Pulse
House passes National Board moratorium
Written by eCapitol Friday, 18 May 2012 17:27
The House on Friday debated but passed a measure extending the moratorium on new candidates entering the National Board certification program.
A moratorium that was put in place in 2010 would be extended through 2013 under the CCR for HB 2790, by Rep. Charles Ortega, R-Altus, and Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville. Rep. Corey Holland, R-Marlow, who presented the bill, said the program would be studied over the interim to develop a long-term solution to sustain it.
House Democratic Leader Scott Inman, of Del City, debated against the bill. He noted that the program, which costs $15 million, was called “unsustainable,” but a tax cut plan was just announced to cut millions from state revenue.
The bill passed 60 to 29 and now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
The House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday. Go to www.ecapitol.net for the full story!
Senate fails to approve VPO changes, prepares for interim, next session
Written by eCapitol Friday, 18 May 2012 16:32
The Senate failed to approve a conference committee substitute that would have improved the way victims protective orders are handled, its author said, and began making preparations for the interim and the next legislative session.
The Senate failed to adopt the CCS for SB 447, by Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, and Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon. The measure decreases the time for a court to schedule a full hearing from within 20 days to within 14 days of the filing of a petition for a protective order. The bill also allows the court to consider the safety of any and all alleged victims that are subject to the order prior to determining whether to set a reasonable bond pending a hearing on the alleged violation of the order. It also clarifies language related to bond for violations of a protective order. The conference committee substitute was not adopted following a standing division of the chamber in which only Barrington stood in favor of its adoption and a vast majority stood in opposition. For the full story go to www.ecapitol.net
AG gun bill passes House conference
Written by eCapitol Friday, 18 May 2012 15:00
The House Conference Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Military Affairs approved a measure Friday morning that would allow the attorney general and assistant attorneys general to carry guns.
The language was proposed via a new CCS for HB 2522, by Rep. Steve Martin, R-Bartlesville, and Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. The previous language of the bill provided open carry provisions, but Gov. Mary Fallin has already signed the Senate version of that bill. As proposed Friday, the bill would allow the attorney general and assistant attorneys general to carry guns if they obtain proper training. Martin confirmed that the bill was a request from Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office.
If approved by Senate conferees, the bill will be eligible for consideration on the House floor. For the full story go to www.ecapitol.net
Senate Education Committee approves four executive nominations
Written by eCapitol Friday, 18 May 2012 14:46
 The Senate Education Committee approved four of Gov. Mary Fallin’s nominations to educational entities Friday.
The nominations receiving the committee’s approval and that are now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor include:
L. Steven Blankenship, of Broken Bow, to the Board of Trustees for the McCurtain County Higher Education Program, to a nine-year term ending June 30, 2021, succeeding Gloria Gulley, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ellis, R-Valliant.
Aulena S. Gibson, from Oklahoma City, to the Board of Trustees for Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center and Nature Park, to seven-year term ending June 30, 2019, succeeding Jane Godlove, sponsored by Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.
Jeremy Daniel Gibson, of Tulsa, to the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, to an unexpired term ending July 1, 2015, succeeding Andrew Moore, sponsored by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
Patricia A. Harrold, from Edmond, to the State Textbook Committee, to a three-year term ending March 1, 2015, succeeding Vicki Vaughan, sponsored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond. For the full story go to www.ecapitol.net
DHS rules rejected again in House
Written by eCapitol Thursday, 17 May 2012 21:23
A motion to reconsider a resolution approving Department of Human Services’ rules was rejected for the second time on Thursday.
HJR 1113, by Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, initially failed Tuesday in a vote of 47 to 46. Nelson’s motion to reconsider failed 45 to 29 on Thursday.
Nelson explained that the rules would help DHS recoup fees it is charged by tax-collecting agencies in intercepting funds related to past-due child support. DHS currently covers those costs. Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, said the rules side-step the budget process, and the costs could be covered if DHS were appropriately funded.
The House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Friday. For the full story go to www.ecapitol.net
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