The Oklahoma Senate

(Most of the work in the Legislature occurred behind the scenes in committee as legislators worked toward their next deadline. The next deadline is March 26th. It requires committees to take action on bills of the opposite house. Dozens of bills were passed by committee members, sending them to the next stage of the legislative process, floor action. The Review highlights the major events of this week.)

• Governor Keating signed the so-called optometry bill. The legislation would allow optometrists to perform certain kinds of laser surgery which were recently struck down by a district court. The Governor said both sides had strong arguments on the issue, but he said he would not veto a bill if he wasn't assured that he could sustain it. The measure passed with bipartisan support.
  
  
• The Senate met briefly before adjourning to dedicate several new pieces of artwork for the Senate lounge.
  
  
• The Senate Business and Labor Committee approved HB 2978, legislation which would target out-of-state businesses which try to give consumers the impression they are local firms. The bill is aimed primarily at floral delivery firms that have their 800 numbers listed in the phone book under a fictitious name, usually including the name of the local municipality. The measure is supposed to classify such advertising as "deceptive."

• An official with the Department of Corrections testified that the truth-in-sentencing law passed year would result in longer prison terms for most offenders. The DOC official made that statement before the special joint committee charged with reviewing the new law and recommending possible changes. The House has already approved a revised truth-in-sentencing bill that would add a number of new crimes to the act's sentencing matrix, greatly increasing the cost of its implementation.
  
  
• The Senate Finance Committee approved HB 2437 which would apportion interest income from investments held to generate working capital according to the proportion of such income earned in Oklahoma by a multi-state business. Senate author Jim Dunlap believes the state will gain revenue from out-of-state firms that earn interest on their investments in Oklahoma. Tax commission officials say it is difficult to estimate the cost of the tax break.
  
  
• The Senate Finance Committee approved HB 2833 which would require the notice of the sale of homestead property for tax purposes be posted on the door of the property at least 30 days prior to a tax deed being issued. The panel also approved HB2724 which provides for disclosure of motor vehicle registration information to private investigators who undertake fraud investigations.
  
  
• The House Science and Technology Committee approved SB 1024 which would create a 20-member task force to assess the state's system and resources for providing assistive technology to persons of all ages with disabilities and to prepare recommendations for other necessary action.
  
  
• The House Government Operations and Agency Oversight Committee approved an amended SB 1174 which would overhaul state purchasing laws. Among other things, it would increase from $2,500 to $25,000 the acquisition or contract amounts exempt from competitive bidding procedures.
  
  
• The Senate Education Committee approved HB 3086 which would direct the boards of regents to require a quality control review of the internal audit function for each institution under its governance; deleting the requirement for the state auditor to perform such reviews.

• The Senate Government Operations and Agency Oversight Committee killed HJR 1080, a measure designed to stop agencies from "cherry picking" state employees from each other until the problem could be addressed in the year 2000. Among other things, the legislation would have directed agencies not to recruit data processing employees from each other. In other action, the committee approved HB 2680 which extends the deadline for a report from the Tulsa Race Riot Commission to the year 2000.
  
  
• The Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Public Safety and the Judiciary approved a bill designed to give state troopers pay raises. HB 3160 would cost an estimated $9.2 million to implement. The panel also approved HB 2915 which would give OSBI personnel a salary increase. Also passed was HB 2593, legislation which would create within the Department of Public Safety a Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunication Systems Division. It is projected that the system would cost $34 million.
  
  
• The House Education subcommittee stalled a bill which would have encouraged public schools to offer drivers education again. SB 1429 by Sen. Keith Leftwich failed to receive a do-pass recommendation, stalling on a 12-12 vote. It is expected to be considered again by the full House Education Committee.
  
  
• The House Economic Development Committee approved SB 786 which would provide incentive dollars for rural development. It also passed SB 784 and SB 1289 modifying the Quality Jobs Act.
  
  
• The Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Education approved the "Hope Scholarship" bill, HJR 1084.

• The Senate met briefly before adjourning for the weekend. It will reconvene at 1:30pm Monday.

• The State Ethics Commission ruled that political campaign contributions cannot be used to pay any part of rent, security deposits or utilities on a building used both as a campaign headquarters and a personal residence. The question about the issue was asked by a candidate for public office.