Governor Mary Fallin Signs Budget Bill, Highlights Successes in 2015 Legislative Session

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed the Fiscal Year 2016 budget bill (HB 2244) into law, calling it a fiscally responsible blueprint for state government and praising the Legislature for closing a $611 million shortfall without cutting funding for K-12 education. The FY 2016 appropriated budget will be $7,138,920,521, which is $74.3 million, or 1.03 percent, less than FY 2015’s appropriated budget.

“I’m proud legislators and I were able to pass a budget in challenging times that shields common education, our largest and one of our most important expenses, from budget cuts,” said Fallin. “Under this budget, approximately 51 cents of every dollar appropriated by state government will continue to go toward education. The budget also protects – and in some cases increases — funding for health and public safety while preserving all funding necessary to keep intact the state’s eight-year transportation plan, as well as the five-year county road-and-bridge plan.”

Fallin called the 2015 legislative session “a victory for Oklahomans” and highlighted a series of policy successes. This year’s session was marked by significant progress in areas championed by Fallin, including education, criminal justice, and health. The governor identified each as an area in which Oklahoma must improve in both her inaugural address and her State of the State speech to legislators.

“This session was a victory for Oklahomans and produced a number of positive reforms in areas like education, health and criminal justice, despite a challenging budget year,” said Fallin. “I am excited about the good work done by our Legislature, and I believe the successes we’ve achieved this year will help the state of Oklahoma build on its significant forward momentum.”

2015 Policy and Legislative Highlights

“There are three areas that we must resolve to make a priority, areas that we must improve or risk stifling our forward momentum: educational attainment, over-incarceration, and health.” – Governor Mary Fallin, 2015 Inaugural Address

Educational Attainment and Improving Oklahoma’s Schools

“When we ask – ‘how can we ensure long term prosperity in Oklahoma?’ – the most important answer is educational attainment. … Individuals need to have marketable work skills to flourish in today’s economy. Businesses need skilled and educated individuals to succeed, grow and expand.” – Governor Mary Fallin, 2015 Inaugural Address

• SB 612: Empowers the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Economic Development through streamlining membership. The council is one of the main drivers of “Oklahoma Works,” the governor’s initiative to boost educational attainment and better align workforce and education in Oklahoma by developing and supporting partnerships between local businesses, CareerTech institutions, higher education and K-12 schools.
• SB 782: Allows school districts across the state the ability to create charter schools. Charter schools, public schools that operate under innovative education models, historically have been limited to Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.
• HB 1034: Authorizes sponsorship of charter schools by federally recognized Indian tribes on tribal property held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• HB 1691: Allows the Tulsa and Oklahoma City school board to contract educational and administrative services for the school district. These contracts allow schools to have flexibility in the way they operate, similar to charter schools.
• SB 136: Senate Bill 136 allows for the Virtual Charter School Board to develop an approved list of supplemental online courses offered to Oklahoma students and to negotiate a statewide rate for courses delivered.
• SB 20: Directs the State Board of Education to issue a teaching certificate to a person who holds a valid out-of-state certificate and meets certain requirements. SB 20 aims to make it easier to recruit and hire quality teachers outside the state of Oklahoma.
• HB 1823 (pending governor action): Directs the State Board of Education to study the calculation of the school report card and provide recommendations to the Legislature on how to improve the evaluation system.
• SB 630 (pending governor action): Modifies the Reading Sufficiency Act. For students in first and second grade not reading at the corresponding grade level, an individualized remediation reading plan will be developed to get the student reading at grade level. The plan will be developed by a committee consisting of the parent, the child’s teacher who had the responsibility for reading instruction in the academic year, a teacher responsible for reading in the next grade level and a reading specialist when available. The bill also increases the minimum reading level of students to be promoted to fourth grade from “limited knowledge” to “proficient” beginning in the 2016-17 school year. For the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, probationary promotion may be considered by a Student Reading Proficiency Team composed of the parent, the child’s teacher who had the responsibility for reading instruction in the academic year, a teacher responsible for reading in the next grade level and a reading specialist. Once a student in the first, second or third grade demonstrates reading proficiency at the third grade level through an approved screening instrument, they will have met the reading requirement to be promoted to fourth grade.
• SB 706 (pending governor action): The bill modifies the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE). Beginning in 2016-17 school year, teachers and administrators will receive both a qualitative and a quantitative rating. The TLE will be used for matters of employment beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
• HB 1693 (pending governor action): This bill modifies The Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act to allow any taxpayer, who makes a contribution to an eligible educational improvement grant organization and commits to contribute the same amount for an additional year, receives a credit for the first year and the additional year equal to seventy-five percent of the total amount of the contribution each year. In addition, the bill allows “eligible special needs students” to receive scholarships of up to $5,000.00 or eighty percent of the statewide annual average per-pupil expenditure to cover the educational costs of a qualified school which does not charge tuition and enrolls special populations of students.
• SB 711 (pending governor action): This bill requires a superintendent who recommends the dismissal of a teacher to their local board of education to forward a copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education if the reasons for dismissal could form the basis of criminal charges sufficient to result in the denial or revocation of a certificate. The State Board of Education will be notified after the completion of due process procedures.

Crime and Incarceration

“Another issue which year after year holds back our state, breaks apart our families and leads to poverty is crime and incarceration. Let me be clear: community and personal safety will always be a top priority. Anyone who is a threat to those around them must be locked up, and violent criminals must be in prison. Nothing about that will change. But here’s the sad truth: many of our inmates are non-violent offenders with drug abuse and alcohol problems. They don’t need to spend long stints at the state penitentiary, where they can join gangs and acquire criminal networks. They need treatment; they need supervision; and they need to be returned to their communities as productive and healthy adults ready to support themselves and their families.”
– Governor Mary Fallin, 2015 Inaugural Address

• HB 1518: Allows judges to impose shorter sentences for some nonviolent crimes. The bill allows judges to depart from mandatory minimum terms if they believe the minimum sentence is “not necessary for the protection of the public” and could “result in substantial injustice to the defendant.” Freed from having to impose a mandatory sentence, a judge in some cases could choose to divert the offender to a program to deal with underlying mental health or drug abuse issues. The measure, called the Justice Safety Valve Act, is an attempt to divert more nonviolent offenders into alternative programs and away from long terms in the state’s overcrowded prisons.
• HB 1574: Changes the minimum sentence for certain repeat drug felons from life without parole to not less than 20 years. Currently, a person convicted of two or more previous drug felony possessions must receive life in prison with no possibility of parole upon a conviction for drug trafficking. House Bill 1574 gives judges and juries the additional option of sentencing these offenders to 20 years to life in prison along with life without parole; it also provides that the punishment remains life without parole for anyone who has two or more drug trafficking convictions.
• HB 1548: Allows a judge to reduce the sentence of any inmate who was originally sentenced for a drug charge and ordered to complete the Drug Offender Work Camp at the Bill Johnson Correctional Facility if the judge is satisfied the best interests of the public will not be jeopardized.
• HB 2179: Makes it easier for offenders to obtain a commercial driver’s license once they have been released from prison. Presently ex-convicts must pay off all fees and fines before getting a suspended license reinstated. They can do so by paying monthly toward their fines. HB 2179 extends that practice to those seeking a commercial driver’s license.
• HB 2168: Allows Oklahoma agencies and boards to make common-sense licensing decisions on reformed individuals. Previously, individuals convicted of a felony were barred from professional licensing, limiting their career options and contributing to recidivism.
• HB 2187: Expands use of electronic monitoring options. Electronic monitoring is a more cost-effective way of supervising some non-violent offenders than prison. It also allows officials to better supervise individuals released on parole to ensure quick remedial action to protect the public.
• HB 1630: Reduces inmate expenses and streamlines the process of transferring prisoners from county jails to Department of Corrections custody by requiring counties to transmit sentencing documents to the state agency within three days of their availability. In the event the Department of Corrections facilities reach capacity, counties will now be given the right to negotiate with the agency to house prisoners at a negotiated rate before private prisons.
• HB 1263: Allows expungement of records without cost for individuals determined to be innocent.
• HB 1047: Strengthens laws on aggravated child pornography.
• HB 1318 and SB 55: Strengthens laws relating to assault on a police officer.
• HB 1350: Strengthens stalking laws.

Improving Health Outcomes

“We must work together collectively and individually to improve the health of the state and our citizens. … Poor health outcomes are destroying our quality of life, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths each year, and costing taxpayers and businesses a tremendous amount of money. It is time to face these hard truths and take responsibility for these outcomes as a state and as individuals.” – Governor Mary Fallin, 2015 Inaugural Address

• HB 1948: HB 1948 takes aim at Oklahoma’s prescription drug abuse problem. It seeks to reduce “doctor shopping,” the practice of going to multiple physicians with requests for prescription narcotics, and to reduce the reliance on and inappropriate use of dangerous narcotics to treat pain. The law requires doctors to check a Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database before writing prescriptions for potentially dangerous and addictive drugs like oxycodone. By checking the database, doctors can reduce the likelihood patients are seeking the same prescription drugs from more than one physician at a time.
• HB 1965: Makes it illegal to text while driving in Oklahoma. The measure makes texting while driving a primary offense, meaning law officers will be able to pull over anyone who is texting while operating a vehicle. The penalty will be $100. HB 1965, The Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015, is named for the two Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers who were struck by a vehicle earlier this year while investigating an accident on Interstate 40 in Seminole County. Dees died at the scene, and Burch was hospitalized. The driver of the vehicle was using a smart phone at the time of the accident.
• HB 1685: Requires all Oklahoma schools be tobacco-free. The bill is known as the 24/7 Tobacco-Free Schools Act. Tobacco use of any kind will not be allowed on school grounds and the use of a tobacco product will also be prohibited in school vehicles, and at any school-sponsored or school-sanctioned activity.
• HB 2154: Authorizes a medical pilot program allowing the medically supervised use of cannabidiol (CBD), a low THC non-intoxicating derivative of marijuana. Reports from some families indicate CBD oil may be used to effectively treat children who suffer from epileptic seizures and help reduce the number and intensity of those seizures.
• HB 1566: Aims to reduce costs while improving health services provided by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. HB 1566 directs the Health Care Authority to issue a request for proposal for care coordination models for the aged, blind and disabled population of Oklahoma who are enrolled in the state’s SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid) program.
• Executive Order 17: Creates a new advisory committee, made up of members of the governor’s former Blue Ribbon Panel for Developmental Disabilities, which will offer policy proposals, and an inter-agency Executive Council, composed of state officials and members of the governor’s Cabinet, who will seek to implement those proposals.

A Fiscally Conservative Budget with Targeted Increases to Core Government Services

The FY 2016 budget deal reached by Governor Mary Fallin and state legislators represents a fiscally responsible plan to fund core government services. The agreement preserves current funding levels for common education, a major victory considering the state had $611 million less in certified revenue available this legislative session than was appropriated in FY 2015. Education continues to be the state’s largest investment, with approximately 51 percent of all appropriated dollars going toward education expenses.

“I’m proud legislators and I were able to pass a budget in challenging times that shield common education, our largest and one of our most important expenses, from budget cuts. Under this budget agreement, approximately 51 cents of every dollar appropriated by state government will continue to go toward education. The budget also protects – and in some cases increases — funding for health and public safety while preserving all funding necessary to keep intact the state’s eight-year transportation plan, as well the five-year county road-and-bridge plan.”— Governor Mary Fallin

The $7.1 billion budget provides targeted funding increases in the following areas:

• Oklahoma Health Care Authority: $18 million, or 1.9 percent, for operations.
• Department of Human Services: $15.9 million line item for the Pinnacle Plan.
• Department of Public Safety: $4.6 million, or 4.8 percent, for trooper pay raises.
• Office of Juvenile Affairs: $2.5 million, or 2.6 percent, for female facility.
• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: $2 million, or 0.6 percent, for operations.
• Department of Corrections: $1million, or 0.2 percent, for operations.
• House of Representatives: $1million, or 6.38 percent, for operations.
• Department of Rehabilitative Services: $400,000, or 1.3 percent, for a federal match.
• Oklahoma School of Science and Math: $250,000, or 3.95 percent, for operations.
• Ethics Commission: $100,000, or 13.56 percent, for operations.

Budget reforms

“As a state, we spend a lot of money now on programs we hope are working. We need to identify and support programs we know are working.” – Governor Mary Fallin, State of the State Address

• SB 189: Requires state agencies to use performance-informed budgeting techniques. SB 189 changes the budgeting process to align resources with state priorities and measurable outcomes. Performance-informed budgeting moves Oklahoma from funding programs that might work to funding programs that do work. This bill will help ensure government is allocating taxpayer resources wisely and delivering measurable results.
• HB 2182: Requires tax incentives offered to businesses to be evaluated at least once every four years. A citizen oversight panel, the Incentive Evaluation Commission, will develop evaluation criteria for each individual incentive that will be used by an independent third party to conduct incentive evaluations. The evaluations will then be used by policymakers to help determine whether incentives should be retained, reformed or repealed.
• SB 806: Requires all future business tax incentives to contain measurable goals.

Other Legislative Successes

Agriculture

• HB 1403: Outlines procedures for the care and disposition of various animals after extreme emergencies. It seeks to eliminate problems experienced within the livestock industry during previous natural disasters. It establishes holding periods and procedures to assist owners in locating animals after a federally declared emergency, and establishes accommodations for animals at shelters during such an event.
• HB 1756: Removes government authority over the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, allowing this organization to function completely in the private sector and no longer receive government funds. This is the final step in privatizing the commission.
• HB 2208: Provides for consistent reporting of poultry waste to better ensure environmental and governmental efficiency. It modernizes poultry producer requirements, allowing for better guidance of incoming producers and increased industry growth.

Community Enhancement

• HB 2237: Provides funding for the completion of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.
• SB 839: Provides funding for the creation of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa

Efficient government

• SB 313: Allows eligible citizens with a driver’s license to securely register to vote online, an option already offered by over half of all states. SB 313 aims to increase voter participation.
• HB 1749: Prohibits any state agency from making payroll deductions on behalf of a state employee for membership in a public employee association or organization that collectively bargains on behalf of its membership. HB 1749 removes the state from the process of collecting union dues.

Energy/Environment

• EO 22: States Oklahoma will not file a State Implementation Plan with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulating carbon dioxide emissions produced by Oklahoma power plants. Proposed federal regulations would increase utility costs for families and businesses, destroy jobs and will not substantially reduce emissions or mitigate global warming.
• SB 820: Provides the re-appropriation of funds to the attorney general’s office for its ongoing effort to preserve Oklahoma’s water rights. SB 820 appropriates funds to ensure the state will have the appropriate legal counsel to guarantee proper representation related to the prosecuting and defending of claims related to water and water rights.
• SB 808: Introduces new wind project sighting guidelines that include a 1.5 mile-setback requirements for wind towers in relation to airports, public schools and hospitals. It also ensures the owner of any wind facility must provide evidence of an amount sufficient to cover costs of decommissioning wind towers to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission before beginning construction. It also allows for increased notice to local communities and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on proposed wind projects.
• SB 498 and SB 502: Reforms tax incentives and credits currently available to the Oklahoma wind energy industry. Senate Bill 498 phases out the current property tax exemption for wind facilities. SB 502 makes wind facilities ineligible for a job creation tax credit currently offered by the state. A zero emissions tax credit currently available to the wind industry will remain in place. Both bills accomplish the goals of supporting an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy while delivering much-needed fiscal reform.”

Pro-Life

• HB 1409: Increases the time for voluntary and informed consent before an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Additionally, abortion facilities that operate a website must add a web link to the state’s website, “A Woman’s Right to Know.”
• HB 1721: Outlaws abortions in which doctors use forceps or other medical devices to dismember a living fetus in the womb. The Oklahoma Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act provides an exception only in cases where the dismemberment abortion was necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother.

Religious Freedom

• HB 1007: Protects religious leaders from being compelled to perform marriages that are in direct contradiction to their religious beliefs.

Transportation and Public Safety

• SB 322: Enhances safety in work zones and other dangerous driving areas by allowing enforcement of a required reduced speed limit rather than an advisory speed limit. SB 322 allows transportation officials to adjust driving speed signage to protect travelers during inclement weather, accidents, emergencies or other hazardous road conditions.
• EO 15: Extends the critical work of the Governor’s Impaired Driving Prevention Advisory Committee. The council is tasked with continuing efforts toward a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries caused by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• HB 1568: Allows for the implementation of a video toll collection system in locations where safety and savings could be improved. It empowers transportation officials to partner with communities and install systems that improve driver convenience and reduce overhead costs.
• HB 1113: Allows transportation maintenance vehicles to display red and blue safety lights that signal other vehicles to yield or change lanes away from the work area. It creates a safer environment for all on the road, especially highway maintenance workers and night travelers.

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Governor Mary Fallin, Legislative Leaders Reach Budget Deal

OKLAHOMA CITY — Governor Mary Fallin, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and House Speaker Jeffrey W. Hickman today announced an appropriated state budget agreement for Fiscal Year 2016.

Under the agreement, the FY 2016 appropriated budget will be $7,138,920,521, which is $74.3 million, or 1.03 percent, less than FY 2015’s appropriated budget.

The agreement preserves current funding levels for common education, a major victory considering the state had $611 million less in certified revenue available this legislative session than was appropriated in FY 2015. Education continues to be the state’s largest investment, with more than 50 percent of all appropriated dollars going toward education expenses.

Other agencies protected from appropriation reductions through flat or increased appropriations include the Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, State Department of Health and Office of Juvenile Affairs, among others.

Additionally, the agreement preserves the funding necessary to maintain the state’s current eight-year transportation plan and county government’s five-year road and bridge plan. It also appropriates $15.9 million to the Department of Human Services to fully fund FY 2016 Pinnacle Plan costs.

Under the agreement, 49 agencies receive funding cuts ranging from 0.75 percent to 7.25 percent, eight agencies receive appropriation increases and 12 agencies receive flat appropriations.

To address having $611 million less in certified revenue than was appropriated in FY 2015, the agreement accesses $150 million from the Rainy Day Fund and reconciles $125.2 million from agency revolving funds. It produces additional revenue by accessing other state accounts, modifying apportionments and implementing new tax initiatives to reduce tax fraud and collect past due taxes.

In a major transparency and fiscal reform, the general appropriations bill, House Bill 2242, will for the first time display all funding available to agencies in order to present the full funding picture of state government. Previously, only legislative appropriations figures were contained in these bills. Legislative appropriations today comprise about 40 percent of state spending.

Links:  AGREEMENT SUMMARY, FY 16 BUDGET

Governor Mary Fallin:

“At the beginning of this legislative session, I said that improving educational attainment, addressing over-incarceration and boosting health outcomes need to be priorities for the state of Oklahoma. This budget reflects those priorities and will allow us to continue to make progress in those areas.

“In a year with a $611 million budget hole, today’s agreement takes extraordinary steps to shield common education, our largest and one of our most important expenses, from budget cuts. Under this budget agreement, approximately 51 cents of every dollar appropriated by state government will continue to go toward education.

“The budget also protects and in some cases increases funding for health and public safety while preserving all funding necessary to keep intact the state’s eight year transportation plan as well the five year county road and bridge plan. I’m extremely proud of the work the Legislature and my office have done to produce a fiscally responsible budget that adequately funds core government services even in the face of significant budget challenges.

“I’m also proud of the preliminary steps this budget takes to begin addressing our structural budget challenges to make budget writing more flexible and transparent in the future. In addition to the fiscal reforms in this budget, we’ve also enacted policy to review all tax incentives every four years and require use of performance informed budgeting so the state can make better use of its resources.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa:

“We knew this would be a difficult budget year, but we believe we have delivered a responsible agreement that includes strategic spending cuts and much-needed apportionment reform. In a year when we were faced with a significant shortfall, difficult decisions had to be made to produce a balanced budget.

“The Senate this year emphasized a more comprehensive examination of state spending to identify efficiencies, and structural reforms to give the Legislature greater flexibility in the appropriations process. We have also been meeting with state agencies for months in a collaborative effort to consider how they might be able to operate more efficiently in anticipation of these necessary cuts. This budget reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility, while adequately funding core services.

“We are pleased that we were able to protect funding for critical priorities like education, while ensuring that the Department of Transportation’s eight-year plan will remain unaffected. Given the challenges we faced this year, we believe we have reached an agreement on a fiscally responsible budget that will allow us to make continued advancements in areas of need like education and transportation.”

House Speaker Jeffrey W. Hickman, R-Fairview:

“I’m pleased we were able to reach agreement with the Governor and the Senate on a budget which prioritizes essential services as we make adjustments caused by the state’s structural budget challenges. To have a budget which makes no cuts to our public schools, protects our Eight-Year-Plan for safer roads and bridges in Oklahoma, continues our investment in critical reforms at DHS, and preserves public safety with dollars redirected to the critical needs in juvenile affairs and the crisis in our state prisons, is a tremendous achievement with the funding issues we faced.”

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Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman announces Republican committee assignments

“Oklahomans have given Republicans a historic majority in the state Senate,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “With 40 Senators, there is a considerable diversity of leadership and talent in the Republican caucus. I am proud to work with such a fine group of public servants as we advance an agenda to further our economic momentum.”

The State Senate’s committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and membership for the 2014-15 legislative session are:

Agriculture and Rural Development:

Eddie Fields, R-Wynona, Chair

Mark Allen, R-Spiro, Vice Chair

Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow

Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Larry Boggs, R-Red Oak

Frank Simpson, R-Springer

Anthony Sykes, R-Moore

Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Appropriations:

Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, Chair

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, Vice Chair

All members of the Senate, both Republican and Democrat, are members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Business and Commerce:

Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, Chair

Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, Vice Chair

Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow

Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater

Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow

Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee

Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City

Roger Thompson, R-Okemah

Education:

John Ford, R-Bartlesville, Chair

Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, Vice Chair

Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate

Marty Quinn, R-Claremore

Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater

Jason Smalley, R-Stroud

Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Wayne Shaw, R-Grove

Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa

Roger Thompson, R-Okemah

Energy:

Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, Chair

A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie, Vice Chair

Brian Crain, R-Tulsa

Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City

Rob Standridge, R-Norman

Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Eddie Fields, R-Wynona

Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City

Mark Allen, R-Spiro

Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City

Finance:

Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, Chair

Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, Vice Chair

John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater

Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Kim David, R-Porter

Frank Simpson, R-Springer

Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow

Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher

Ervin Yen, Oklahoma City

Marty Quinn, R-Claremore

General Government:

Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, Chair

Jack Fry, R-Midwest City, Vice Chair

Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City

David Holt, R-Oklahoma City

Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City

Corey Brooks, R-Washington

Health and Human Services: 

Rob Standridge, R-Norman, Chair

Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City, Vice Chair

Kim David, R-Porter

Brian Crain, R-Tulsa

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City

A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie

Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City

Insurance: 

Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, Chair

John Sparks, D-Norman, Vice Chair

Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa

Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher

Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa

Marty Quinn, R-Claremore

Judiciary: 

Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, Chair

Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, Vice Chair

Corey Brooks, R-Washington

A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie

David Holt, R-Oklahoma City

Rob Standridge, R-Norman

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City

Roger Thompson, R-Okemah

Public Safety: 

Don Barrington, R-Lawton, Chair

Corey Brooks, R-Washington, Vice Chair

Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate

John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Kim David, R-Porter

Wayne Shaw, R-Grove

David Holt, R-Oklahoma City

Pensions: 

Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso, Chair

Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, Vice Chair

Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow

Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa

Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa

Rules:

Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Chair

Eddie Fields, R-Wynona, Vice Chair

Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso

Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Frank Simpson, R-Stringer

Rob Standridge, R-Norman

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City

Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow

Kim David, R-Porter

A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie

Tourism and Wildlife:

Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, Chair

Larry Boggs, R-Red Oak, Vice Chair

Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow

Eddie Fields, R-Wynona

Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Wayne Shaw, R-Grove

Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee

Transportation:

Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, Chair

Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, Vice Chair

Mark Allen, R-Spiro

Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City

Jack Fry, R-Midwest City

Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City

Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa

Jason Smalley, R-Stroud

Ralph Shortery, R-Oklahoma City

Veterans and Military Affairs:

Frank Simpson, R-Springer, Chair

Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, Vice Chair

Anthony Sykes, R-Moore

Jason Smalley, R-Stroud

Larry Boggs, R-Red Oak

Jack Fry, R-Midwest City

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education:

Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, Chair

Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, Vice Chair

John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa

Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee

Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation:

Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, Chair

Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, Vice Chair

Mark Allen, R-Spiro

Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso

Larry Boggs, R-Red Oak

Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Jack Fry, R-Midwest City

Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services:

Kim David, R-Porter, Chair

A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie, Vice Chair

Frank Simpson, R-Springer

Rob Standridge, R-Norman

Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City

Brian Crain, R-Tulsa

Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources:

Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Chair

Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, Vice Chair

Eddie Fields, R-Wynona

Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher

Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa

Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary:

Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, Chair

Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, Vice Chair

Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Anthony Sykes, R-Moore

Corey Brooks, R-Washington

Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate

Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow

Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies:

David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, Chair

Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, Vice Chair

Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow

Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City

Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa

– END –

I love American history, and try to soak up as much as I can by reading about it and exploring historical sites whenever an opportunity arises. When I travel to the Washington, D.C., area, I usually stay an additional day and travel the area of our country’s roots. On a recent trip I headed to Sharpsburg, Maryland, where the famous battle of Antietam was fought. This was my second visit to the site, and after touring the battlefield, I drove a few more miles to the Potomac River.

I stumbled upon a real historic gem, the remnants of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, also known as the C&O Canal. The project began in 1828 and was completed in 1850, operating until 1924. The canal, which also included a towpath to allow teams of mules to pull boats full of cargo, extends from the Georgetown area in Washington to Cumberland, Maryland. It is 184.5 miles long and consists of 74 locks and seven dams. The canal was originally planned to go all the way to Pittsburgh, which would have connected the nation’s capital to the Ohio River, and on to the Western frontier.

Beyond just the pure historical value visiting a place like this brings, it instills a lot of pride in the display of American ingenuity, grit and determination. We are reminded of what helped our country be the strong economic power that it has become. We have built an incredible transportation network, but the challenge ahead of us is to maintain it. At the federal level, finding a secure and stable revenue source to maintain highways has been elusive, and the possibility that this source of funding will continue to decrease is real. Fortunately, in Oklahoma we have committed funds over the last several years to rebuild and maintain our roads and bridges. Most recently, Gov. Mary Fallin and the Legislature agreed on measures to address structurally deficient bridges that will improve our transportation system, and pay dividends to the state for years to come.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

May 7, 2013

Governor Mary Fallin Signs into Law Infrastructure Improvement Plan

Bill Will Help Address Needs at Capitol, Maintain other State Assets

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed into law House Bill 1910, a bill that creates a long-term plan to maintain state assets. The bill, by House Speaker T.W. Shannon and Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, forms the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission. The commission will first address the repair of the state Capitol, and later develop an eight-year plan to address other infrastructure, repair and maintenance issues. The commission also will provide recommendations on reallocation, reuse or liquidation of state properties.

“It’s important we maintain and improve state assets, rather than watching them deteriorate,” Fallin said. “House Bill 1910 puts us on a path to ensure state infrastructure and buildings like the Oklahoma Capitol are well-maintained and cared for. My thanks go out to the Oklahoma Legislature for working with me to develop a plan to address the state’s many infrastructure needs.”

Shannon, R-Lawton, said, “The signing of this bill shows this legislature’s commitment to becoming better stewards of the people’s buildings and the taxpayers’ money. Oklahoma now has a process in which responsible decisions can be made on repair and maintenance issues without taking on unnecessary debt which will burden future generations of Oklahomans. Oklahoma has a chance to prove to the country that conservative values lead to prosperity. If we are to succeed, we must show that we as lawmakers value the very infrastructure we have asked the people to invest in.”

Bingman, R-Sapulpa, said, “The people of Oklahoma are the owners of buildings like the state Capitol, and they simply deserve better than an endless carousel of deterioration and depreciation. We can no longer wait to begin critical repairs to the state Capitol and other public assets in need of immediate rehabilitation. This Eight-Year Plan is a conservative, methodical approach to responsibly maintain these buildings and ensure the people of Oklahoma see a return on the investment they’ve made. Speaker Shannon and Governor Fallin have both made these repairs a top priority, and I appreciate their commitment to address such a pressing need.”

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HB 1910 fact sheet

By ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer

Published: 3/28/2013  2:23 AM

The same two demands surfaced repeatedly Wednesday at a community meeting over proposals to renew Tulsa’s capital improvements funding: streets and specifics.

“I want to know exactly what are you going to spend on streets and I would like a list of projects,” said Peggy Burgess, one of about 45 residents who attended the meeting at Martin Regional Library.

The meeting was organized by Citizens for a Better Vision, a group who opposed the failed Tulsa County Vision2 initiative who say they disapprove of city officials’ method of answering questions during the city’s ongoing series of town hall meetings over the capital improvements program.

People who attend the city-hosted meetings are asked to write their questions on flash cards.

Read more…

By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
January 31, 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — New House Speaker T.W. Shannon said Thursday there is little support in the Republican-controlled House for a bond issue to repair state buildings and that he intends to push for the creation of a multiyear plan for replacing and upgrading state-owned assets.

House Republicans, who enjoy a 72-29 majority, outlined some of the group’s top priorities for the upcoming legislative session that begins on Monday.

While short on specifics, GOP leaders said changes to the state’s pension and workers’ compensation systems, tax cuts and increased funding for education will be among their goals.

Rep. Scott Martin, the new chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said he plans to sponsor a bill calling for a one-quarter of 1 percent cut to the state’s top income tax rate, which is currently 5.25 percent.

“That’s just one of many,” said Martin, R-Norman. “We’ll certainly have this dialogue throughout this session, not only with my colleagues behind me but also with our friends over in the Senate and also the governor.”

Gov. Mary Fallin’s plan for an overhaul of the state’s tax code and a steep reduction of the top rate failed to pass the Legislature last year, but she has promised to outline details of a more modest proposal in her State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday.

Another one of Fallin’s priorities this year — much-needed repairs to the state’s nearly 100-year-old Capitol building — also is a top issue for House Republicans. But Shannon suggested there is little enthusiasm among GOP Republicans to approve a bond issue to pay for the work, which officials estimate to be around $160 million.

“This year I don’t believe there’s the will at this point to do bonds, but there certainly may be legislation to address that and we’ll know for sure,” Shannon said.

Lawmakers in recent years also have considered bond issues for a new state medical examiner’s office, a veterans administration building, improvements to buildings in the Capitol complex, the completion of an American Indian museum in Oklahoma City and the creation of a pop culture museum in Tulsa.

Instead, Shannon said he will push legislation to develop a multiyear plan that prioritizes a list of capital improvement projects. It will be similar to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year construction plan for repairing and replacing state bridges and highways.

He said a committee to develop the list would include appointees from the governor, House speaker and Senate president pro tem and would eliminate political influence and the pitting of one project against another.

“What we’ve done in the past with infrastructure in Oklahoma is what we did with bridges for 20 years — neglect, neglect, neglect; decay, decay, decay. And then we try to run a bond,” Shannon said. “What we’re going to be proposing in my legislation is a pay-as-you-go plan that comes up with the funding structure that prevents us from having to do bonds.”

House Democrats have indicated their willingness to support a pay-as-you-go approach to funding infrastructure needs, but remain united in their opposition to bond issues, especially while Republicans are pushing for a reduction in the state’s income tax.

“Our caucus will continue to oppose any cuts to the state income tax,” House Democratic leader Rep. Scott Inman, D-Del City, said in a statement. “The House Democratic Caucus believes that a strong and vibrant Oklahoma can only grow its economy if we support a sound, fiscally responsible budget that doesn’t slash revenues while pushing the state further into debt.”

Sean Murphy can be reached at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy