Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Legislative Deadlines & Progress in Oklahoma Senate


Oklahoma State Senate

Senator Micheal Bergstrom
Senate District 1
April 29, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Senator Micheal Bergstrom

State Capitol: (405) 521-5561

Email: bergstrom@oksenate.gov          
 Capitol Considerations 
by Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Progress In the Capitol

Much has been accomplished in the Oklahoma legislature this session so far. In the Senate we have been vetting and confirming the Governor’s agency and cabinet appointments while working through the normal legislative process.
Last week marked the twelfth week of session and the deadline to have House bills off the Senate floor. By the end of the legislative week, 255 House bills had passed off the Senate floor, and on the House side, 288 Senate bills had passed off the House floor.
As of the end last week, Governor Stitt has signed 64 Senate bills, including four of mine.
Budget negotiations are advancing.  
We anticipate a $400 million deposit into the Rainy Day Fund due to a revenue surplus, bringing the total amount in the Rainy Day Fund close to $850 million.
The Republican Senate caucus will do a deep dive into budget numbers this week as the final budget discussions get underway. Education, of course, remains a top priority. Our intent is to give a significant increase to K-12 education funding. Whether much of that goes to another teacher pay raise or if the funds go into the formula to improve classroom funding is still being negotiated.
The four priority items for Senate Republicans this year continue to progress well.
The government accountability measure has already been signed into law, while the other three items are still advancing.
The LOFT (legislative budget office bill) has passed off the House floor with the title off and House and Senate leadership is working together to see this bill through.
Criminal justice reform saw advancement last week as well. The Senate advanced a series of eight criminal justice reform measures that continue to build on the reforms started last year to provide uniformity of certain drug offenses, improve parole supervision and cap excessive sentences for nonviolent offenses. These bills strike a fair balance between protecting public safety and adopting comprehensive criminal justice reforms that can provide opportunities for rehabilitation.
Senate Bill 441, the bill that encourages more instructional time for the students of Oklahoma, passed in the House last week, after they added an amendment to include a $1,500 pay raise for teachers. The proposal would allow school districts to utilize either 180 days of classroom time, 1,080 hours of classroom time with a minimum of 165 days of classroom time, or 1,080 hours with no minimum of days of classroom time if districts are granted an exemption for meeting guidelines for the school’s academic performance and financial savings. These avenues provide for local control and increased flexibility, but still prioritize public education and Oklahoma students.
Correctional officer pay is also being addressed this session as well, with the Senate advancing House Bill 2622, which provides a $2/hour pay raise. Correctional officers have a crucial role in public safety and it’s my hope we can give them a well-deserved raise, either through legislation or the budget process.
Workers’ compensation reform was advanced last week when the Senate advanced House Bill 2367 to align legislation with Oklahoma Supreme Court rulings and clean-up previous reforms. The measure was approved with the title off so there is still more work to do. Replacing the old worker’s comp court system is important, as it helps create a more hospitable climate for the creation of jobs across the state.

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