Monday, March 19, 2018
We have now passed the second major bill deadline for the regular session, as last Thursday marked the deadline for bills to pass off the floor in their chamber of origin. At this point in the legislative process, bills that have passed off the floor must now be assigned to committees in the opposite chamber.

Spring break week traditionally is a light week at the Capitol, as many members choose to spend time with their families. Many regularly-scheduled committee meetings have been cancelled, as bills have yet to be assigned to committees in opposite chambers.
 
In other news at the Capitol last week, the Senate held their President Pro Tempore election last Monday, and Senator Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) was elected to replace current Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz, who is terming out in November.

As expected, there was also much discussion last week regarding the need to pass a teacher pay raise. Wednesday night the Senate voted on a pay raise and revenue plan that would have resulted in a 12.7% teacher pay raise (ranging from about $4,000-$5,300, depending on years of experience). Sen. Smalley ran the pay raise bill,  SB 133 , which passed the Senate floor by a  vote of 35-11 . The plan was to be funded by  HB 1033xx , expected to generate $450M revenue from the following sources:
  • $1 per pack cigarette tax,
  • $0.06 gas and diesel tax, and
  • Raise GPT on all wells to 4% (from current 2%).
However, the measure fell two votes short of meeting the required 75% threshold required to raise revenue, by a  vote of 34-12 . Also voted on as a piece of this package was  SB 861 , which restored the Earned Income Tax Credit that was eliminated in 2016. That measure passed the Senate floor by a  vote of 42-4 .

Meanwhile in the House of Representatives, Speaker McCall held a press conference Thursday evening to announce another teacher pay raise plan -- one that he said would give teachers between a $10,000 - $20,000 raise (depending on experience) over the next six years. The first year of the plan would cost the state about $114M and would include a pay raise of approximately $2,000 on average. The plan would cost over $700M annually once implemented but did not include a proposal for how the pay raise plan would be funded. Read the eCapitol report  here .
Regular Session Bills of Note

a.     HB 3220 by Rep. Jadine Nollan (R-Sand Springs)
HB 3220 directs the State Board of Career and Technology Education to develop a certification system for teachers and instructors in the technology center school districts. The certification system must be competency based and integrate the same competencies that are mandated for all teachers.
  • HB 3220 passed the House floor on March 12th by a vote of 83-3. The measure will now be engrossed and sent to the Senate for consideration.
 
b.     SB 1370 by Sen. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud)
SB 1370 changes reference of work ready curriculum to career ready curriculum. It adds successful completion of one year of a full-time, three-hour career tech program or any other mathematics course with content and/or rigor equal to or above Algebra I to the courses to meet the mathematics requirement for high school graduation. It adds successful completion of one year of a full-time, three-hour career tech program to the courses to meet the science requirement for high school graduation.
  •  SB 1370 passed the Senate floor on March 12th by a vote of 37-0. The measure will now be engrossed and sent to the House for consideration.

c.   a.       HB 3192 by Rep. Jeff Coody (R-Lawton)
HB 3192 lessens training requirements for school personnel who have been designated by the board of education to carry a handgun on school property. This bill would permit anyone who possesses a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act and who has been approved by the local board of education to carry a handgun on public school property.
  • HB 3192 was not heard on the House floor last week thus is dead for this legislative session.
 If you have questions about any of the information provided in this update, please contact our office, or you may contact Skye McNiel, 918-645-1289 or by email at smcniel@okacte.org or Hayley Jones at (405) 524-1191. 

  RESOURCES:





Contact Superintendent Hofmeister: http://sde.ok.gov/sde/webform/contact

OkACTE Website: http://www.okacte.org