Senator Kay Floyd of Oklahoma to study state Bureau of Investigation’s response to sexual assaults
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Senator Kay Floyd of Oklahoma to study state Bureau of Investigations response to sexual assaults7/31/2021
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
“Oklahoma’s sexual assault and rape kit backlog is continuing to pile up,” according to a state legislative press release sent to news organizations this week.
With the approval of the President Pro Tempore of the upper chamber, Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study the progress of analyzing the backlog and provide an update on the current sexual assault cases pending testing.
The number of rape cases reported in the state over the last decade have been steadily increasing – about 1,500 cases reported in 2011 compared to about 2,400 cases reported in 2019. Senate Bill 975, which was authored by Floyd and signed into law in 2019, aimed to address the rising backlog of cases by requiring law enforcement agencies to send rape kits for testing within 20 days of collection.
The backlog and lack of rapid movement to resolve it was raised frequently at the state Capitol and throughout government in the years before Senator Floyd’s 2019 legislation.
(https://ift.tt/3C0C5b6)
“I’ve been working with the Oklahoma Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) for years to address the mounting backlog of rape kits and ensure victims get the answers and peace they deserve,” Floyd said.
“We want to make sure this backlog is being addressed and see if there’s anything we can do legislatively to support and protect victims of these terrible crimes.”
The study was one of 71 approved by the Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and has been assigned to the Public Safety Committee. It’s now awaiting scheduling by the committee chairman.
(https://capitolbeatok.worldsecuresystems.com/reports/oklahoma-senate-president-pro-tempore-greg-treat-announces-approved-interim-study-requests)
The number of approved interim studies this year is unusually high.
All interim studies must be concluded by Friday, Nov. 5.
Senator Kay Floyd of Oklahoma to study state Bureau of Investigation’s response to sexual assaults Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Republicans have planned a total of 17 interim studies focusing on various aspects of K-12 and higher education.
Among the studies are one by Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, that will focus on making Oklahoma a Top 10 state for college attendance and graduation through methods that improve both.
“A college degree is an entry into a higher-paying career and a better quality of life for Oklahoma students,” Echols said. “Increasing the number of college graduates in our state also signals to employers that Oklahoma has a skilled and ready workforce, which has the potential to grow our overall economy. This brings benefits for all state residents.”
Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, meanwhile, has requested interim studies on educational management organizations and charter school sponsors.
Dills has authored several bills that have increased transparency and accountability of charter school spending and regulations. Her studies this interim will review contractual agreements, competitive bidding, purchasing requirements and best practices among other topics.
“Educational choices are important to parents and students in Oklahoma,” Dills said, “But we want to make sure that our charter school sponsors and educational management organizations are transparent in their use of taxpayer’s dollars and adhering to state law.”
Other interim studies scheduled before the House Common Education and Higher Education committees include one by Appropriations & Budget Vice Chair Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, that will examine public school districts that have used their federal COVID relief funds to help ensure student success during this academic year.
Hilbert wrote in his study request that the study will highlight successful, innovate programs, and explore opportunities to expand and continue these programs beyond the availability of federal relief funds. He suggests examining the public-school portion of Equal Opportunity Scholarships Funds included this year in Senate Bill 1080.
Another study poses the question: Higher education and engineering, a matter of national security – are we there yet? The study by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, will focus on higher education engineering and aerospace engineering programs and how they particularly could impact national security.
Common Education Chair Rhonda Baker has three education interim studies planned. Topics include ways to address the teacher shortage, including teacher certification and teacher quality; computer science education in Oklahoma public schools from elementary to high school; and a joint study with the Senate examining how COVID affected learning outcomes and ways to bring students back to level, spanning from kindergarten through college freshmen.
Interim studies will be scheduled from Aug. 2 through Nov. 5. Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka, approved 117 studies this year, an unusually high number.
Oklahoma House Republicans plan numerous education studies Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK Voting Online for Anne Roberts Peoples Choice Awards continues until Friday July 30 at 5 p.m.7/28/2021
Joe Dorman, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award is named for OICA’s longest-serving executive director. As the name suggests, these awards come from the nominations and votes of child advocates.
We had some tremendous nominations this year, and I wanted to share with you the finalists and encourage you to vote before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 30. Go here to vote: www.oica.org
Individuals serving as finalists this year are listed below, and you can see for yourself the glowing remarks from their nominations.
Carolynn MacAllister helped start the Saville Center for Child Advocacy, introduced the Potts Family Foundation to the Resilience Documentary (which has led to statewide screenings of more than 15,000 Oklahomans) and started the Resilient Payne County Coalition.
Christina Kastl is a board member for the Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma helps educate others on child safety and best practices for educating children.
Taylar Smith works with Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment through Oklahoma Human Services in Cotton, Jefferson, and Stephens Counties. She commits herself to being an advocate for children and is involved in many events, fundraising, and projects for foster children in Oklahoma.
Melissa Ahlgrim works as the Director of Reading Sufficiency at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She sits on different boards and assists different groups that help parents/guardians, schools, educators, school administration to "positively" improve a child's education.
Cheri Fuller founded the OK Messages ten years ago in Oklahoma, a literacy and prevention program that works in twelve prisons throughout the state to film parents reading to their kids, which now serves children in 73 of 77 counties in Oklahoma.
Julie Lackey founded LeadLearnLive, a nonprofit that ensures Oklahoma programs are modeled after top similar organizations in the country that result in life-changing outcomes in independent living and employment and works to ensure that all children in Oklahoma have the option to attend college regardless of disability.
Organizations serving as finalists are:
The Care Center, organized in 1991, is Oklahoma County’s only child advocacy center and is committed to helping children find their voice and begin to heal after abuse as well as preventing child abuse through education.
SoonerStart is Oklahoma’s early intervention program. It is designed to meet the needs of families with infants or toddlers with developmental delays and/or disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Oklahoma Interviewing Services (OIS) provides statewide services for victims of and witnesses to child abuse and other crimes with a sensitive, compassionate response through skilled interviewing, referral to helping agencies, community outreach, and professional education. It is a unique organization in that it provides bilingual forensic interviewing services through the use of a mobile unit.
Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma (LCCAOK) works to educate elected officials and policymakers on the important role that licensed child care businesses play in the economic development of Oklahoma, as well as providing quality early learning opportunities for Oklahoma's youngest citizens and their families.
The Arc of Oklahoma is committed to ensuring a high quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through education, empowerment, support, and advocacy. Through their work, they envision a world in which these individuals have a right to make their own choices and their voices are reflected in all decisions affecting their lives.
Little Read Wagon constantly provides new and gently used books to children in the greater Norman/Oklahoma City area. They set up at community aid fairs, donate to homeless shelters, and even hide books in parks for kids to discover. They allow children to choose their own new and used books from their book wagon, providing story time, planning and providing literacy activities, reading aloud to adults, and filling book requests.
For more information about the Heroes Ball, to learn more about and vote for an individual or an organization for a People’s Choice award, or to find out how you can help OICA continue its mission of fighting for Oklahoma’s children, go to the website at www.oica.org or call 405-236-KIDS (5437).
About OICA: The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action, and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.”
Voting Online for Anne Roberts “People’s Choice Awards” continues until Friday, July 30, at 5 p.m. Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Steve Fair
Last Friday (July 23), Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Tulsa attorney John O’Connor, 66, to be the Sooner state’s Attorney General (A.G.). O’Connor will complete the unexpired term of Mike Hunter, who resigned in May. O’Connor and Stitt have a history, having known each other for over twenty years. Stitt says he considers O’Connor a ‘mentor.’ The appointment follows the pattern by the governor of surrounding himself with people who he has a history with.
O’Connor was nominated two years ago by President Donald Trump to serve as a federal district judge. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) 15-member judicial review board voted unanimously that O’Connor was “not qualified,’ to serve as a federal judge. O’Connor withdrew his name from consideration before the U.S. Senate took up the nomination. The ABA has a history of opposing conservative judges, cited O’Connor’s lack of actual courtroom experience as one of the reasons they opposed his appointment to the federal bench.
Three observations:
First, was O’Connor the best qualified candidate for the AG position?
According to the governor, he interviewed twelve (12) people for the position. Sources claim many of those interviewed had more courtroom and law enforcement experience than O’Connor. It appears the governor’s pattern of appointing friends and acquaintances to key advisory positions continues. No one person has a history with and knows the most qualitied person for every position in government.
By appointing someone he has known two decades, Stitt makes it appears this appointment is a case of ‘not what you know, but who you know.’ The appointment is the sovereign decision of the governor, as laid out in the state constitution, but it is questionable the most qualified candidate got the job.
Second, the ABA assessment of O’Connor being ‘not qualified’ means nothing.
The organization trashes conservatives and have totally lost their objectivity. They attempted to block dozens of Trump appointments to the bench, not because they weren’t qualified, but because they disagreed with the appointee’s ideology. Their observation of the lack of courtroom experience is of concern. The AG is Oklahoma’s attorney and the state’s top law enforcement officer. A corporate lawyer may not have the background to understand what the state’s District Attorneys and other law enforcers challenges are.
Third, Oklahoma voters will ultimately determine if Stitt made the right choice.
The AG position is up for election in 2022. O’Connor announced at his first news conference he plans to run for the Republican nomination next year.
He has already drawn a primary opponent, Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond. Drummond lost the GOP primary by less than 300 votes to Hunter in 2018.
Others are sure to join the AG race. Voters should watch closely what O’Connor does in the next sixteen months and vote accordingly.
The Oklahoma Attorney General manages a staff of 100 lawyers, and a total staff of 174 people, with an annual budget of $25 million dollars. An argument could be made the Oklahoma AG is more powerful than Oklahoma’s weak governorship. It’s a big job.
With the McGirt decision and the pending Dobbs pro-life suit before the Supreme Court of the United States, which could throw abortion back to the states, Oklahoma’s AG position becomes even more important.
Stitt stated in a press release that he appointed O’Connor because he was not just competent in the law but he also has high moral character.
Time and the voters will determine if Stitt made the right decision.
NOTE: Steve Fair is conservative commentator whose essays often appear at CapitolBeatOK.com, an independent, non-partisan news organization based in Oklahoma City, and in The City Sentinel newspaper. Fair is Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party in the state’s Fourth Congressional District. Steve can be reached by email at okgop@aol.com. His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.
Governor Stitt appoints Oklahoma's New Attorney General: Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Patrick B. McGuigan
Oklahoma City, July 23, 2021 -- State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, has garnered the approval of Speaker of the House Charles McCall for an interim study intended, in the words of a House Staff press release, “to review neighborhood blight throughout Oklahoma and how it affects homeowners and communities.”
The staff release issued at the time of Nichols’ request to the Speaker read: “Neighborhood blight refers to neighborhoods with abandoned houses or lots often in disrepair. When neighborhoods experience blight, property value decreases for everyone, including small businesses in the area.”
Rep. Nichols commented, “Significant wealth, sometimes wealth accumulated from a lifetime maybe even generations of work, can be wiped away due to the action or inaction of others. Since financial considerations are often the cause of abandoned property, this is a problem that low- and middle-income Oklahomans feel the most.”
Nichols believes that “blight” conditions impact both rural and urban areas of the state. He said, “When you visit many neighborhoods in rural Oklahoma, you see a very similar site as some areas in Oklahoma’s bigger cities,” Nichols said. “The state needs to be proactive in revitalizing communities that are already financially struggling.”
He hopes the study might gather information and resources to overcome abandoned property issues, to assist lawmakers and local officials. He reflected, “We are all in this together. What is good for rural Oklahoma is good for urban Oklahoma and vice versa. One of the jobs of a state lawmaker is to help local officials find solutions to the problems facing their community, which is what I hope to do with this study.”
In his submission to the Speaker’s office, the Tulsan said the study “will take a look at enabling legislation in Alabama that led to the revitalization of neighborhoods in Mobile.”
The study will work through the House County and Municipal Committee.
Rep. Monroe also gained approval for a look at “economic fairness” through the Government Modernization Committee. In his June 22 submission, Monroe affirmed, “This study would explore ways the state of Oklahoma could improve economic fairness for low and lower middle income residents. Study will feature Fellows who are studying the issue over the summer and a deep dive analysis into potential approaches.”
On Friday, Speaker McCall announced his approval of 113 interim studies – the overwhelming majority of the proposals sumbitted to him in the weeks after the regular legislative session ended.
The anticipated wave of studies will have to take place between August 2 and November 5.
(https://capitolbeatok.worldsecuresystems.com/reports/oklahoma-speaker-of-the-house-charles-mccall-approves-113-interim-study-requests ).
State Representative Monroe Nichols of Tulsa will lead Interim Studies on Neighborhood Blight and a “deep dive” in research on economic fairness Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – Lawmaker requests for 113 interim studies have been approved in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Of the 136 interim study requests from House members, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, approved 107 outright and combined 12 requests of similar topics into six approved requests. The 113 approved requests include six joint studies with the Senate.
House committees will now begin scheduling studies between Aug. 2 and Nov. 5.
To ensure committee staff has capacity to prepare for and staff interim studies, factors such as topic relevancy, whether the topic has been studied previously, and potential for associated legislation were considered when reviewing study requests.
The full list of approved studies can be viewed at: https://ift.tt/3ryg0LT.
Studies will be live-streamed on the House website.
Handouts, presentations and documents utilized at hearings will be available online, as well.
Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall approves 113 Interim Study Requests Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Ray Carter, Center for Independent Journalism
Approximately $11 billion in federal bailout funding is being dumped into the state of Oklahoma as the result of the passage of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) after accounting for money going to everything from private citizens to state government to local governments to other organizations, lawmakers were told at the inaugural meeting of the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding.
That money is coming even though Oklahoma state government revenue has almost
fully rebounded (https://ift.tt/3kPNSTs ) to pre-COVID norms. Yet the state cannot use the federal money for some of the state’s most pressing needs.
“This is not for funding pensions,” said Melissa Houston, whose firm 929 Strategies is a contractor working with state officials to develop a plan for ARPA funds.
“This is not for funding ‘rainy days.’ ”
Oklahoma has billions in unfunded pension liabilities that cannot be addressed with the federal bailout funds. State officials have also sought to raise state savings to prepare to better deal with future downturns. So far, they have set aside more than $1 billion, but Gov. Kevin Stitt has said $2 billion is required for true financial stability.
Rather than address those needs, Houston told lawmakers that the “basic purpose” of the federal bailout funds is “to respond to the public health emergency” of COVID-19 and its associated impacts.
The federal COVID funds come as the worst of the pandemic appears behind the state and many of its associated financial costs have already been addressed with prior rounds of federal bailout funding.
In addition, the federal funds may be spent years after the effective conclusion of the pandemic. States are required to have all available federal bailout funding obligated by December 2024 and to have spent ARPA funds by 2026.
State lawmakers have direct oversight of $1.8 billion in federal bailout funds, officials said, but will have to comply with federal regulations that remain half-baked in some instances and face financial “claw back” penalties if federal officials conclude that money was not used appropriately.
(For additional background information on the Legislature’s ARPA duties, see: https://ift.tt/3kVZKTE)
Mark Tygret, director of the Oklahoma House of Representatives fiscal staff, told lawmakers that ARPA funds designated for infrastructure must be spent on projects that align with federal guidance that is currently all but nonexistent.
“We’re still waiting on anything other than two paragraphs on the website,” Tygret said.
In other instances, processes involve massive amounts of minutia.
“Many of these programs, or structural distribution mechanisms, already exist,” Tygret said.
“Many of them are going to be working under a CFDA number, the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance, the 3,761-page document that anybody wants to read it with me, help yourself.”
And federal guidance keeps changing.
“Senator (Roger) Thompson was really fond of this book that I put together with all of the ARPA information but, Senator Thompson, I want to say that I’ve had to start creating addendums, because things keep coming out on a monthly, sometimes weekly basis,” said Mike Fina, executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League. “Questions get answered, and we’re trying to piece it all together.”
At one point, Houston noted that state officials were having to rely on “an interim rule that continues to evolve, and some of the new reporting that came out put a lot more of the burden on the state.”
Amanda Rodriguez, chief financial officer for the State of Oklahoma, suggested that it is impractical and perhaps impossible for the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding to provide more than broad guidelines for ARPA fund usage, noting lawmakers won’t have time to provide individual project review.
“If we all tried to review each one of these individually, as a committee, I would think it would be a very slow process,” Rodriguez said.
Throughout the meeting, presenters noted the extreme volume of federal spending, which critics say is playing a role in fueling inflation (https://ift.tt/3kRUvEC).
“It’s an awful lot of money,” Tygret said.
“There’s, again, so much money circulating around,” Rodriguez said.
While the federal government has yet to provide clear guidance on use of the bailout funds and has given states nearly five years to spend ARPA money, there’s one area where federal officials are in a rush for detail: state plans.
The deadline for Oklahoma government to provide a state plan for spending ARPA money is due in just over one month on Aug. 31.
Note: This story is reposted, with permission, from the Center for Independent Journalism. It first appeared here: https://ift.tt/2UxQI4P . Ray Carter is a veteran news journalist who also worked in state government. He now guides the work of the center.
Billions to spend with limited guidance Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The joint legislative committee formed to support the state planning of pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) met Wednesday (July 21) for its first organizational meeting.
The joint committee discussed the process and structure by which to evaluate proposals for the use of $1.9 billion in relief funds available to the State of Oklahoma. The panel’s work will inform the allocations eventually assigned by the state’s chief executive.
Under federal law, ARPA funds for state governments are to be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry, households, and investments in public infrastructure.
The committee will receive and evaluate proposals through a robust subcommittee vetting process and engagement with stakeholders, including members of the executive branch, state agencies, community organizations, and public submissions.
Proposal submissions will be open to the public for several months and available online beginning Aug. 1.
The bipartisan joint committee established subcommittees in the following focus areas:
• Economic Development and Workforce, Co-Chairs: Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon
• Health and Human Services, Co-Chairs: Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew
• Government Transformation and Collaboration, Co-Chairs: Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa
• Transportation, Infrastructure, and Rural Development, Co-Chairs: Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, and Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds
“Oklahoma has the opportunity to make a strategic investment in our state ensuring a strong recovery from the pandemic,” said House Appropriations & Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, co-chair of the joint committee.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with the Governor, Legislature, state agencies, tribal nations and community members to use these one-time federal funds for projects that will positively impact the State of Oklahoma.”
The joint committee also heard from Mike Fina, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, on the ARPA monies cities and counties will receive, and House Fiscal Director Mark Tygret regarding the funds that pass through directly to state agencies.
“It is imperative that this committee work collaboratively with our cities, counties, and state agencies to ensure these federal funds are leveraged to their full potential,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, co-chair of the joint committee. “This is a chance to maximize these one-time funds to make investments that will benefit generations of Oklahomans.”
The committee will forward its recommendations to a group of six legislators and five executive branch officials who will formally score and send high-scoring priorities to Gov. Kevin Stitt, who will make the final allocation of funds.
“While other states will be forced to use this money to fill massive budget deficits, Oklahoma can build on the momentum created by reopening our economy last June and propel our state forward,” Stitt said.
“I appreciate the joint committee’s commitment to using these funds to make one-time strategic investments that will benefit future generations while improving services today, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with the legislators every step of the way.”
Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding holds organizational meeting Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – After conclusion of the regular legislative session, State Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, last month filed a pair of interim study requests.
With one of the proposed studies, she seeks to better understand the state’s outreach efforts regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The other aims to look at how teacher contracts are handled throughout the state.
In a staff press release sent to CapitolBeatOK and other news organizations, Rep. Provenzano said the first to examine the overall importance of the FAFSA process as well as the progress Oklahoma has made at increasing the number of students who complete the application.
“Many Oklahoma students wouldn’t be able to attend college if not for financial aid,” Provenzano said.
“However, they can’t receive financial aid until they fill out a FAFSA. The importance of this form to an Oklahoma student’s future cannot be overstated. It is not without its hurdles, and we must do everything we can to ensure no student who wishes to go to college falls through the cracks on this one. We must dig into the roadblocks that prevent a student from applying. That’s what this study is about.”
With so many financial barriers to higher education, the FAFSA and the potential aid it represents can be a lifeline to students trying to lift themselves out of poverty, the press release asserted.
“The FAFSA is a gateway to financial aid for college,” said Jennifer Sack, a high school counselor at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington.
“The first thing the FAFSA determines is whether the student qualifies for financial aid. But even if you don’t qualify for federal money, the FAFSA is what colleges use to determine what type of aid they can award a student. Even some private scholarships require proof that a FAFSA has been filed.”
“The more Oklahoma students that fill out the FAFSA the better it is for our state,” Provenzano said. “Our state schools, especially community and junior colleges, benefit by having more students able to attend, but the biggest blessing is that those additional students will have an opportunity to earn a college degree, which we all know can be life-changing.”
As for her second proposed Interim Study, the former educator and administrator hopes to investigate the effectiveness of yearly, semester and quarterly teacher contracts and how those contracts affect students, teacher retention and costs to acquire educators.
“Due to a lack of resources, our school administrators are constantly having to work miracles to staff our schools,” Provenzano said. “Often, however, administrators are forced to use short-term teaching contracts to do so. We need to study how these contracts and the constant shuffling of educators are affecting our students.”
The Tulsa solon hopes that the study will give lawmakers and the education community more data to fight for additional resources.
“We have to stop putting our state’s education professionals in unwinnable situations,” Provenzano said. “My hunch, which comes from experience, is that short-term contracts have long-term negative effects on Oklahoma students.”
Senate Interim studies have been approved, and House Speaker Charles McCall’s list of approved studies is expected by Friday (July 23). Senate President Pro Temp Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, surprised long-time Capitol-watchers when he approved all 71 proposals submitted.
Under both Democrats and Republicans, the majority party has dominated the Interim Study process. While it seems unlikely the Atoka Republican who runs the lower chamber (McCall) will follow the pro tempore’s lead, Treat’s inclusive directive to allow all the proposal Senate studies has provoked hopes for a similar thrust in the House.
NOTE: Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.
Representative Melissa Provenzano hopes to hold Interim Studies on student aid application program, teacher contracts Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, submitted an Interim Study request to House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, to better understand the policies that outline how Oklahoma law enforcement responds to a high-speed pursuit.
She will know on Friday (July 23) if McCall has agreed to the request.
The legislator from House District 99, in east Oklahoma City, is leading the charge to bring stakeholders from all sides of the discussion to the table. In the request, Pittman highlighted three areas of concentration for the study:
1. Examine the causes and policies that warrant the approval of high-speed chases in metropolitan areas.
2. Expose the aftermath of victims, and identify how data collection is stored and analyzed.
3. Explore options and solutions to preventative measures that will improve the outcomes of leaving innocent victims behind.
“I hope to find a policy that is safe for the public and the responding officers,” Pittman said. “We often see issues in black and white, but my job as a legislator is to help facilitate conversations to help us find common ground. We have seen several injuries and fatalities as a result of high-speed chases in highly populated areas.”
According to Pittman, the objective of this study is to give a voice to those citizens that have been affected by these accidents as well as address the concerns of the law enforcement members who serve them.
Pittman seeks to look at the policies that other states and large cities have implemented to protect citizens. She currently serves on the Transportation Appropriations and Budget, and the Public Safety Appropriations and Budget committees.
Public safety is one of Pittman’s top priorities for Oklahoma.
“We may get into this study and realize what works for some cities or counties in Oklahoma may not work in others,” Pittman said. “That’s ok. What matters to me and I believe my fellow lawmakers is that we get public input and put a policy in place that promotes the safety of all Oklahomans.”
The study request comes in the wake of a series of deaths and injuries in Oklahoma involving officers in pursuit of a speeding vehicle. Pittman’s goal is to share those best practices that could reduce the number of injuries and deaths.
“There are issues that must be addressed,” Pittman said. “There are concerns regarding these types of policies, as well as the transparency around them. This study is not being requested to condemn anyone. Our focus is to find ways to resolve our public safety issues, prevent deaths, and better serve our communities statewide.”
Senate Interim studies have been approved, and Speaker McCall’s list of approved studies is expected soon. Pittman achieved one of her legislative priorities in May, with passage of a measure that changed that law to allow “bottle service” at events.
(https://ift.tt/3iwIvWv)
Rep. Pittman encourages citizens, including members of public safety organizations, to reach out to her office if they wish to participate in the study.
State Representative Ajay Pittman of Oklahoma City seeks to conduct Interim Study on high-speed police pursuits Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
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