Children the focus of many approved interim studies

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL — Ninety-three separate interim studies were requested by state representatives this year. House Speaker Jeff Hickman approved eighty-three studies this week. Sixty-one separate studies are available to be scheduled between August 5 and November 12 because twenty-two of the approved studies were combined with similar studies. Ten requests were not approved. 

One-third of the approved studies will address issues related to children. Studies of the repeal of the Common Core State Standards earlier this year and the potential benefits of medical marijuana for children are among the 28 studies approved that concern children. Below is a list of these interim studies:

Related to adoption and foster care: 

• 14-047 requested by Rep. Ann Coody was combined with 14-054 seeks to explore “Reuniting foster children with biological families and other possible solutions in seeking their optimal welfare” including “the best possible solution in finding a permanent home environment for foster children.” 

• 14-048 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study “the necessity of an additional background check for certified educators who work in DHS before- and after-school programs.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-054 requested by Reps. Sean Roberts and Wade Rousselot will consider reforms to the state’s adoption laws. Assigned to the Human Services Committee.

Related to child trafficking and sexual abuse:

• 14-014 requested by Rep. Lee Denney will examine Erin’s Law, a “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education” program. Assigned to the Human Services Committee. 

• 14-055 requested by Rep. Sean Roberts will study child trafficking by studying “ways to combat the crime of human trafficking and identifying services available to victims.” Assigned to the Public Safety Committee.

Related to Common Core and academic standards:

• 14-049 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will consider the question, “After Common Core – what next? A study of the possible solutions in developing and implementing rigorous educational standards for Oklahoma’s students.” Assigned to the House Common Education Committee. 

• 14-059 requested by Rep. Ann Coody was combined with 14-049 and will explore the “impact of HB3399 on Oklahoma’s schools and steps which should be taken to mitigate the concerns of Oklahoma’s schools, administrators, teachers and students.  Costs and process for writing new standards.” 

• 14-064 requested by Rep. David Brumbaugh was combined with 14-049 and seeks to study “Common Ed testing.” 

• 14-076 requested by Rep. Jadine Nollan will study “The Transferability of High School Credits between Schools and its Effects on Student Graduation. The study would examine the standards and procedures for which public high schools accept transfer credits, as many transfer students fail to graduate on time due to insufficient credits.  A review of the different graduation credit requirements by school district should be included in the study.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-092 requested by Reps. Joe Dorman, Donnie Condit, Curtis McDaniel and Dustin Roberts was combined with 14-049 and seeks to study “Education Standards, Assessments and Testing” including “Developing Age-appropriate Oklahoma Standards, Reviewing Standards Associated with Common Core, NCLB, and other Programs; What is Necessary to keep NCLB Waiver.”

Related to student testing: 

• 14-025 requested by Rep. Leslie Osborn was combined with 14-049 will study state and federal student testing policies. Specific issues to be reviewed include: “duplicative testing, testing alignment status, costs, use of tests to evaluate teacher effectiveness, testing special ed students, test results as a true criterion result, possible other testing options to meet career & academic guidelines, testing vendors and accountability on the product.” 

• 14-068 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study “Proper Transition from K-12 to Higher Education / Career Technology” including “End of Instruction Exams” and “Alabama’s Experiment with ACT Aspire.” Assigned to the Higher Education Committee. 

• 14-070 requested by Rep. Jadine Nollan will study the “Implications of High-Stakes Testing for Students with Learning Disabilities. The study would address the most significant risks posed by high-stakes for students with learning disabilities, as well as the barriers to success on high-stakes testing for students with learning disabilities.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to education funding:

• 14-004 requested by Rep. Dan Fisher will study “Funding for schools that find themselves surrounded by federal property and thus have their tax base greatly reduced and suffer from reduced operating funds to no fault of their own. We would like to add the 12 districts / schools that are affected by this issue at a later date.” Assigned to the Appropriations and Budget Committee. 

• 14-067 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study the “State Funding Formula Weights for Special Education. What state/federal legal hurdles stand in the way of necessary data collection? How would Oklahoma update its school funding formula for special education weighting?” Assigned to the Appropriations and Budget Committee. 

• 14-089 requested by Reps. Joe Dorman, Donnie Condit, Curtis McDaniel and Dustin Roberts was combined with 14-004 and seeks to study “Education Funding for Per Pupil Spending and Adequate Resources for Classrooms.” 

Related to schools:

• 14-016 requested by Rep. Lee Denney will explore the future of K8 school districts. Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-069 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study the “Effectiveness of Oklahoma’s Public Charter Schools” and “What effective strategies are taking place in Oklahoma’s public charter schools that can be replicated in the k-12 setting?” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to student support: 

• 14-071 requested by Rep. Emily Virgin will study “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and CareerTech.” Assigned to the Higher Education Committee.

Related to teachers:

• 14-046 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will explore preparing teachers and prospective teachers to recognize symptoms of dyslexia in students including the “role of higher education teacher preparation programs and professional development.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to health:

• 14-043 requested by Rep. Dan Kirby will consider the “benefits of Athletic trainer required at youth sporting events in Oklahoma.” Assigned to the Public Health Committee. 

• 14-063 requested by Rep. Jon Echols will study “Allowing medical trials in the state of Oklahoma for the use of non-intoxicating CBD Oil for severe seizure disorders in children.” Assigned to the Public Health Committee.  

• 14-085 requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen was combined with 14-063 and seeks to study “Medical Marijuana for Children. The study would take a narrow look at the medical use of marijuana in childhood disorder; seizures, etc. Included would be experts in the field, parents, law enforcement, and pediatricians.”  

• 14-091 requested by Rep. Joe Dorman was combined with 14-063 and seeks to study “Medical Treatments for Children with Seizures & Regulation of Experimental Medicines.”

Related to Marriage and Families:

• 14-012 requested by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel was combined with 14-023. Rep. McDaniel seeks to “examine the cost and benefit to the state and its citizens concerning the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative.”  

• 14-023 requested by Reps. Mark McCullough, Lee Denney, Jason Nelson and Jadine Nollan will examine “Effective Interventions for the Potential Negative Impacts on Learning in Children from Single Parent, Divorced and Dysfunctional Homes.” Combined with 14-012 and assigned to the Human Services Committee.

Related to juvenile justice: 

• 14-065 requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen will study “Juvenile offender rehabilitation programs and incarceration options with low recidivism rates. The goal is to take a long term view of where we are currently in dealing with Juvenile offenders and evaluate effective options to be considered for the future.” 

• 14-075 requested by Reps. Seneca Scott and Kevin Matthews was combined with 14-065 and will explore “Ongoing data collection in Juvenile Justice and effective use of research and evaluation findings.” The study will “Gather and analyze data to document system problems and identify potential solutions based on available research regarding what may and may not work to reduce Disproportionate Minority Contact.” 

A study of “Educational Benefits of a Broad Education Focus” requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen was one of the ten requests not approved. The request described the study as, “an in-depth look at all programs including extra-curricular activities and elective classes such as music, art, sports that strengthen the education of a child.  Is the current direction of education promoting these important components of education?  What can be done to improve these aspects in the focus of education.  To include art educators, music educator, coaches.” 

Each approved interim study was assigned to a standing committee. The chairpersons of the committees to which studies were assigned will work with the requesting members to schedule hearings for each interim study. Questions about specific interim studies should be directed to the members requesting the study.  

Link to list of all approved studies: http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/ShowInterimStudies.aspx

Link to related story: 2014 House Interim Studies Announced

House Votes to Require Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

OKLAHOMA CITY – Welfare recipients would be required to submit to drug testing as a condition of eligibility under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.

“The message of this bill is simple: Oklahomans should not have their taxes used to fund illegal drug activity,” said state Rep. Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City. “Benefit payments that have been wasted on drug abusers will be available for the truly needy as a result of this bill, and addicts will be incentivized to get treatment.”

House Bill 2388, by Liebmann, would require applicants for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to submit to, and pay for, a drug test.

Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, supported the measure.

“The bill is one of many small steps Oklahoma can take to break the grip that addiction has on far too many Oklahomans," Steele said. "If an applicant battles addiction, this action could serve as a wakeup call to get help, get clean and get their life turned around. It would be my preference that denied applicants are directed to substance abuse treatment if they test positive for drugs. There are several substance abuse initiatives in place statewide that can help these individuals overcome addiction.”

Individuals who test positive for drugs would be ineligible benefits for one year unless they successfully complete a substance abuse program within six months.

Should a parent test positive for illegal drugs it would not affect a dependent child’s eligibility for the program.

An estimated 40,634 potential TANF applicants would be impacted by the legislation.

Florida already has a similar law on the books and the Georgia Senate recently passed a similar bill. When Florida implemented its law, the state saved nearly $1 million in the first month of implementation.

It is estimated that Oklahoma could save $582,203 if House Bill 2388 becomes law.

“Even if it didn’t save a dime, this legislation would be worth enacting based on principle,” Liebmann said. “Law-abiding citizens should not have their tax payments used to fund illegal activity that puts us all in danger.”

House Bill 2388 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a bipartisan 82-6 vote. It now proceeds to the state Senate.

House Approves Greater Safeguards for Drug-Endangered Children

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 5, 2012) – Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today would require an investigation to be conducted when a drug-endangered child is identified by the Department of Human Services.

The legislation is designed to increase awareness of the problem of children exposed to the hazardous lifestyles surrounding drug abuse. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is in the process of restarting a Drug Endangered Child program, which will provide training to child-welfare workers and law enforcement across the state.

“Nationwide, 40 to 80 percent of families involved with child welfare have substance-abuse problems, according to the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy,” said state Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa. “There is no doubt a parent’s drug use can put children in danger, and we want to make sure we protect those kids from becoming another victim in Oklahoma’s child-death rate. This legislation will help identify these children and get them the services they need in a timely, appropriate manner and protect their lives.”

House Bill 2251, by Peterson, would require the Department of Human Services to conduct an investigation whenever a child meets the definition of a “drug endangered child” or is diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. The bill states that the agency “shall conduct an investigation of the allegations and shall not limit the evaluation of the circumstances to an assessment.”

“By requiring an investigation instead of an assessment, we are empowering multi-disciplinary teams to make a quick determination and intervene when necessary to provide the resources and expert assistance required to protect these vulnerable children,” Peterson said.

The legislation defines a “drug-endangered child” as any child at risk of “suffering physical, psychological or sexual harm as a result of the use, possession, distribution, manufacture or cultivation of controlled dangerous substances,” by a person responsible for the welfare of the child.

The legislation was requested by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the legal definitions came from the National Drug-Endangered Children’s Alliance.

OBN officials said the lack of a clear definition of “drug-endangered child” in Oklahoma law has impeded response efforts.

“We must protect the most vulnerable in our state when it comes to the devastation of drug abuse,” said Darrell Weaver, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. “This is a collaborative effort to protect Oklahoma's children.”

House Bill 2251 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 86-0 vote today. The bill now proceeds to the state Senate.

Meth Bill Clears a House Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 23, 2012) – Law enforcement officials and pharmacists will have an easier time identifying individuals trying to purchase pseudoephedrine illegally under legislation passed unanimously this week by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, according to the bill’s author.

House Bill 2547, by state Rep. Jadine Nollan, will restrict the issuance of multiple identification numbers on driver’s licenses and other state-issued idenfication cards.

“Currently, a person can have multiple driver’s licenses and state identification cards with different identification numbers, creating an additional cost to the state and making it more difficult for law enforcement, pharmacists and state agencies to validate proper identify of an individual,” said Nollan (R-Sand Springs). “The original idea for this legislation came from Mike Carter, the assistant chief of police in Sand Springs. He was concerned about tracking individuals purchasing pseudoephedrine and properly identifying individuals who tried to buy an illegal quantity of this meth ingredient.”

Nollan said she worked with a local pharmacist, the Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to get the proper language in the bill.

“I’ve worked really hard to ensure this legislation will aid these agencies, pharmacies and law enforcement in properly identifying potential meth cooks and suppliers,” Nollan said. “I was proud to see it get unanimous support on the House floor.”

Nollan said the legislation will also help reduce identity theft.

House Bill 2547 was approved by a vote of 92-0 and now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

NOTE: For accompanying video, see http://www.okhouse.tv/iViewVideo.aspx?VideoID=424

Cities and Towns May Not Restrict Sale of Pseudoephedrine According to AG Opinion

Rep. Mike Ritze
R-Broken Arrow

Oklahoma City - An Attorney General opinion issued yesterday makes it clear that cities and towns in Oklahoma do not have the legal authority to restrict or prohibit the sale of medicines containing the ingredient pseudoephedrine. The official opinion was issued in response to a question submitted by state Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow.

Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of the illegal drug Meth.

Legislation is pending in the legislature that seeks to require a prescription for the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine. Recently some communities in eastern Oklahoma have passed ordinances restricting the sale of medicines containing the ingredient to prescription only.

The manufacturing and use of Meth in Oklahoma is destroying lives, families and property and is a serious problem for law enforcement. But many are concerned that simply making pseudoephedrine prescription only will do little to address the problem while increasing the cost of health care and inconveniencing people that regularly use these products appropriately.

Ritze Questions City Restrictions on Allergy Medicines

State Rep. Mike Ritze plans to request the Office of the Attorney General to determine the legality of new restrictions on the sale of allergy medicines imposed by city governments.

Recently, the cities of Wagner and Holdenville have passed ordinances that prevent citizens from purchasing over-the-counter allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine without a prescription.

Similar legislation failed to become law this year at the Legislature.

Supporters allege the regulations will interfere with the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Ritze, a physician and surgeon with a Master's Degree in Forensic Science, questions that assumption.

“Like all Oklahomans, I recognize the problem created by meth production in our state,” said Ritze, a Broken Arrow Republican who is vice-chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety. “However laws to require a prescription of Sudafed-type products would not only create a potential huge cost to patients, but may also add to the already overburdened healthcare system. These restrictions will force the thousands of allergy sufferers in Oklahoma to clog doctors’ offices or, even worse, drive them to the emergency room for basic care.”

Ritze noted the state already tracks pseudoephedrine sales in real time and that the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) has a computer system that keeps a record of every sale. That system is used to prosecute criminals who buy and re-sell pseudoephedrine to make meth.

Ritze said one possible solution is to restrict the production of pseudoephedrine in a format that reduces it to an inert compound that can be crushed and used for meth production, or lawmakers could disallow the sale of tablet forms of the drugs and only allow the sale of liquid forms.

“Requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine will not solve our meth problems,” Ritze continued. “Rather, we need to use the available tracking information to identify and find those who are consistently buying the limit to stop meth production.”

In his request to the Office of the Attorney General, Ritze will ask the following three questions:

Do municipalities, towns or cities have the authority under state law to adopt such an ordinance?
Do municipalities, towns or cities have the authority to enforce such ordinance?
Do municipalities, towns or cities have the authority to pass an ordinance to allow a particular drug that is presently prescription only no longer require a prescription?

Rep. Bennett Calls for Drug Testing for Those on State Aid

Rep. John Bennett
R-Sallisaw

Legislation filed by state Rep. John Bennett would require recipients of state aid to undergo routine drug tests as a condition of eligibility.

“I realize there will be legal challenges to this idea, but from a common-sense perspective, it’s a no-brainer,” said Bennett, R-Sallisaw. “If you work for me as a paid employee and test positive for drugs, I can fire you. Well, those receiving state services are being paid by the taxpayers of Oklahoma and we should have the right to fire you if you abuse drugs.”

House Bill 1083, by Bennett, would require those applying for state-provided assistance to undergo urine screening for illicit drugs upon initial application and then every six months following.

The cost of the test would be deducted from the first payment to the applicant if he or she passes.

Any applicant failing or refusing to take a drug test would forfeit eligibility for state-provided benefits for the next 90 days. An individual who fails a drug test while receiving benefits would be ineligible for further benefits for one year.

Under the bill, the decision to deny services could be appealed and overturned if the applicant can show the testing process was faulty.

Bennett, who previously worked on a Drug Task Force for the local sheriff’s department, said his constituents are concerned when they see local drug dealers receiving state benefits.

“Everyone knows who the local dopies are and it is extremely frustrating to law-abiding citizens to see those people subsidized with our tax payments,” Bennett said. “People should not get paid to do drugs on our dime.”

House Bill 1083 could be taken up soon after the Oklahoma Legislature convenes on February 7.

Family Policy Council Answers Bogus Charge From My Opponents

For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2010

Contact: Mike Jestes (405) 787-7744, cell (405) 990-5888

Oklahoma Family Policy Council Executive Director Mike Jestes today released this statement about political campaign literature, radio spots, and television ads being released in a few selected markets across Oklahoma:

“Oklahoma Family Policy Council regrets the way in which our previous comments, which were internally directed at members of the Oklahoma Legislature, are now being used in partisan, political ways to scare concerned Oklahoma voters about the pro-life values of some very fine conservative, pro-life Oklahoma legislators. Unfortunately, many fine state legislators, including Rep. Ann Coody, Rep. Steve Martin, Rep. Jason Nelson, and possibly others, are today being incorrectly characterized for partisan purposes as not pro-life. Their votes in 2010 over SB 1902 were about the regulation and control of Oklahoma's equine and animal husbandry industry. There were not then — nor are there now — any documented problems in Oklahoma about veterinary drugs being used for back-alley abortions or date rape. The bill in question, SB 1902, was later, at our suggestion, amended in the Senate to correct any possible deficiencies and is now consistent with federal law. Voters in these affected districts should exercise their common-sense about politics in the last few days before an important election. Check out the records of these legislators directly, or via well-known pro-life organizations like Oklahomans for Life. Don't rely on charges by unknown political action committees. Don't be fooled.”

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