Midweek Oklahoma Round-Up

Tulsa World, March 15, 2007
"House OKs bill to require ATV helmet use"
Children younger than 18 would be required to wear helmets when driving or riding all-terrain vehicles on public property, according to a bill easily passed Wednesday by the House
House Bill 1686 was approved 82-16, although a lawmaker whose district includes Little Sahara State Park near Waynoka spoke against the measure.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health, which has been pushing for such legislation for several years, reports that in the last four years, more than 140 ATV injuries occurred in the Little Sahara-Waynoka area. Other cities in the state recorded fewer than 20 such accidents apiece.
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Oklahoma House of Representatives, March 15, 2007
"Teachers retirement fund could get millions"
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted to shore up the state teachers’ retirement system by pumping millions of dollars in surplus oil-and-gas tax revenue into the system.
House Joint Resolution 1039 by State Rep. Tad Jones and State Rep. Joe Dorman calls for a vote of the people to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to redirect excess mineral income currently going to Oklahoma’s Commissioner of the Land Office.
Under the proposal, the teachers’ retirement system could begin receiving money upon passage by a vote of the people and cash would continue to flow into the retirement system until it is 80 percent funded. When the fund reaches 80 percent, monies would flow back to the permanent trust of the School Land Commission.
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Oklahoma House of Representatives, March 13, 2007
"Voter fraud protections advance"
Legislation to reduce voter fraud has passed out of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now awaits Senate action.
House Bill 1734, by state Rep. Sue Tibbs, would require Oklahomans to present a government photo ID before they are allowed to vote in an election.
"Voting is one of the most precious rights we hold as Americans, and we cannot allow that right to be undermined by fraud," said Tibbs, R-Tulsa. "I think Oklahomans are more than willing to spend a few minutes proving that they are who they say they are to protect the legitimacy of our electoral process."
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Oklahoma State Senate, March 14, 2007
"Senate passes bill to clarify state graduation rates, establish goal of 100 percent"
The full Senate has approved a measure to set a graduation goal of 100 percent for Oklahoma high school students. Senate Bill 985, by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, would also establish guidelines to give a more accurate picture of graduation rates that will enable an “apples to apples” comparison with other states.
“Right now, the stated goal for Oklahoma is a graduation rate of 68 percent—that’s the goal filed as required under ‘No Child Left Behind’ and it will remain in effect through 2014,” said Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City. “Senate Bill 985 sets the goal at 100 percent by that year. We expect all high school students to graduate.”
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Oklahoma House of Representatives, March 14, 2007
"Legislation encouraging simplified health care pricing system headed to Senate"
Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday with unanimous support could prompt medical providers to offer more upfront pricing to consumers on routine medical procedures.
House Bill 1884, by House Speaker Lance Cargill, creates the Healthcare Consumer Transparency Task Force. The panel will study and make recommendations regarding a system for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and physicians to disclose to consumers the average charges for the treatment of common medical diagnosis and procedures.
The measure was a part of a slate of bills passed on Wednesday that are part of the Healthy Oklahoma legislative platform.
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