Legislative Agenda 2017​

Signed into Law

SB532 – Rep. Carol Bush (R-Tulsa) & Sen. John Sparks (D-Norman) – The bill requires paid administrative leave and counseling be provided to state employees assaulted or witness to a traumatic event at work through the Employee Assistance Program.

Vetoed by Governor

SB206 – Sen. Kay Floyd (D-OKC) & Rep. Mike Osburn (R-Edmond) – The bill creates a task force to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transferring the oversight of the Merit Protection Commission to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Referred to Actuary

SB216 – Sen. Frank Simpson (R-Ardmore) & Rep. Tommy Hardin (R-Ardmore) – This bill eliminates the theater of duty requirement for military service credit currently in place as it pertains to state employees earning credit toward retirement when they are called to active duty service.

Failed in last week of session

HB1868 – Rep. Jason Dunnington (D-OKC) & Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) – The bill requires that all state employees earning less than $30,000 per year be automatically paid time-and-a-half-pay for hours worked above 40 per week as opposed to given comp time. (Passed House, not heard in Senate).

HB1444 – Rep. Dustin Roberts (R-Durant) & Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) – The bill adds Good Friday to the state holiday schedule.

Failed in opposite chamber of origin

SB549 – Sen. Holt (R-OKC) & Rep. Tammy West (R-Bethany) – Paid Family Leave – This bill would improve upon the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) and would extend unpaid leave from 12 to 20 weeks.  Bill would’ve also eliminated the one-year tenure requirement.  (Failed to be heard on House floor)

Failed in chamber of origin

HB1851 – Rep. Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang) & Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah)- State Employee Pay Raise – (Failed to be heard on House floor)

HB1892 – Rep. Pat Ownbey (R-Ardmore) & Sen. Frank Simpson (R-Ardmore) – The bill would standardize how on-call duty for state employees is compensated, as well as, require fair pay for the work, which requires employees to be readily available to respond to work outside of regular business hours. (Failed to be heard in House A&B)

SB341 – Sen. David Holt (R-OKC) & Rep. Chris Kannady (R-Moore) – The bill would eliminate the State’s “use or lose” policy on vacation leave and require payment for unused leave.  We believe earned vacation time should never be required to be forfeited. (Failed to be heard in Senate A&B)
HB1517 – Rep. Josh Cockroft (R-Tecumseh) – The bill increases the hiring rates for high turnover positions, provides uniform allowances for security staff and provides raises for other positions.  (Failed to be heard in House A&B)
SB150 – Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) – The bill provides a monthly uniform allowance and raises the hiring rate for correctional officers, requires starting pay for probation and parole officers be equal to that of other law enforcement agents, requires all officers be eligible for overtime pay, requires all hours worked in excess of eight and one half per day automatically be paid as overtime, and increases pay of all staff. (Failed to be heard in Senate A&B)

HB1717 – Rep. Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia) – This bill would increase monthly matching contribution paid by the state to $50 for each participant in the SoonerSave program. (Referred to Rules)
Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) – Bill requires the budget be presented to all lawmakers and the public at least 30 days prior to the end of the legislative session to improve government transparency.  (Referred to Rules)

HB1796 – Rep. Jon Echols (R-OKC) – COLA for OPERS Retirees (Failed to be heard in Committee)

HB1718 – Rep. Lewis Moore (R-OKC) – The bill removes the authority of state agencies to payroll-deduct supplemental life insurance. (Failed to be heard in Committee) 

Other Bills of Note

SB544 – Sen. Frank Simpson (R-Ardmore) & Rep. Tommy Hardin (R-Ardmore) – Closes Talihina Veterans Center and moves it to Poteau. (Passed Senate Floor with Title Stricken – Failed to be heard in House Committee)

HB1344 – Rep. Randy McDaniel (R-Edmond) & Sen. Gary Stanislawski (R-Tulsa) – The bill allows a one-time benefit payment for all retirement system participants depending on funded ratio of system. (Referred to Actuary)

SB444 – Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) & Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie)– The bill eliminates OPEA ability to do annual mailing. (Passed Senate – Failed to be heard in House Committee)

SB329 – Sen. Jason Smalley (R-Shawnee) – The bill eliminates the risk adjustment pertaining to state health plans. (Failed in Committee)

HB2237 – Rep. Glen Mulready (R-Shawnee) & Sen. Greg Treat (R-Edmond) – The bill eliminates the requirement the State offers self-funded HMO plans. (Conferees unable to agree last week of session)

HB2387 – Rep. Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang) & Sen. Kim David (R-Porter) – The bill allows for the consolidation of OJA facilities (Norman 4G and Manitou) and provides for new construction at COJC.