Friday, March 10, 2017
Good afternoon! There was a shift in activity at the Capitol this week as the emphasis is now on floor work until the March 23rd deadline for bills to be heard on the floor in their chamber of origin. Below is a brief summary of a few of the bills with potential to impact our association. If you have questions about any of the information provided below, 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.                                  
  I. Constructions Industries Board (CIB): HB 1280 by Rep. Kevin Wallace  (R-Wellston)

HB 1280 establishes powers of the Constructions Industries Board (CIB). It allows the CIB to enter into contracts with the Oklahoma Dept. of Career Tech for accredited programs offering mechanical, electrical, plumbing or roofing trade coursework for the purpose of (a) developing courses that govern those trades or (b) for developing and implementing a workforce development program that will create interest in the pursuit of a skilled trade career.

HB 1280 requires all contracts approved to be subject to the Open Meeting Act. The bill allows funds in certain revolving funds to be transferred to a separate Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund.

  • HB 1280 passed the House floor on Tuesday by a vote of 92-0. The measure has been engrossed and sent to the Senate for consideration.

II. Curriculum and Instruction:

HB 1407 by Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-OKC)
HB 1407 permits school districts to offer construction education courses to students in grade nine and above.

  • HB 1407 passed the House floor on Feb. 28 by a vote of 92-4. The measure has been engrossed and sent to the Senate for consideration

HB 1941 by Rep. Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon)
HB 1941 creates the Oklahoma Civics Education Initiative Act, which requires every student enrolled in a public school (or pursuing a GED) to take and receive a passing grade on the 100 question U.S. Citizenship Test in order to graduate with a standard diploma. The State Board of Career & Technology Education shall provide for administration of the test to GED students. Students may take the test as many times as necessary to receive a passing grade of 60%. The measure makes provisions for students on an IEP and English language learners.

  • HB 1941 passed the House Common Education Committee on Feb. 20 and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor, though it has not yet been scheduled.

HB 2155 by Rep. Jadine Nollan (R-Sand Springs)

HB 2155 requires the State Board of Education to adopt a new system of college and career planning tools known as the Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP). Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in 2019-2020, each student shall be required to complete the process of an ICAP in order to graduate from a public high school with a standard diploma. The ICAP shall include but not be limited to components such as: career and college interest surveys, written postsecondary and workforce goals and progress towards those goals, intentional sequence of courses that reflect progress toward a student’s postsecondary goals, the student’s academic progress, and a service learning component.

  • HB 2155 passed the House Common Education Committee on Feb. 20 and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor, though it has not yet been scheduled.

III. Teacher Retirement: SB 428 by Sen. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud)

SB 428 allows TRS members who retired as active classroom teachers to be eligible to be reemployed as an active classroom teacher with no limitations on earnings for a period of three years beginning July 1, 2017.

  • SB 428 passed the Senate Retirement & Insurance Committee and is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.


IV. OHLAP: SB 529 by Sen. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud)

SB 529 modifies the qualifications and criteria required for students to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. It requires an award for eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program students enrolled in a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal student financial aid be satisfied for both vocational-technical and college work in which enrolled. It expands to the scope of student ineligible for the program with parents that meet updated income requirements. 

  • SB 529 has passed the Senate Education and Senate Appropriations Committees and is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
  RESOURCES:

Oklahoma Legislature:  http://www.oklegislature.gov/index.aspx