It was another busy week of committee work at the Capitol as we approach next Thursday’s deadline for bills to pass out of committee in the opposite chamber. 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, 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.
HB 1010 amends the ad valorem tax code to require all county assessors to value property using the Oklahoma Tax Commission Business Personal Property Schedule, which shall uniformly be applied statewide in all counties. The measure excludes property classified as agriculture-related personal property.
HB 1010 was originally scheduled to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee this week but was laid over. The Senate author has now changed from Sen. Marlatt to Sen. Stanislawski, and the bill will be heard in Senate Finance this upcoming Tuesday, April 11.
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 Senate Education Committee on Monday by a vote of 12-1. The measure then passed out of Senate Appropriations on Wednesday by a vote of 29-6. HB 2155 is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
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 and has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration. The measure must pass committee next week in order to remain active this session.
HB 1162 creates the Pension Protection Act, which increases the vesting schedule from five years to seven years for TRS members who enter the system on or after November 1, 2017.
HB 1162 passed the Senate Retirement & Insurance Committee on Monday by a vote of 6-2. The measure is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
HB 2316 amends current law to provide that members of the State Board of Career and Technology Education serve at the pleasure of the Governor and may be removed or replaced without cause.
HB 2316 passed the House and has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee. The measure must pass committee next week in order to remain active this session.
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 passed the House and has been referred to the Senate Appropriations & Budget Committee where it is scheduled to be heard on Monday at 10:00am.
