Senate committee approves bill for construction of Health Lab

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation Wednesday to construct a new state health lab. Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, is the author of Senate Bill 236 to authorize the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority to issue nearly $59 million in bonds for the construction of the new facility. 

David said the lab has faced losing its accreditation since 2008, which would be detrimental and extremely costly for the state, and this year the legislature must act.  

“The Oklahoma Health Lab is at serious risk of losing its accreditation, which will shut the lab down and the state will have to outsource all services at an additional cost of $9 million annually,” said David, Senate Appropriations Chair. “The lab provides crucial health services for not only the state but for counties and the public as well. Their work includes diagnosing and preventing the spread of communicable diseases, identifying terrorist events and providing newborn screenings for inherited metabolic disorders. We must ensure those services are not interrupted.”

Built in 1972, the Health Lab is one of the oldest in the nation. Numerous assessments by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, the College of American Pathologists and other organizations since 2008 have concluded that the facility is outdated and not capable of supporting technically advanced work. The building is also prone to flooding and has an unreliable heat and air system that can negatively impact tests performed on site.

In 2015, the Long Range Capital Planning Commission identified $349 million in total critical capital needs and the health lab was at the top of the list.

The Department of Health estimated the cost of a new 49,000 square-foot lab would be $40 million in 2009. Today, they estimate the cost will require a 20-year bond for $58.5 million.  

David pointed out that the use of bond financing for the project will not increase the state’s debt as nearly half the state’s tax-backed bond debt will be paid off by 2020. 

Bill strengthening domestic violence law heads to full Senate

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A bill that could potentially save the lives of domestic violence victims has won approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee and is headed to the full Senate for a vote.  Senate Bill 1491, by Senator Bryce Marlatt said his legislation deals with how many prior convictions of domestic violence are required to establish a pattern of physical abuse.

“Under current law, an individual would have to be convicted of domestic violence three times in 12 months before the legal definition of a pattern of physical abuse is met,” said Marlatt, R-Woodward.  “But this is a crime that escalates. The potential for death increases exponentially with every incident.  That fourth time may be the last time it happens, because it could be a domestic homicide.  We need to do something to stop domestic violence offenders sooner, and that’s what my bill would do.”

Under Marlatt’s legislation, two convictions would establish a pattern of physical abuse, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.  As amended in committee, the legislation would remove the stipulation that the incidents must have taken place within the previous 12 months.

“The numbers show us this is a terrible problem. Oklahoma is ranked third in the nation for women killed by men in domestic violence situations.  One-third of all women murdered in our state are killed by their husbands.  Forty-one percent of all homicides in Oklahoma are linked to domestic violence,” Marlatt said.  “One third of all police time is spent responding to domestic violence calls.  Strengthening this law will help Oklahoma better address the crime of domestic violence.”

Sen. Holt’s “revenge porn” bill headed to Senate floor

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The full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved Senator David Holt’s legislation to make “revenge porn” against the law in Oklahoma.  Senate Bill 1257 will now advance to consideration on the Senate floor.  Approved Wednesday on a vote of 37 to 1, the measure criminalizes the dissemination of non-consensual pornography, sometimes known as “revenge porn.”  

“Non-consensual pornography is a destructive act that especially targets women, and it should be a crime,” said Holt, R-Oklahoma City. “Our statutes often don’t contemplate modern life, and this is one of those situations. I am grateful that so far my colleagues agree."

SB 1257 provides that a person commits a crime when they intentionally disseminate an image of another identifiable person who is engaged in a sexual act or is nude; they obtained the image under circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to know that the image was private; and they knew or should have known that the dissemination was nonconsensual. It exempts disseminations related to law enforcement investigations or when the exposure or sexual act was committed in public or in a commercial setting. The first offense would be a misdemeanor and the second offense would be a felony.

SB 1257 must be considered on the Senate floor by March 10.

Bill ensuring more accountability in public policy rules heads to full Senate

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State Senators Nathan Dahm and Anthony Sykes said a bill ensuring legislative input on state agency rules will create greater accountability when determining policies impacting the lives of Oklahomans.  Senate Bill 1130 clarifies Oklahoma law to ensure the Legislature’s authority to approve, amend or disapprove agency rules.

Dahm, principal author of SB 1130, said the measure was approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

“Up until the administration of President Woodrow Wilson, our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. had the ability to change federal agency rules when needed.  Ever since then, the federal bureaucrats, who don’t have to answer to the public for their actions, have had control over public policy issues that impact the lives of private citizens and businesses in countless ways, and we know it’s often a negative impact,” said Dahm, R-Broken Arrow.  “We want to ensure that at the state level, it is those who are directly accountable to the people who have the final say and have the oversight ability to protect people and businesses from excessive agency rules.”

Language contained in SB 1130 would codify the Legislature’s right to amend any rules as they proceed through the legislative review process and establish new agency rules directly through enactment of a joint resolution.

“When bureaucracies adopt rules that run contrary to the will of Oklahoma citizens, people get trampled. It is impossible to hold a bureaucrat accountable,” said Sykes, R-Moore.  “But I’m living proof that you can hold an incumbent accountable. This measure ensures greater accountability to the public in the policy decisions that affect their lives.”

SB 1130 will next be considered by the full Senate.