Law would target potential school violence
Capitol Spotlight for Feb. 19 or thereafter
By Jim Campbell
OPA Capitol News Bureau
Against the background of horror at Northern Illinois University, a Senate committee approved a bill to beef up school security with emphasis on identifying bullying victims who might retaliate with bullets.
The Oklahoma School Security Act by Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, passed the Senate Education Committee, 12-0, on Monday and went to the full Senate.
Lamb said there have been 54 school shootings across the country in the last decade, as well as a number of stabbings and other violent incidents. Among provisions of his Senate Bill 1941 are three lockdown drills a year, evaluation of students who have shown violent tendencies and school board discretion to move polling places from schools.
"The root of the majority (of incidents) is bullying. We now collect data but don't evaluate it," he said. "That's ridiculous."
He said victims are a greater threat than the bullies.
The education committee shot down an effort to let recess count toward physical education requirements, contradicting a bill approved last week expanding PE time to 120 minutes a week.
"That bill certainly would do this one in," Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, told the committee.  His bill failed, 7-4.
***
The Senate will decide whether mandated insurance for life-threatening diseases is morally and economically sound or a costly deterrent to more widespread coverage.
In a classic clash of political viewpoints, HB 3111 by Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Tulsa, passed the House, 53-46. All Democrats were opposed along with two Republicans, one of them the Legislature's only physician.
It allows introduction of mandate proposals only in odd-numbered years with consideration only in even-numbered years and requires organizations requesting the coverage to pay for a cost-benefit analysis.
Peterson said the mandates, such as colorectal and breast cancer screening are "very hard to say no to. This is about making smart decisions."
Rep. Ryan Kiesel, D-Seminole, argued, however, "This bill essentially allows the insurance industry to kill future bills that would provide life-saving procedures to Oklahomans."
The Senate is evenly split along party lines. Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, has promised opposition.
***
Slumping revenue collections stiffened the challenge for Oklahoma lawmakers hoping to heal a chronic money crisis in their crumbling corrections system and agree on a budget for other essential services.
The State Equalization Board's expected certification Tuesday of about $114 million less to spend than this year threatens not only corrections but Gov. Brad Henry's proposed teacher pay raises, road and bridge repair and further income tax relief.
Personal and corporate income taxes led the skid of about $195 million from the December estimate, when the State Finance Office projected a modest increase of $32 million from the current year. Oklahoma lawmakers have passed record tax cuts the last three years.
***
Unwitting youth showing driver's licenses in bars to get free cigarettes are having the license scanned for vital information that might be used in identity theft, says Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton. His SB 1745 would make it a misdemeanor to scan the license and store or sell the data. "The most egregious use" of the practice, he said, is by big tobacco, which then sends gifts to the young smokers.
"The tobacco companies must continually find new customers because the old ones die," said Pat Marshall of the American Cancer Society.

###