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Mar 28, 2024
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Rep. Rhonda Baker will not Seek Reelection in 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, announced today that she will not seek reelection to the Oklahoma House of Representatives this year. "It has been an extraordinary honor to serve the people of House District 60 for the past eight years," Baker said. "I have been blessed to work with some of the most dedicated and talented leaders in the communities in my district and across Oklahoma. I have seen firsthand the challenges facing our state, and yet I remain optimistic that determined and capable Oklahomans will take the opportunities afforded them to make our state the best it can be." Baker – a former classroom teacher with nearly two decades of experience at all levels of education, from middle to high school and collegiate work – quickly rose to leadership positions once elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As a freshman lawmaker, in 2016, she was appointed to serve as chair of the House Education Committee and as a member of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee for Education, positions she still holds. She also served as a member of the House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. In 2023, Baker received the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Distinguished Service Award for her work on the Concurrent Education Task Force. "Since coming from the classroom to the Capitol, I've worked tirelessly to advocate for students and champion our state's educators," Baker said. "During my tenure, I've worked to pass legislation focused on improving student outcomes so our youth are ready for the next level of coursework and for lives beyond school. I've pushed for measures that ensure students are prepared for the demands of the workforce so they excel and earn to their highest potential. This not only benefits our youth but propels our entire state forward." Baker also has worked to improve the school environment for educators and to give parents more choices for their children's education. "One of my proudest legislative accomplishments was to negotiate the largest increase in educational funding, including teacher pay increases, while also advocating for more school choice than at any time in Oklahoma's history," Baker said. In addition to being recognized as a dynamic state leader, Baker has received national attention for her work on education policy. She serves as Chairwoman of the Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference and vice chair of the Southern Regional Education Board's Advisory Council. Baker's legislative colleagues across the region have sought her expertise and training as they develop educational goals for improving student achievement, teacher recruitment, and parental choice.  She said her passion and work in education will not end when she completes her legislative work later this year. "I recognize there is still much to be done, and I promise to continue advancing the cause of public education throughout my life," she said. Baker's work extends into other policy areas as well. She is a member of the House speaker's leadership team and serves as an assistant floor leader. She is a member of the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee and the Energy Committee and has served on the Children, Youth and Family Services, and Business and Commerce committees. Early in her legislative career, Baker received the Rising Star Award from the State Chamber for her role as a legislative leader in the business community. In 2023, Baker was appointed as a fellow for the Hunt-Kean Leadership Institute, an intense leadership training program for government and business leaders nationwide.  She was one of 11 select legislators chosen within the southern region to attend the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills. She was one of two legislators chosen as an Early Learning Fellows from the National Conference of State Legislators. She also serves as a commissioner on the Commission of the Status of Women. Baker said as she leaves the Legislature she remains appreciative to God for the grace and ability He's given her to serve in public office, and to her family and supporters for their love and sacrifice on her behalf.



Mar 27, 2024
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4-H Excused Absences Signed by Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Stitt on Tuesday signed House Bill 1006 into law, which will grant 4-H students an excused school absence when participating in an approved activity. The bill's author, Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, said he's pushed the legislation for the past four years as a way to provide fairness for students that participate in 4-H. "Students that participate in FFA and other school activities already get excused absences," West said. "Our 4-H students deserve the same consideration to not have their grades negatively affected when they participate in an activity that is recognized by the county 4-H facilitator." This will allow students to make up any missed work, West said. He said the request for the measure was from a constituent, but it has gained statewide support. The number of excused absences allowed is still subject to the attendance policy of the local school board. Students are not excused if they miss days during statewide assessments or during any period of time for which the student has been disciplined, suspended or expelled, if the terms of punishment would preclude them from participating in an educational field trip or extracurricular activity. 4-H is not offered through local school districts but is instead part of the Oklahoma State University Extension Program. FFA, by contrast, is offered through local school districts but overseen by the state Department of Career and Technology Education. That was part of the challenge West said he had to overcome in convincing other lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill. The measure passed the House in 2023 but only passed the Senate on March 19 this year. West praised his Senate author, Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, for getting the bill over the final hurdle and sent to the governor who quickly signed it into law. The bill will become effective 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die, in time for the next school year, West said. 



Mar 27, 2024
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House Criminal Justice, Corrections Committee Hears DOC Rape Investigation Update

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, chaired by Rep. Justin, Humphrey, R-Lane, this week discussed conditions in state prisons, including the status of rape investigations from the Department of Corrections as well as reports of a possible meningitis outbreak. Humphrey, who has a background in corrections, said he emailed each member of the committee a copy of rape allegations in state prison facilities that he's received since March 17. He also shared several videos with members showing an alleged rape and other assaults. He said in addition there were reports of four inmate deaths in the past week. "When we're talking about a 10-day window for all of this to be occurring it should be a shock," Humphrey said. "For the last couple of years, I have repeatedly said, what you're going to see is an escalation. You're going to see more drugs come into the penitentiary. We're seeing that. You're going to see inmate on inmate violence. We're seeing that. You're going to see rapes increase. You're going to see more inmate on staff violence. We're seeing that. "The next level of escalation will be extremely, extremely scary because that's where you start to get into killings, things like that. We should not wait for that to happen. We should be aware of these issues. That's why I'm calling these out continuously." Regarding reports of a possible meningitis outbreak, Humphrey shared with committee members a memo from the Department of Corrections that shows one current incidence of meningitis in state prisons. He said this differs from inmate reports that include allegations of not receiving proper cleaning supplies or being allowed to take showers, things which could slow an outbreak of the illness. He urged members to do their own investigation to determine the truth of the reports, and suggested having the state Department of Labor come in to assess sanitation and other issues in the prisons. Humphrey says he receives calls about rapes and other violence in state prisons on a daily basis – between 30 to 50 calls per week – as well as reports of extortion of family members of inmates. He said he's also heard from department employees that administrators are doctoring Prison Rape Elimination Act reports and audits. He said he reports as many of the accusations as he can to the Department of Corrections or other law enforcement, and he's shared previous reports with those groups as well. He said he's also turned over stacks of allegations to the Federal Bureau of investigation, but has not heard much back from them. "Quite frankly, I'm overwhelmed," he said. Humphrey had emailed committee members a video of a rape at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center that he received from the inmate. He said it was obvious from the video that the perpetrator was an officer, and to his knowledge the officer has already been charged for the crime. He said shortly after receiving the video, he received a call from an inmate at the prison saying these incidences are a near daily occurrence. Humphrey has also forwarded videos of other assaults within Oklahoma prisons to committee members. Humphrey said he also got a call in the last 10 days from a rape victim at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton. He said the inmate had asked not to be returned to his cell; when he was, he was raped, and is now in the hospital. Humphrey said the incident has been reported, but he said it's still important for these allegations to be made public. Humphrey asked committee members to help him ensure a proper investigation is done into the allegations received.