OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill in the House that would allow county purchasing agents to select the next lowest bidder in certain cases if the original bidder is unable to fulfill an awarded contract. Senate Bill 403 now moves to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. "There are instances where an original bidder can't complete the work," Cantrell explained. "Rather than having our counties restart the bidding process, which could result in untimely and costly delays on county projects, this legislation would speed that process." Under the provisions of the measure, the next to lowest bidder would have to agree to complete the work at or below the original bid price. The measure does not include information technology or telecommunications services, which would revert to the requirements of the competitive bidding process. Sen. Jack Stewart, R-Yukon, is the Sen. author of the bill. If signed into law, SB403 would become effective Nov. 1.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, commended House passage of a bill he said would end state-sponsored discrimination against Oklahoma families with special needs students. Senate Bill 105 would amend eligibility requirements for students who are part of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. "This legislation removes discriminatory barriers faced only by students with special needs or disabilities," Caldwell said. "Families of traditional students can access school choice funds from day one. Yet up until now, we have placed additional hurdles in front of children with special needs, making them wait to access services and accommodations that would better meet their specific needs." SB105 removes the requirement that a student attend a public school district the year prior to applying for the program. The bill also removes language stating that acceptance of a scholarship has the same effect as parental revocation of consent to services under certain provisions of IDEA, which is not allowed under the federal code. The measure also clarifies that students on an individualized education program (IEP), an individualized service plan (ISP) or who meet the eligibility standards for special education services in accordance with IDEA are eligible to participate in the scholarship. Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the Senate author of the bill. “This legislation levels the playing field for families of children with disabilities or special needs,” Daniels said. “No parent should have to keep their child in a school that’s not working for them just to wait out an arbitrary, one-year requirement to qualify for financial aid. Senate Bill 105 ensures families can access the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship without unnecessary delays, giving them the flexibility to choose the most supportive educational setting from the start.” The Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship program authorizes the parent or guardian of a public school student with a disability who is served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to exercise their parental option and request to have an LNH Scholarship awarded for their child to attend a participating private school approved by the State Board of Education. The program has been in place since 2011 and currently serves about 1,500 students. Other eligible students include those: who have an Individualized Service Plan developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS); who are a child of a military family with permanent change of station orders who has moved to Oklahoma; who have been in out-of-home placement through the office of Juvenile Affairs; or who have been in out-of-home placement with DHS, or who were adopted while in the permanent custody of DHS. Scholarship funds are paid in increments directly to participating schools, not to parents, and only after students have attended the school. SB105 passed the House on Tuesday with a vote of 70-23. It was amended in the House, so it now moves back to the Senate for final consideration.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, on Monday secured passage in the House of a bill that would add the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole as potential punishments for any person convicted of certain sexual crimes against children. Under Senate Bill 599 , an offender would not need to be convicted a second time of these specific crimes for this higher range of punishment. Turner, who has a long career in law enforcement, said he's too often seen cases where children were sexually victimized and the perpetrator of the crime got a lesser sentence than deserved because it was the only option under the law. "It's time to stand for our children and tell them they do not have to worry that the person who so deeply hurt them might victimize another child," Turner said. "Let's be the voice and tell these cowards that when they harm our children, we will no longer tolerate it, and they will be facing the punishment they deserve – death or a lifetime of incarceration." Turner thanked Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, the Senate author of the bill, for running the legislation. “There should never be a second chance offered to someone who commits a heinous sexual crime against an innocent child," Hamilton said. "This is not a mistake—it’s a monstrous, unforgivable act, and nothing can undo the devastation they cause. The only just punishment is death or life without parole, which will ensure that these predators can never reoffend. I extend my appreciation to Representative Turner for his continued collaboration on this piece of legislation and to Ryan Stephenson with the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council for his support and expertise throughout this process. Their efforts have been instrumental in advancing Senate Bill 599 and have brought us one step closer to extending this critical protection to Oklahoma’s children.” The measure also would give a greater range of punishment for any person convicted of inappropriately touching a child under the age of 12. Instead of the 25-year term now in statute, an offender could face a term of not less than 10 years, but the amendment adds the possible punishment of life without parole or even death. Anyone convicted of forcible anal or oral sodomy, rape or rape by instrumentation of a child under 14 years of age shall now be eligible for punishment by death or by imprisonment for life without parole upon first offense. Turner said 28% of children are sexually victimized, with those age 7 to 13 being the most vulnerable. He said three other states – Florida, Idaho and Tennessee – have adopted similar legislation, and seven additional states are running similar measures this year. SB599 passed the House on a vote of 80-8. It now moves back to the Senate for consideration of amendments made in the House.