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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
In what one lawmaker termed a poke in the eye to teachers, a divided Senate committee approved a House-passed bill Monday to prohibit tens of thousands of Oklahoma educators from paying union dues by state payroll deduction. A House committee approved two bills to reduce the number of state-mandated tests in schools, a bill to make it easier for districts to hire teachers certified in other states but not Oklahoma, and an expansion of tobacco-restrictions on school property.
Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Rob Neu vowed to correct a history of disproportionately suspending minority students that is part of a federal civil rights investigation of the district. KGOU looked at a small group of black student activists at the University of Oklahoma who were thrust into the national spotlight last week. A two-part series (1, 2) by Fox25 investigates evidence that the state is overselling the impact of Quality Jobs payments to private companies. OK Policy previously published a report that found gaps in oversight of the program.
The Tulsa World reported that as problems with lethal-injection executions have multiplied in recent years, so have the secrecy statutes that limit what people can find out about the process. There was so much secrecy surrounding the rush to develop a new execution drug protocol in Oklahoma last spring that even the director of the Department of Corrections didn’t know the state had found a new source for drugs. Oklahoma Watch explained why a bill to end marriage licenses in Oklahoma would not eliminate state involvement in marriage.
Oklahoma tag agencies across the state are getting a major upgrade to computer systems for the first time in over 20 years, switching from an outdated DOS system to a Windows-based program. The Cushing oil storage facility is nearing operational capacity with nearly 51.5 million barrels of oil. During Spring Break, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s mobile eatery is working to bring meals to kids who do not have steady access to food while out of school.
The Number of the Day is the median annual earnings for women employed full-time, year-round in Oklahoma, lower than in 42 other states. In tdday’s Policy Note, The Marshall Project investigated how debtors’ prisons live on in America despite being ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
In The News
Oklahoma bill targets state payroll deduction for teachers’ union dues
In what one lawmaker termed a poke in the eye to teachers, a divided Senate committee approved a House-passed bill Monday to prohibit tens of thousands of Oklahoma educators from paying union dues by state payroll deduction. It applies to groups that participate with the state in collective bargaining, or negotiations over conditions of employment. The two organizations affected are the American Federation of Teachers and the Oklahoma Education Association.
Testing bills dominate House subcommittee discussions
Fewer tests and more flexibility continued to be this session’s favored line for education legislation during Monday’s spring break-abbreviated schedule in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Two Senate bills on testing dominated a House subcommittee on education appropriations, while a third measure, making it easier for districts to hire teachers certified in other states but not Oklahoma, also advanced.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
House Committee Passes Tobacco-Free Schools Bill
Public schools in Oklahoma would become tobacco free under legislation approved by a state House committee and sent to the full House. Oklahoma law already requires that public schools be tobacco-free during the school day. The bill by Republican Rep. Lee Denney of Cushing would extend that policy to include non-school hours as well as school vehicles and school-sponsored activities.
Oklahoma City schools superintendent wants changes to address district’s suspension rate
Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Rob Neu, acknowledging a “disproportionate” number of suspensions among minority students, vowed Monday night to quickly correct “a great amount of inconsistency” throughout the district. Neu said an internal audit revealed the district is “over-suspending” black and Hispanic students, and he questioned whether suspensions for excessive truancies, tardies and absences are justified.
Before SAE, Ferguson Inspires University Of Oklahoma Minority Rights Group
A small group of black students at the University of Oklahoma were thrust into the national spotlight last week after a video surfaced of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members singing a racist chant. Members of the group Unheard say racism usually isn’t blatant like the infamous video in which frat members chant “There will never be a n****r in SAE” and reference lynching. Regardless, they say racism is pervasive on campus.
Waste Watch: Quality Jobs numbers investigated
Millions of dollars are coming off the top of the state budget, but is it helping or hurting the state’s economy? One of the largest programs is the Oklahoma Quality Jobs program, which has spent nearly a billion dollars since its inception. The program is aimed at bringing in new jobs to Oklahoma, but a closer look at the numbers shows all those new jobs are not actually new.
Waste Watch: Is the state vastly over selling “Quality Jobs” rewards?
It has cost the state a billion dollars over the last decade and the program shows no signs of slowing down. But critics of one of the state’s biggest incentives programs question if it missing the mark and costing the state more than it is bringing in. The Quality Jobs program started to give the state the ability to compete for big companies looking to relocate, but that is far from all that the program provides today.
See also: New issue brief examines one of the largest business subsidies in Oklahoma from OK Policy.
Execution records pierce veil of secrecy surrounding process
There was so much secrecy surrounding the rush to develop a new execution drug protocol in Oklahoma last spring that even the director of the Department of Corrections didn’t know the state had found a new source for drugs. As problems with lethal-injection executions have multiplied in recent years, so have the secrecy statutes that limit what people can find out about the process.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Marriage Bill Would Not Eliminate State Involvement
While supporters say House Bill 1125 would eliminate state-issued marriage licenses, public oversight of those marriages would continue, even if the licenses are no longer issued. Currently, state law requires religious officials and others who officiate at marriage ceremonies to register with county officials before a marriage certificate can be considered valid.
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
Oklahoma Tag Agencies Upgrade 20-Year-Old Computer System
For the first time in over 20 years, tag agencies across the state are getting a major upgrade to computer systems. The upgrade should mean better record keeping and faster service. About 300 tag agencies in the state switched from an outdated DOS system to a new Windows-based program.
Rising oil storage smothers price gains
The country’s crude oil inventories continued to fill last week, threatening oil prices that have increased timidly over the past two months. Home to the country’s largest storage facility, Cushing has been most directly affected by the storage rise. As of March 6, Cushing’s sprawling tank complex held more than 51.5 million barrels of oil, according to the EIA. Storage is nearing operational capacity.
Food Bank’s Mobile Eatery Feeds Hungry Oklahomans During Spring Break
Many students are trying to figure out what to do for Spring Break, but others are trying to figure out where they’ll get their next meal. While students are out of school, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is stepping in to make sure they’re fed. Throughout the year the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s mobile eatery travels to feed the hungry.
See also: Policy Basics: Oklahoma’s Food Security Safety Net from OK Policy.
Quote of the Day
“I’m not going to cast a vote that’s going to poke a teacher in the eye. I’d much rather put an arm around them and tell them what a good job they do.”
– Sen. Ralph Shortey (R-Oklahoma City), explaining why he voted against a bill that would prohibit Oklahoma educators from paying union dues by state payroll deductions. The bill has already passed the House and will next appear before the full Senate (Source).
Number of the Day
$32,000
Median annual earnings for women employed full-time, year-round in Oklahoma, lower than in 42 other states.
Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Debtors’ Prisons, Then and Now
In 2011, Robin Sanders was driving home when she saw the blue and red lights flashing behind her. She knew she had not fixed her muffler, and believed that was why she was being pulled over. She thought she might get a ticket. Instead, Sanders, who lives in Illinois, was arrested and taken to jail. As she was booked and processed, she learned that she had been jailed because she owed debt — $730 to be precise, related to an unpaid medical bill.
Read more from The Marshall Project.
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