OKPOLICY.ORG
Last week, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall approved and assigned to committees more than 100 interim study requests by House members to be held before the next legislative session. Once again, the requests reflect the breadth of interests and issues addressed – or sometimes not addressed – by members of the legislature.
Interim studies are intended to inform members in some depth about an issue. The studies are usually allotted from two hours to all day, depending on the time needed and the wishes of the committee chairman. The member who requested the study is responsible for obtaining and presenting witnesses and information to the committee. Here are a few examples of interesting requests. A searchable list is available on the Oklahoma House website.
With Interim Study 24-003, Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, intends to continue his oversight of the state’s prisons, analyzing “the number of deaths, the number of inmates, the number of officers, and drug violence” in corrections institutions.
In Interim Study 24-014, Rep. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, wants to look at the oversight and protection of vulnerable adults. She wants to develop a clear understanding of the role of each agency in investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, review current statutes and policies and identify gaps in the current system.
Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, and Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, have requested Interim Study 24-028 to discuss how to modernize the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. School bullying prevention has been a long-time interest for both legislators. Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, requested Interim Study 24-066 on the same topic.
With the state soon to be spending $250 million per year to subsidize tuition for parents sending their children to private schools, Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, and Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, both former public school administrators, have requested Interim Study 24-073 to look at accreditation standards, school hour requirements, and academic outcomes of private schools in Oklahoma.
With Interim Study 24-081, Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, wants to look at prison sentences and those incarcerated in our state. Specifically, he wants to look at the definition of “life sentence” and “without parole” and the statute that requires 85 percent of the sentence to be served for certain offenses. He wants to determine if there are any extenuating circumstances that could affect 85 percent sentences.
Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, requested Interim Study 24-085 to examine the growing need in rural areas for low-income housing for the homeless.
Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, in a forward-looking request, asked for Interim Study 24-090 to better understand how transportation has been funded for decades with motor fuel taxes in Oklahoma and the U.S and why this method is no longer sustainable. She wants to review the history and current sources of transportation funding and how it is no longer growing with increased use of the transportation system. She also wants to explore other prospects for funding transportation needs that are sustainable for the future.
In what has been a hot-button issue for several sessions, Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, a young attorney, requested Interim Study 24-094 to explore possible modifications to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) membership, the JNC membership selection process and qualifications or prohibitions concerning JNC member eligibility. He also wants to explore possible modifications to the JNC meeting procedures.
Rep. Tammy West, R-OKC, requested Interim Study 24-079 to get a better understanding of the scope and breadth of fees on the incarcerated that Oklahoma has increasingly relied upon to fund programs and services. Then she wants to examine ways to right size the financial burdens placed on the formerly incarcerated that hinder their successful reintegration into society after they have served their time.
Finally, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, wants to take a close look at domestic violence, protective orders and “failure to protect” as they affect women and children in current Oklahoma law with Interim Studies 24-084 and 24-109.
These are just a spattering of the studies that will take place, likely beginning in early August. They can give an insight into the interests of individual legislators as well as some of the issues that will be addressed in the next session.
