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A bill to reduce Oklahoma’s drunk driving fatalities has cleared the Senate and is on its way to the House of Representatives. Dixie and Keith Swezey, of Edmond, and other family members watched from the Senate Gallery as lawmakers voted unanimously for Senate Bill 529, the Erin Elizabeth Swezey Act. The bill is named for the Swezeys’ 20-year-old daughter, Erin, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2009.

The full Senate gave approval to a bill that will allow the Senate President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House to adjust per diem rates given to legislative members.

Sen. Ralph Shortey on Monday successfully amended a measure to require that presidential primary candidates provide proof of natural-born United States citizenship upon filing with the state election board.

Shortey added the provision to Senate Bill 91, which would require candidates for public office to provide photo ID and proof of eligibility to hold office.

State Sen. Clark Jolley won full Senate approval Monday for legislation to end social promotion in Oklahoma’s public schools. Senate Bill 346 was approved on a vote of 36 to 8. While critics of the bill said holding children back would stigmatize them, Jolley countered promoting children who cannot read is a recipe for failure.
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Under legislation approved by the state Senate on Monday, candidates for public office would be required to provide proof of identity and eligibility to hold office.

Referencing strong support for State Question 746, a voter ID ballot measure approved last year, Sen. Rick Brinkley said it was sensible that candidates meet the same minimal requirement.

The Oklahoma State Senate is continuing efforts to reduce costs within the agency in anticipation of additional budget cuts in the coming fiscal year. That’s according to Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman who has been working with members and staff to find more innovative ways to reduce costs.

“We recently informed our staff that the Senate would offer another round of voluntary buyouts this year. We offered this program during the 2010 session and 25 employees accepted, resulting in a savings of $1.8 million,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
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Sen. John Ford has won full Senate approval on a measure to end the cumbersome process now required to terminate a bad teacher—a process that can cost a school district tens of thousands of dollars and several months to resolve.
Senate Bill 1, approved on Wednesday, would end the process known as trial de novo, which currently gives teachers the right to appeal a school board’s decision to district court.
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The Oklahoma State Senate paused to honor the life and service of Frank Buckles, the sole surviving veteran of World War I. The former Oklahoma resident passed away on February 27 at the age of 110. The full Senate gave its approval to Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, by Sen. Jim Reynolds, on Wednesday.

“I think it is good for us to reflect on our past and the things that made our nation great,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “World War I changed the world. The service of men like Frank Buckles truly set America on a path to greatness.”
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The Oklahoma State Senate paused to honor the life and service of Frank Buckles, the sole surviving veteran of World War I. The former Oklahoma resident passed away on February 27 at the age of 110. The full Senate gave its approval to Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, by Sen. Jim Reynolds, on Wednesday.

“I think it is good for us to reflect on our past and the things that made our nation great,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “World War I changed the world. The service of men like Frank Buckles truly set America on a path to greatness.”
read more.