Senate Announces Interim Studies

Issues ranging from education reform to so-called puppy mills will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma Senate in the coming months.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced the approval of the interim studies today, saying the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2000 legislative session.

"Interim studies give us an opportunity to do some prep work on issues that are likely to confront us in the next legislative session. Some questions or problems simply can't be addressed in a single, four-month meeting period and deserve the more thorough deliberation that only an interim study can provide," said Senator Taylor.

"By doing a little homework during the interim, we can be ready to hit the ground running when the Legislature reconvenes in February."

The 32 interim studies will focus on the following issues:

• Any Willing Provider (HMO's Relationship to Small Pharmacies)
• Small Loan Companies
• Oklahoma School of Science and Math Outreach at Vocational-Technical Schools
• School Readiness and Early Childhood Brain Development
• OCAST (Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology) Programs
• Jail Personnel Training
• Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act
• Alcohol Use and Rape
• Tattooing Regulations
• Puppy Mills
• Enforcement Officers with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and Corporation
• Commission
• Simulcast Laws and Horse Racing Legislation
• Settlements that Restrict Professionals' Rights to Practice
• Licensing of Home Inspectors
• Car Rental Sales
• Naturopathic Medicine
• Tax Code
• Transfer of Deferred Deposit Institution from Consumer Credit to Banking Department
• Drug Utilization Review and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority
• Performance Pay for State Employees
• Optometry and Health Care Delivery
• International Trade Development
• Drug and Alcohol Testing of Students
• Technology in Education and Economic Development
• Water Pollution
• Building Trades Commission
• Administrative Law Process
• Electronic Metering of Pipeline Contents by Independent Third Parties
• Non-taxable Ad Valorem Taxes
• Testing and Curriculum Requirements in HB 1759 and HB 1599
• Parents as Teachers Program
• Revisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code