Sen. David Holt has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 44, which would ask the people of Oklahoma to set the cap on the state’s Rainy Day Fund at 15 percent of the total state budget (approximately $24 billion). Currently, the Rainy Day Fund’s 15 percent cap is measured against the artificially smaller number of “general revenue fund certification” that was just $5.6 billion for the most recent budget, less than a quarter of the dollar amount actually spent by the state.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Schulz today announced his intention to file legislation that would allow most statewide officials to serve up to 12 years in office. Schulz said his proposal would not apply to the office of the governor, or corporation commissioners. Oklahoma corporation commissioners may currently serve terms of up to 12 years.

A legislator working to improve Oklahoma’s forfeiture laws said the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision to suspend the Federal Equitable Sharing Program was a step in the right direction, but reform of state statutes is still needed. The federal program allowed state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with federal law enforcement in prosecuting civil asset forfeitures under federal law instead of using state law. The program also allowed local agencies to receive up to 80 percent of the proceeds from those forfeitures.

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) released the following statement today regarding the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.

“I am pleased the committee appointed by Oklahoma City Mayor Cornett today heard the consultant’s report on this project and it now heads to the full City Council. This proposed plan exemplifies the Oklahoma Standard. City, county, state and tribal governments have all joined together to showcase our unique history and shared culture by moving forward with this Smithsonian-style museum.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman released the following statement after today’s meeting of the State Board of Equalization.

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) on Thursday filed Senate Bill 915, an act to prohibit state funding for Project Relate (The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative).
“I believe strong marriages are the backbone of strong families, but I don’t think the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative makes sense. The data just doesn’t back up their claim of helping Oklahoma families,” said Loveless.

In an effort to raise awareness and educate Oklahomans about the importance of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, State Senators Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and John Sparks, D-Norman, support building a Bill of Rights monument on the grounds of the state Capitol. The lawmakers held a press conference on Tuesday, which was Bill of Rights Day, to discuss the proposal. The effort is part of a nationwide push to create similar monuments in all 50 states.

Sen. Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) Tuesday released the following statement commemorating the 224th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights:

“The Bill of Rights lays the foundation of our government and guarantees certain rights to our citizens. Of these are our religious liberty, the right to bear arms, and the right to be secure in one’s life, liberty and property.

“Recent events across the nation should serve as a wake-up call. The student backlash at the University of Missouri over equality and inclusion and the Yale University incident concerning the “white girls only” invitation to the SAE function are unfortunate reminders that racism is still very much alive in our nation and on many college campuses.

A new study shows Oklahoma is part of a national trend that shows fewer youthful offenders being incarcerated. According to new numbers from the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), between 1997 and 2013 Oklahoma’s juvenile incarceration rate decreased between 40 and 49 percent.
“That’s a significant improvement for our state, but that same study shows despite that change, we need to do a better job of getting youthful offenders on the right track, staying crime free, doing well in school and ultimately getting jobs,” said Sen. AJ Griffin, R-Guthrie.