Keeping up with the capitol
KOKH - FOX 25
[{'start': '0.166', 'end': '4.670', 'text': "EDMOND, DAVID CHASANOV FOX 25    NEWS.    >>THANK YOU, DAVID. IN   TONIGHT'S BIG STORY BREAKDOWN,   WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THE    >>CAPITOL LEGISLATION TO   IMPROVE NUTRITION SERVICES FOR   OKLAHOMA MEDICAID MEMBERS IS   NOW AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S    SIGNATURE.   >>SENATOR ADAM PUGH SAYS HE'S    BEEN WORKING ON THE FOOD IS    MEDICINE BILL FOR SIX YEARS. HE   TEAMED UP WITH THE ORGANIZATION   FRESH RX ON SENATE BILL 806.   IT'S DESIGNED TO ALLOW MANAGED   CARE GROUPS TO OFFER FOOD AS A   PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFIT. SENATOR   PUGH SAYS HE BELIEVES HIGH   QUALITY FOOD HAS MORE VALUE    THAN A PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE,    AND HOPES THIS WILL HELP   INCENTIVIZE HEALTHY EATING.    >>I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IS    IF YOU'RE DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH    BLOOD PRESSURE OR HIGH   CHOLESTEROL, YOU CAN TAKE    MEDICINE. AND I WOULD ARGUE    THAT YOU WILL BE ON THAT   MEDICINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR    LIFE. SO NOT ONLY IS IT A COST   TO THE TAXPAYER, WHO'S PAYING    FOR THAT PERSON TO HAVE    MEDICAID INSURANCE, YOU'RE NOT   CHANGING ANY SORT OF LIFESTYLE   OR BEHAVIOR FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL   TO GET HEALTHY. AND SO THIS    KIND OF MOVES ALL THE WAY UP   THAT CHAIN OF EVENTS. AND    OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY DECIDE AS   THE PATIENT TO TAKE THAT   PHARMACEUTICAL PRESCRIPTION,   THEN THEY THEY CAN DO THAT. BUT   THE GOAL IS REALLY TO CHANGE   PEOPLE'S HEALTH OUTCOMES.    >>SENATOR PUGH SAYS THE BILL   RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN   BOTH CHAMBERS. HE EXPECTS THE    GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT INTO LAW.    >>REPUBLICAN LEADERS NOW   PROVIDING CLARITY ABOUT WHY    THEY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ACTION   ON THE PROPOSED SOCIAL STUDIES   STANDARDS.   >>FOX 25 PAIGE TAYLOR HAS MORE   FROM THE STATE CAPITOL. AND    WHAT WE'RE LEARNING TONIGHT.   >>DEMOCRATS SAY THE LEGISLATURE   HAS FAILED TO HOLD STATE   SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS    ACCOUNTABLE, BUT REPUBLICAN    LEADERSHIP SAYS THERE WAS NOT    AN OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS    WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO   TAKE ACTION. SENATE PRO TEM    LONNIE PAXTON SAYS AFTER THE   GOVERNOR EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER   THE PROCESS OF THE PROPOSED    SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS BEING   VOTED ON BY STATE BOARD OF   EDUCATION MEMBERS PAXTON AND   STATE SENATOR ADAM PUGH WORKED   TOGETHER TO DRAFT SENATE JOINT   RESOLUTION 20, A RESOLUTION TO   DISAPPROVE THE STANDARDS THAT    NEARLY A DOZEN REPUBLICAN HOUSE   REPRESENTATIVES INITIALLY    SIGNED ON TO. PAXTON SAYS THE    GOVERNOR WAS PUSHING FOR ALL   THE WAY UP UNTIL LAST SUNDAY,    WHEN HE TOLD PAXTON THE    LEGISLATURE COULD DO WITH IT   WHAT THEY WANTED TO. THE SENATE   REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MET ON MONDAY   AND DISCUSSED THE ISSUE.   SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS ALSO    ATTENDED THE MEETING.    >>MANY OF US HAD ALREADY TALKED   TO STATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.   AND AND SO WE HAD A VERY ROBUST   DISCUSSION. AND AFTER THAT WAS   ALL OVER, WE JUST REALIZED   THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT   WITHIN OUR CAUCUS TO MOVE THAT   FORWARD.   >>AS CR 20 OUTLINED, THE   STANDARDS WILL COST $33 MILLION   TO IMPLEMENT.    >>WE TRADITIONALLY IN THE THE    THE ACTIVITIES BUDGET FOR THE    STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION    LINE ITEM TEXTBOOK FUNDS THAT    GO TOWARDS THIS PURPOSE. AND SO   IT'S IN THE BASE OF THE BUDGET.   WE DID IT IN FY 25, FY 20 FOR    FY 23. AND SO AS LONG AS STATE   DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS    HELD FLAT WITH THE FLEX BENEFIT   INCREASE, THEN IT WOULD BE   FUNDED IN THEIR BASE LEVEL   BUDGET.    >>DEMOCRATS HAVE PREVIOUSLY    OUTLINED SOME OF THEIR ISSUES    WITH THE CONTENT OF THE    CURRICULUM, LIKE IDENTIFYING   DISCREPANCIES IN THE 2020    ELECTION AND IDENTIFYING THE   SOURCE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC   AS FROM A CHINESE LAB. HOUSE   AND SENATE MINORITY LEADERS    EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER WHO    WILL SUPPLY THE TEXTBOOKS WITH   THIS CURRICULUM.   >>FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, PRAGER   U. AND HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARE   THE ONLY TWO ENTITIES OR   POTENTIAL VENDORS. I GUESS YOU   COULD SAY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO   MATCH CURRICULUM TO FIT THESE    STANDARDS.   >>WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT    SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT   SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS    NAMED ARE TEXTBOOK RELATED. AND   SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE    THAT THAT IS ANALYZED WITH ANY   OF THESE CALLS FOR PROPOSALS,    REQUESTS FOR, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER   IT WORKS AT OMHS.    >>THESE STANDARDS WILL GO INTO   EFFECT THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL    YEAR AND WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR   THE NEXT SIX YEARS. REPORTING    AT THE STATE CAPITOL PAIGE   TAYLOR FOX 25 NEWS.    >>WE'RE ALSO KEEPING A CLOSE   EYE ON SOME OTHER EDUCATION    MEASURES MAKING THEIR WAY    THROUGH THE STATE CAPITOL.   SENATE BILL 235 WOULD ESTABLISH   THE GROW YOUR OWN EDUCATOR   PROGRAM. IT'S NOW HEADING TO   THE SENATE FOR FURTHER   CONSIDERATION. SENATE BILL 794   NOW HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S   DESK FOR HIS APPROVAL. IT    ESTABLISHES NEW STUDENT    TEACHING REQUIREMENTS IN   OKLAHOMA, AND SENATE BILL 245    WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE    TEACHER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM TO   ALLOW MORE TEACHERS AT LOW   INCOME SCHOOLS TO JOIN. THIS   MEASURE NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE   FOR CONSIDERATION. WELL, THE   OKLAHOMA SENATE PASSES A BILL    THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO   HOLD ADULT PERFORMANCES IN   PUBLIC PLACES IF IT WOULD    EXPOSE A MINOR TO OBSCENE    MATERIAL. DEMOCRATS ARGUE THIS   BILL TARGETS DRAG PERFORMANCES   AND QUESTIONED WHY THIS BILL IS   NECESSARY. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS   SAY IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING    CHILDREN.    >>LET'S BE CLEAR FROM THE    OUTSET THAT HB 1217 IS AN ANTI   SPEECH ANTI-QUEER ANTI ART BILL   MASQUERADING AS A PROTECTION   AGAINST OBSCENITY.   >>I IN THE WORLD DO YOU WANT   OBSCENE MATERIAL, SEXUAL   MATERIAL IN FRONT OF MINORS?   ASK YOURSELF THAT DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT OBSCENE   MATERIALS IN FRONT OF MINORS?    >>THE BILL PASSED IN THE SENATE   IN A 39 TO 8 VOTE, AND NOW   HEADS BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR    MORE CONSIDERATION.    >>THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE PASSED A    BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW THOSE   CONVICTED OF CERTAIN SEXUAL    CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TO BE    ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.   REPRESENTATIVE TIM TURNER    SECURED PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE   FOR SENATE. BILL 599 WOULD ALSO   ALLOW THE MINIMUM IMPRISONMENT   OF TEN YEARS OR LIFE WITHOUT   PAROLE AS POTENTIAL    PUNISHMENTS. THE BILL PASSED AN   80 TO 8 VOTE, NOW MOVES BACK TO   THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION OF   AMENDMENTS MADE IN THE HOUSE. A   BILL AIMING TO INCREASE    SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS FOR    SHOOTING INTO A HOME OR    BUSINESS IS MOVING FORWARD. THE   MEASURE WOULD ADD THE CRIME TO   THE LIST OF OFFENSES REQUIRING   THOSE CONVICTED TO SERVE AT    LEAST 85% OF THEIR SENTENCE    BEFORE THEY CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR   PAROLE. ACCORDING TO THE SENATE   PRO TEM, THE LEGISLATION,    CAREFULLY TAILORED TO ENSURE   THAT ONLY THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT   WILL BE PROSECUTED IF THE    SHOOTING IS ACCIDENTAL OR    UNINTENTIONAL, IT WILL BE AT   THE DISCRETION OF A DISTRICT   ATTORNEY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT    THE SHOOTING WAS WILLFUL,    WILLFUL OR INTENTIONAL. SEVERAL   SENATORS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT   THE 85% REQUIREMENT.   >>YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A    FOLLOW UP.   >>ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT WE ARE   PUTTING AN 85% ON JUST PROPERTY   DAMAGE IF NO ONE ACTUALLY LIVES   IN THAT BUILDING?    >>I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT CONCERNED   WITH THAT AT ALL. AND I'LL TELL   YOU WHY RIGHT NOW. DRIVE BY    SHOOTINGS ARE AN 85% CRIME. BUT   IF YOU STOP YOUR CAR AND GET   OUT AND SHOOT, IT'S NOT AN 85%   CRIME. AND I'LL TELL YOU, A LOT   OF TIMES THEY HAVE NO IDEA   WHO'S IN THAT HOUSE, NOR DO    THEY CARE. AND I WORKED LOTS OF   CASES WHERE JUVENILES WERE SHOT   JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY RANDOMLY   SPRAYED A HOUSE. SO I HAVE ZERO   CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.   >>THE LEGISLATION ALSO EXTENDS   THE 85% REQUIREMENT TO PEOPLE    WHO ATTEMPT, CONSPIRE, OR    SOLICIT OTHERS TO COMMIT ANY OF   THE VIOLENT CRIMES ALREADY   CLASSIFIED UNDER OKLAHOMA'S 85%   SENTENCING LAW. THE HOUSE    PASSED A BILL WITH A 71 TO 17    VOTE AND NOW HEADS TO THE    GOVERNOR'S DESK.   >>LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE   CHANGES TO THE SARAH STITT ACT,   REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF    CORRECTIONS TO HELP INMATES    OBTAIN A REAL ID DRIVER'S    LICENSE BEFORE THEY'RE   RELEASED. SERVICE OKLAHOMA   WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH    ODOC ON THE EFFORT INSTEAD OF    THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC   SAFETY. SENATOR JULIE DANIELS    WAS ASKED TODAY WHY IT'S   IMPORTANT FOR INMATES TO GET   THESE IDS BEFORE THEY'RE   RELEASED.    >>THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.    I'M SURE THE SENATOR   APPRECIATES, AS DO I, THAT   THERE ARE MANY SMALL STEPS WE    CAN TAKE IN HELPING PEOPLE GET   SECOND CHANCES AND HELP THEM ON   THEIR ROAD TO BEING PRODUCTIVE   CITIZENS ONCE THEY HAVE    FULFILLED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY   TO THE TAXPAYER BY SERVING   THEIR SENTENCE. SO WE'RE JUST    IMPROVING ON SOMETHING THAT WE   WISELY HAVE ALREADY DONE TO    MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE THEY'RE    DISCHARGED OR WITHIN SIX NINE    MONTHS OF RELEASE, THAT WE MAKE   SURE DOC SUPPLIES THEM WITH AS   MANY OF THE ITEMS AS THEY MIGHT   NEED TO HELP GO OUT, GET A JOB, GET ACCOMMODATION, THOSE SORTS   OF THINGS.   >>THE SENATE APPROVED THE    MEASURE, BUT BECAUSE AMENDMENTS   WERE MADE, THE BILL IS NOW   HEADED BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR   CONSIDERATION, A MEASURE AIMED   AT IMPROVING LAW ENFORCEMENT   COORDINATION AHEAD OF THE 2028   SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES HAS   UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IN THE    HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT   MINGER CARRIED SENATE BILL 523,   WHICH ALLOWS SHERIFFS, DEPUTY    SHERIFFS AND RESERVE SHERIFFS    TO EXERCISE THE SAME POWERS AND   DUTIES IN COUNTIES OUTSIDE   THEIR HOME JURISDICTION. WHEN    OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED, THIS BILL   NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S    DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE.    >>LAWMAKERS MAKING MORE    PROGRESS ON PROTECTING   OKLAHOMA'S BIOSCIENCE AND    RESEARCH ASSETS. REPRESENTATIVE   COLLIN DEUEL INTRODUCED SENATE   BILL 552, SAYS THIS MEASURE    WILL PROTECT THESE ASSETS FROM   BEING EXPLOITED BY HOSTILE   FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND WILL   HELP STRENGTHEN OUR NATIONAL   SECURITY. THE MEASURE NOW MOVES   TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS    CONSIDERATION. GOVERNOR KEVIN    STITT ALREADY SIGNED SEVERAL   BILLS INTO LAW, INCLUDING    SENATE BILL 460, WHICH WILL    MODIFY OUR NATURAL GAS ENERGY    STANDARD BY DECLARING GAS AS   THE PREFERRED CHOICE OF    ELECTRIC GENERATION OR   ELECTRIC, EXCUSE ME, GENERATION   FOR NEW GENERATING FACILITIES    IN THE STATE. THIS BILL WILL   BECOME EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1ST.    HE ALSO SIGNED SENATE BILL"}]