Legislation

Leader Morgan’s 2010 Legislation that Passed into Law

HB2912
Oil and gas safety equipment- Makes it unlawful for any person to injure, deface or alter any safety equipment used in the drilling or production of an oil or gas well that is not their own, unless consent is given by the owner or operator of the equipment.

HB 2907
Allows pregnant women to use handicapped parking spaces in the finals months of pregnancy IF a physician deems it necessary.
The final semester creates a significant physical challenge for many- walking during the late stage of pregnancy is often difficult and painful. Physicians will now have greater authority to issue temporary parking placards to pregnant women, but only when they believe she meets the physical disability definition of not being able to walk 200 feet without resting. Current law allows those placards to go to individuals who cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, people who require the use of a brace or a cane, those who have temporarily lost the use of one or more limbs (such as those with a broken leg), and those who are severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

SB1289 
Closes a loophole in current state law aimed at restricting dangerous criminals from working in nursing homes, assisted living centers or adult day care centers. The problem with the way the law is currently written, the language specifies anyone who has been convicted of certain crimes is banned from working in nursing homes, but it doesn’t address those individuals who pled guilty or no contest, or were given a deferred sentence. We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable seniors in the state, and yet the way the current statute reads, a person who had plead guilty to attempted murder or some other horrible crime could legally be hired to work in a nursing home.

HB 2911
Prohibits the creation of a new business to avoid paying a workers' compensation judgment.

HB2919          
Creates the Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act.
Adds protection for Oklahoma ’s military and civilian airspace to avoid help avoid encroachment by  regulating the use of land in proximity to both public airports and military air installations. Tall obstacles—cell phone towers, wind turbines, or other structures—built too close to airports create a hazard for pilots and those on the ground. Compatible land-use regulations for airports can help minimize the likelihood of a too-tall structure being built near your airport. Provides greater protection to public-use airports from height obstructions and incompatible land use by giving the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission authority to regulate certain construction in designated approach areas. The Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act is about protecting life—of the flying public and those that live or work around an airport.

HB2968          
Includes Leader Morgan’s amendment to add ‘property or camp site used by an organization whose primary purpose is working with children’ to places where a registered sex offender may not reside within a 2000-foot radius.” Also in bill: Registered sex offenders would no longer be able to submit a P.O. Box or other address that cannot be mapped to the sex offender registry - requires sex offenders to submit a physical, mappable address.

SB1601     
Leader Morgan added an amendment to create a Vulnerable Adult Intervention Team Task Force with the purpose of studying effective ways in which agencies can communicate and collaborate on providing interdisciplinary community assistance to individuals with mental or physical illnesses, disabilities or impairments.

SB1714  
Leader Morgan’s bill gives preference to Oklahoma-based companies on projects that utilize state dollars. Called the “tie-breaker” bill. If you’re spending state dollars on any goods or service through the bid process, and the bids come back even, then the Oklahoma contractor gets preference.If no Oklahoma company bids on the contract, the contract must go to a U.S.-based company. Only if no U.S. business bids on the contract may it go to an overseas company. Supports Oklahoma contractors by giving them an advantage over out-of-state companies when bidding on Oklahoma projects.  Also helps protect those deciding on the outcome of the bidding process.

SB1908          
Prohibits any driver operating under a learner’s permit or an intermediate driver’s license (class D) from using a hand held electronic device to talk or text when the car is in motion.  In addition, learner’s permit holders would only be able to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Violation will result in the suspension of the driver’s license, payment of court costs and ticket fees.

HB2999   
Leader Morgan included an amendment to add municipal employees to a list of persons required to make a report of a suspected vulnerable adult to the Department of Human Services or local law enforcement. Municipal code enforcement departments are often the first to notice the terrible living conditions that signal that an individual may be mentally ill.

SCR  52  
INTRODUCED – Never heard in Senate    
Declare official motto of the State of OK to be: Oklahoma --In God We Trust!    

Interim Studies requested this year:

10-038  Expanding cable access to local channels

10-106  Review of Oklahoma ’s truck permitting system

November 2010 Ballot Questions with explanations

SQ744 seeks to require that funding for public schools be at least equal to the average of the amount spent per pupil by the states surrounding Oklahoma. SQ 744 does not provide a new funding source or raise taxes. The measure provides the Legislature three years to come up with the increased allocation.

SQ746 would require voters to show photo identification issued by a state, federal or tribal government prior to casting a ballot. The voter can provide their voter identification card issued by a county election board. If a voter cannot present proof of identity, he or she would be allowed to vote by provisional ballot after signing a statement under oath swearing to his or her identity.

SQ747 seeks to establish term limits for all statewide elected officials.  If passed, the measure would limit the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Labor Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and State Auditor to serving no more than two four-year terms in office. Members of the Corporation Commission, who serve six-year terms, would also be limited to two terms.

SQ748 seeks to alter the membership of the Apportionment Commission, the state panel that redraws state legislative districts if the Legislature fails to do it. The Apportionment Commission is currently made up of the attorney general, the state school superintendent, and the state treasurer. This measure would instead appoint the lieutenant governor, who acts as the chairman but doesn't get to vote. The President Pro Tempore of the state Senate, the Speaker of the House and the Governor would each appoint one Democrat and one Republican to the commission.

SQ750 seeks to change the required amount of signatures necessary for initiative and referendum petitions, by making the percentage necessary to be based on the most votes cast for a statewide ballot with the Governor on the ballot, i.e. always non-presidential elections.

SQ751 seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to make English the official language of state government, and declares that all official actions of the state must be conducted in English. It bars individuals from suing the state to have services provided in languages other than English. The measure allows the “use, study, development, or encouragement” of any Native American language.

SQ752 seeks to modify the state’s judicial nominating process. It would increase the membership of the Judicial Nominating Commission from 13 to 15 members, with two new, at-large members who are not attorneys. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House would each appoint one member.  

SQ754 states that the Legislature can't be compelled by a formula to provide funding at a certain level. It contains a provision that once it is adopted, it cannot be amended or repealed. If voters approve both SQ744 & SQ754, the measure that receives the most affirmative votes would prevail.

SQ755 seeks to adopt a “Save Our State” amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution and explicitly states that judicial rulings based in or drawn from foreign precedents have no bearing on Oklahoma state court decisions. The amendment declares that courts “shall not consider international law or Sharia Law.”

SQ756 seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit the requirement a person or employer participate in a government-mandated health care system.



Danny Morgan for State Representative
NBU 4706
Prague, OK 74864
405-567-4786