53rd Oklahoma Legislature
The Fifty-third Oklahoma Legislature was the meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. State legislators met at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City from January 4, 2011, to January 8, 2013, during the first two years of the first administration of Governor Mary Fallin.
Dates of sessions
- Organizational day: January 4, 2011
- First regular session: February 7, 2011 – May 27, 2011
- Second regular session: February 6, 2012 – May 25, 2012
Major legislation
Enacted
2011 Legislative Session- Abortion - HB 1888 banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in situations dangerous or life-threatening to the mother.
- Abortion - SB 547 mandated that standard health insurance policies sold in Oklahoma or sold through a state health insurance exchange do not include elective abortion coverage.
- Agency consolidation - HB 2140 consolidated the Oklahoma Department of Central Services, Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council, and the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board into the Oklahoma Office of State Finance.
- Corrections reform - HB 2131 expanded eligibility of low-risk, nonviolent inmates for community sentencing and electronic monitoring programs.
- Education reform - SB 346 eliminated social promotion from public schools after the third grade.
- Education reform - HB 1456 established an "A-F" Grade System for public schools.
- Education reform - HB 1380 eliminated the ability of public school teachers to appeal any termination to state district courts as a trial de novo.
- Education reform - HB 2139 increased the authority of the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction to manage the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
- Guns - HB 1439 expanded the right of Oklahomans to use deadly force at their place of business if they feel threatened.
- Guns - HB 1652 - allowed licensed Oklahomans to carry a concealed weapon on Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education facilities.
- Pensions - HB 2132 required any cost of living adjustment increases to be fully funded prior to implementation.
- Pensions - HB 1010 increased the retirement age for new members of the Oklahoma Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges from 65 to 67.
- Pensions - SB 377 increased the retirement age for new members of the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System from 62 to 65 and establishes a minimum age of 60 for full retirement benefits for teachers who meet the rule of 90.
- Pensions - SB 794 ensured that elected officials are treated the same as other public employees when calculating retirement benefits.
- Pensions - SB 347 provided for the forfeiture of a municipal employee's retirement benefits upon conviction of crimes related to their office.
- Public employee unions - HB 1593 repealed requirement that cities grant collective bargaining rights to their non-police and non-fire employees.
- Tort reform - HB 2128 reduced the cap on non-economic damages in tort lawsuits from $400,000 to $350,000.
- Tort reform - SB 862 eliminated joint and several liability from tort lawsuits.
- Education agency consolidation - SB 1797 consolidated the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Commission, which oversees teacher training requirements, and the Oklahoma Office of Accountability, which monitors the performance of public schools, into new Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability under the direction of the Oklahoma Secretary of Education.
- Guns - SB 1733 authorized citizens to openly carry firearms upon receiving a license from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
- Public safety - HB 3052 establishes the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to provide grants to local criminal justice agencies, mandated mental health screenings prior to sentencing, increased parole and community corrections for non-violent offenders, and included other provisions to reduce incarceration rates.
- Energy efficiency - SB 1096 directs all State agencies to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020
- Energy research - SB 1627 established the Oklahoma Energy Initiative to fund energy research and development projects
- Litigation reform - HB 2654 limits the remedies available to royalty owners for disputes with oil and gas companies
- Transportation - HB 2248 increases annual funding to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to address failing bridges and highways
- Transportation - HB 2249 increases annual funding to the various counties to address failing bridges and highways
- Physicians - HB 3058 expands Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program to address physician shortage in rural areas
- Welfare reform - HB 2388 requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services the drug-test all adult who apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
- Abortion - SB 1274 requires doctors to inform pregnant women that she has the right to hear the heartbeat of fetus prior to performing an abortion
- Veterans - SB 1863 allows military veterans to transfer military experience for academic credits and other professional licensing requirements
- Meth production - HB 2941 limits the amount of pseudoephedrine which may be purchased within a given time span
- Veterans - HB 2689 allows children of military personnel from Oklahoma to receive in-state college tuition without regard for state of residency
- Water - HB 3055 commits the state to using no more fresh water in 2060 than is presently used
Failed
2012 Legislative Session- HB 3061 - Income tax cut - Lowers the rate of the state income tax
- SB 1990 - American Indian Cultural Center - authorizes a bond issue to pay for the completion of an Oklahoma City-based museum
Added to 2012 ballot as a referendum
- HJR 1092 - Human Services Commission - Gave voters the opportunity to abolish constitutionally-authorized commission overseeing Department of Human Services, gives oversight to state legislators
Leadership
Senate
Republican caucus
- Majority Floor Leader: Mike Schulz
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Clark Jolley
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Anthony Sykes
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: John Ford
- Majority Whip: Cliff Branan
- Majority Whip: Dan Newberry
- Majority Whip: Gary Stanislawski
- Majority Whip: Rob Johnson
- Majority Caucus Chairman: Bryce Marlatt
- Majority Caucus Vice-Chairman: David Holt
House of Representatives
Republican caucus
- Republican Majority Leader: Dale DeWitt
- Republican Majority Floor Leader: Dan Sullivan
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Lisa Johnson Billy
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Gary Banz
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Mike Jackson
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: George Faught
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Dennis Johnson
- Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Leslie Osborn
- Republican Majority Whip: Skye McNiel
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Dennis Casey
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Marian Cooksey
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Corey Holland
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Fred Jordan
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Steve Martin
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Randy McDaniel
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Mike Sanders
- Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Paul Wesselhoft
- Republican Majority Caucus Chairman: Weldon Watson
- Republican Majority Caucus Vice Chairman: Harold Wright
- Republican Majority Caucus Secretary: Marian Cooksey
Democratic caucus
- Democratic Minority Leader: Scott Inman
- Democratic Minority Floor Leader: Mike Brown
- Deputy Democratic Floor Leader: Eric Proctor
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Wes Hilliard
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Steve Kouplen
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Al McAffrey
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Jeannie McDaniel
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Wade Rousselot
- Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Mike Shelton
- Democratic Whip: Ben Sherrer
- Assistant Democratic Whip: Cory T. Williams
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Jerry McPeak
- Minority Caucus Vice Chairman: Joe Dorman
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Donnie Condit
Membership
Changes in membership
- July 1, 2011: Jim Reynolds resigned from SD-43 to take office as Cleveland County Treasurer.
- October 11, 2011: Greg Childers is sworn in to fill Reynolds' vacant SD-43 seat.