OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 31, 2007) – In the 2007 legislative session, several key pieces of legislation by Speaker Lance Cargill were passed into law, including measures to benefit working families, place greater fiscal restraints on government, and reduce inmate recidivism rates. Several of those new laws will take effect Thursday. “Our overarching goal this year was to pass laws that ease the burden on families, that decrease the size of the state government bureaucracy, and that apply more common sense to our state’s laws,” said Cargill, R-Harrah. “We did that through a variety of measures, some that I authored, and many more that were authored and introduced by other fiscally prudent lawmakers.” Laws authored by Cargill in 2007 that take effect Thursday include House Bill 2101, the Transformational Justice Act, which encourages state prisons to partner with faith-based, community and voluntary organizations to help inmates rejoin society and reduce the rate of repeat offenders. “In Oklahoma, we’re fortunate to have voluntary, faith-based groups that understand how to help inmates become constructive members of society,” Cargill said. “Many times, prison is a place where inmates learn to become better criminals. But faith has a transformative power in people’s lives, including those who need the most help. These faith-based groups provide a service that no government program can, by helping inmates find the connections and develop the life skills they need.” Also taking effect Thursday is House Bill 2103, which provides full-time enrolling freshmen the option of “locking in” one fixed rate of tuition at state colleges and universities through completion of their degree program. Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, HB 2103 will require all public higher education institutions in Oklahoma to offer in-state students an option to participate in a guaranteed tuition rate plan. HB 2103 also includes key provisions to help keep the growing cost of textbooks down. The measure cracks down on practices such as "edition churn" or textbook "bundles" that hike the cost of materials. House Bill 2111 eliminates a number of smaller states agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs), 18 in all, that have been inactive for years or duplicate other state entities. House Bill 2104 requires the Oklahoma Historical Society to designate one day per week as a free admission day for all children age 17 or younger to state museums and historical sites. All four measures – House Bills 2101, 2103, 2111 and 2104 – passed the Legislature earlier this year with broad support from both sides of the aisle.

Labels: OK House, Spkr. Cargill

Posted at 11/01/2007 08:33:00 AM