Legislative session underway

The 2022 legislative session officially got underway Monday. We held a joint session in the House where Governor Stitt presented his State of the State address. I’ll discuss that in more detail next week once I have time to review his executive budget and policy proposals.

We’re wasting no time this year getting committee work done. Historically, not many committee meetings are held the first week of session as bills are still being assigned and members are getting settled. But we have a new floor leader this session, and he doesn’t want any time wasted—all bills have been assigned and our committee agendas are full.

On Monday, the House and Senate both approved a resolution modifying the deadline calendar. Because of how the first Monday fell this month, we lost a week to work and the deadline to report bills out of the chamber of origin fell on March 17, which is spring break. This is always a short work week, so members and staff can spend a few days of this school break with their children.  We voted to move the floor deadline to the following Thursday, March 24.

For now, however, our focus is working through the nearly 1,600 Senate bills available for consideration. A few of my bills will be heard this week, and I’ll let you know if they get sent on to the floor for further consideration.

In the meantime, I’d like to go over a few more of my bills I hope to get to the governor’s desk this year.

Our state is facing a mental health crisis, especially among our youth. Schools are scrambling to find ways to better assist students in crisis. My SB 1379 would authorize a school district board of education to enter into a written contract for student mental health counseling with a person not certified by the State Board of Education as a school counselor or school psychologist if he or she is licensed to practice mental health counseling in the state and has completed record checks. It clarifies that such an individual is not to be considered a “teacher.” We’re going to have to give schools the freedom to reach out to private entities to provide these crucial, and often lifesaving, services. 

Another idea I’m anxious to put before my legislative colleagues is SB 1178 to provide additional education programs for inmates to prepare them for a career once released. My bill would authorize the Department of Corrections (DOC) to establish a Hospice Care and Certified Nurse Assistant inmate training program administered through the Health Services Division under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer. One of the main contributors to our high incarceration and recidivism rates is poverty. Some turn to selling drugs, stealing and other crimes to make money. When someone gets out of prison, they can be overwhelmed with fines and fees, which leads many back to their life of criminal behavior. If we can equip those interested with the skills to start a career as a Hospice Care or Certified Nurse Assistant once they’re released, they should be able to find employment quickly and start earning a paycheck, keeping them from returning to criminal behavior.

The last update I would like to share is that Donna Lisle, the executive assistant for our district, has accepted a position with the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and will be leaving the Capitol on Feb. 21. Donna has become like family to me, and I honestly couldn’t have survived the past year and a half without her wisdom, experience, and friendship. She has been an incredible asset to SD43, and I know many of you have had the benefit of getting to know her and appreciate how hard she works for our district.

She unexpectedly had a great opportunity fall into her lap and although I’m devastated to lose her, I’m excited for her to be back working in finance and a place where she can make a huge impact on our entire state.
Donna will be leaving some big shoes to fill, but Duncan native, Lauren Sorrell, will be joining the team and I know she will be a great asset to our district.  

If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol. Please write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov or call (405) 521-5522.