The 2013
legislative session has been successful and historic. Governor Mary Fallin
worked with the Legislature to deliver a fiscally conservative, balanced budget
that includes targeted increases for core services, while also cutting taxes for
all working Oklahomans. Additionally, she worked with lawmakers to pass landmark
reforms in the areas of workers’ compensation, government efficiency, mental
health, child welfare, public safety, education and more.
Finally, in the
wake of the tragic May tornadoes, Governor Fallin worked with legislators to
deliver a disaster relief bill that will help municipalities affected by natural
disasters to recover and rebuild.
Emergency
Relief
The tornadoes
that struck several Oklahoma communities in May were devastating. Oklahoma is
currently in an all-hands-on-deck effort to recover and rebuild. The governor
and Legislature are dedicated to ensuring that communities hit hard by storm and
tornado damage will have the support they need moving forward.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Natural
Disaster Recovery:
o
SB
249: Transfers $45
million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to the Emergency Fund. The funds will be
administered by the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management and used to
reimburse local governments for relief efforts related to natural disasters,
including the May tornadoes.
Promoting a
Business-Friendly Environment
Governor Fallin
and the Legislature delivered historic reforms that will bring more high-paying,
high-quality jobs to Oklahoma, such as reducing the state’s personal income tax
and overhauling the workers’ compensation system.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
State
Income Tax Reduction:
o
HB
2032: Reduces the
state’s top personal income tax rate by 0.25 percent, to 5 percent, starting in
2015, and lowers that rate even further to 4.85 percent for tax year 2016, if
growth in the General Revenue Fund is estimated to cover the cost of the final
0.15 percent reduction. In its first fully implemented tax year, this tax cut
will pump more than $235 million back into the private sector. HB 2032 is a
responsible, meaningful tax cut that will let Oklahoma families keep more of
their hard-earned money while spurring job growth and business expansion in
Oklahoma.
·
Comprehensive
Workers’ Compensation Reform:
o
SB
1062: Transitions
Oklahoma’s court-based system to an administrative system, thereby reducing the
adversarial nature and time needed to process claims while allowing injured
employees to recover and get back to work faster. In addition, SB 1062 reduces
legal costs, medical costs, and excessive payouts by an estimated $260 million
annually by reducing the waiting period for employees to receive Temporary Total
Disabilities, lowering the cap from 100 percent of the state’s average weekly
wage to 70 percent, deferring Permanent Partial Disabilities if employees return
to work at the same or equivalent job, requiring the use of the Official
Disability Guidelines across the board for all medical treatment, expanding the
use of vocational rehabilitation, and more.
·
Economic Development Pooled Finance
Program:
o
HB 2000: Strengthens long-term economic growth and
financial efficiency by combining the state’s successful Infrastructure Pool and
the Economic Development Pool. Together, they create a $200 million pool,
maximizing overall economic benefits. HB 2000 ultimately streamlines economic
expansion and ensures adequate infrastructure for future
growth.
·
Quick Action Closing Fund:
o
In 2011, Governor Fallin and the Legislature created the
Quick Action Closing Fund, allowing for economic development expenditures when
funds would likely be a determining factor in locating or retaining high-impact
business projects or facilities in Oklahoma. The Fiscal Year 2014 budget
appropriates an additional $3 million in new funding for the closing und. This
year, Governor Fallin announced a $110 million investment by GE Oil and Gas to
open a global research center in Oklahoma. The governor’s closing fund played an
integral role in this new investment in Oklahoma by one of the world’s top
international corporations.
·
Tort Reform:
o
SB 404: Creates the Personal Injury Trust Fund
Transparency Act, which permits governmental and other entities to create trusts
for the purpose of compensating individuals alleging personal injury claims
against that entity. SB 404 creates a process to file claims against the trust,
should one be created, and creates provisions governing the discovery pre-trial
information gathering process and the valuation of trust
claims.
Saving Taxpayer Dollars through Government
Reform and Modernization
Since taking
office in 2011, Governor Fallin has continued to make streamlining state
government and eliminating waste a primary focus of her policy and legislative
agenda. This legislative session, the governor eliminated or consolidated more
than 75 boards and commissions, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in
taxpayer money annually, while making government smaller, smarter and more
efficient. Additionally, the governor signed into law key legislation addressing
the state’s long-term infrastructure needs. Not only will these improvements
help save money, they will make our state government more modern and more
responsive to the needs of its customers, the Oklahoma taxpayers.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Right-sizing
Government:
o
HB
1455:
Eliminates 27 boards and commissions that are defunct, duplicative, or no longer
necessary to include in state statutes. By
eliminating travel reimbursements and staff resources dedicated to these boards,
HB 1455 will save more than $50,000 annually.
o
HB
1467:
Consolidates 28 boards and commissions into seven new boards that will be
overseen by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). The elimination of
reimbursements and staff resources related to these boards is estimated to save
more than $300,000 annually.
o
HB
1469:
Consolidates the Joint Committee on Interstate Cooperation and the Governor’s
Committee on Interstate Cooperation into the Oklahoma Commission on Interstate
Cooperation.
o
HB
1481:
Eliminates the Oklahoma Linked Deposit Review Board.
o
HB
1482:
Eliminates the High-Hazard Dams Study Group.
o
SB
621:
Consolidates the Oklahoma State Bioenergy Center into the Oklahoma Energy
Initiative.
o
SB
767:
Consolidates the Commission for Marginal Wells into the Oklahoma Energy
Resources Board.
o
SB
1011:
Eliminates and consolidates 16 different boards and commissions within the
oversight purview of the Secretary of Agriculture.
·
State
Infrastructure and Asset Management:
o
HB
1910:
Creates a
long-term infrastructure plan by forming the Long-Range Capital Planning
Commission to develop an eight-year plan to address state property and
maintenance needs. The commission’s plan will create a system for maintenance to
address state needs without incurring unnecessary debt and other costs. It will
also include recommendations on reallocation, reuse or liquidation of state
properties.
·
Mutualizing
CompSource:
o
HB
2201: Places
CompSource, an important source of workers’ compensation insurance for many
employers in Oklahoma, on more equal footing with other private carriers through
mutualization. CompSource will continue its role of assuring small business
access to workers’ compensation insurance at competitive rates and will bring
CompSource under regulation by the Oklahoma Insurance
Department.
·
Maximizing
Efficiencies through Shared Services:
o
HB 1002:
Allows
the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to combine financial
services of inefficient or poorly performing agencies if deemed feasible. HB
1002 provides service to a wider area of agencies than before and ensures the
most cost-effective approach is taken to the financial services of these
agencies.
o
HB 1987:
Allows
counties to use purchasing cards as part of the state program, which will
streamline the county level purchasing process and provide savings through
cash-back rebates. HB 1987 will produce estimated annual savings of $7.9 million
to counties and require proper usage training for county purchasing officers to
ensure accountability.
·
Promoting Privatization:
o
SB 1008: Directs OMES to create and maintain a
repository of the best privatization and surplus asset sales practices. SB 1008
allows OMES to review areas for privatization, evaluate proposals of these areas
and oversee the selected privatization efforts as needed.
Improving Health
and Human Services Outcomes in Oklahoma
Improving the
health and well-being of all Oklahomans is one of Governor Fallin’s top
priorities. Research shows 70 percent of illnesses facing our citizens are
preventable and related to issues like smoking, substance abuse, obesity and
illnesses like Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. In addition, mental health
issues continue to negatively impact many Oklahomans. Governor Fallin signed
into law a number of measures to help address these issues. An additional $17.4
million was also appropriated for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) to support initiatives including suicide
prevention, prescription drug abuse prevention and treatment, counseling for
children with mental illnesses, and “smart on crime” initiatives like the
Justice Reinvestment Act.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Mental
Health:
o
SB
295: Allows
for increased access to treatment through affordable certification of
comprehensive community addiction recovery centers, adds private recovery
organizations to the list of “Certified Services for the Alcohol and Drug
Dependent,” removes barriers for certain faith-based and residential
recovery-based programs, and allows ODMHSAS to inspect
facilities.
o
HB
1532: Requires
the Lottery Commission to transfer an additional $250,000 annually to
ODMHSAS for program treatments of compulsive gambling disorder. HB
1532 utilizes funds from unclaimed lottery winnings to combat the serious
gambling addiction problem in Oklahoma.
o
The
FY 14 budget includes $1 million for the ODMHSAS to annualize the two crisis
centers established in FY 13 and an additional $2.5 million to add a third
crisis center, providing Oklahomans throughout the state with more access to
emergency mental health care.
·
Prescription
Drug Abuse Prevention:
o
Prescription
drug abuse continues to be a major detriment to Oklahoma’s health rankings and
economy. Currently, 81 percent of drug-related deaths in Oklahoma are caused by
prescription drug abuse. To combat this problem, Governor Fallin and the
Legislature provided ODMHSAS with $1.2 million for new prescription drug abuse
prevention and treatment initiatives.
o
HB
1781: Allows
ODMHSAS to access key, non-identifiable information regarding prescription drug
use from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) for
research purposes, in order to identify areas where drugs are being
overprescribed and abused in order to help aid in the prevention of prescription
drug abuse.
o
HB
1782:
Allows first responders to administer opioid antagonists to persons experiencing
an opioid overdose without a prescription. The bill also allows healthcare
providers to prescribe an opioid antagonist to an individual to use on a family
member exhibiting signs of opioid overdose. Health care professionals must
provide opioid antagonist instructional information to family
members.
o
HB
1783:
Prohibits automatic refills on hydrocodone-containing products (Lortab, Vicotin,
etc.). Hydrocodone-containing products would remain a Schedule III controlled
substance.
·
Suicide
Prevention:
o
Suicide
is too prevalent in Oklahoma, particularly among groups who should be receiving
support and care, such as active duty military and veterans. The FY 2014
budget includes $500,000 for ODMHSAS to develop suicide prevention
initiatives.
·
Pro-life
Initiatives:
o
HB
1361:
Requires a parent who consents to a minors abortion to show government-issued
identification and written documentation that he or she is the lawful parent of
the minor before the abortion is performed. HB 1361 ensures abortion-providing
physicians are in compliance with consent requirements and have given necessary
procedural risk information to patients and parents, if the patient is an
unemancipated minor.
o
HB
1588:
Requires 48 hours to have passed after written notice of a pending abortion to a
parent before an abortion is performed or induced upon an unemancipated minor.
HB 1588 helps ensure the parent of an unemancipated woman seeking an abortion is
informed of the decision.
o
HB
2015:
Adds questions to the Individual Abortion Reporting Form that is completed by a
physician performing an abortion. HB 2015 protects women and children through
updated language on the medical form and allows for OSDH investigation into
physicians not in compliance.
o
HB
2226:
Makes the “morning-after” emergency contraceptive unavailable to women under the
age of 17 unless they have a prescription from a doctor. HB 2226 increases the
likelihood that unemancipated women facing potential pregnancy will receive
medical attention before taking the contraceptive.
·
Infant
Mortality:
o
The FY 13 budget
included $1 million to address the high rate of infant death in Oklahoma. One
focus of this funding was the development of a statewide collaboration to
eliminate non-medically necessary elective births prior to 39 weeks, a practice
which has been shown to increase health complications and endangers the lives of
infants. This voluntary program has been adopted by 55 of 59 Oklahoma birthing
hospitals, leading to a remarkable 66 percent reduction in the rate of
non-medically necessary inductions prior to 39 weeks in one year. The FY 14
budget includes an additional $700,000 to aid the OSDH efforts to expand
implementation of an evidence-based prevention program to improve infant health
outcomes.
o
HB
1347: Requires all
inpatient or ambulatory health care facilities licensed by the OSDH to perform a
pulse oximetry screening on every newborn before discharge from the birthing
facility. This will determine if any heart defects exist in the newborn, which
will determine the need for treatment and will help prevent infant mortality
resulting from heart defects and related concerns.
·
Improving Child
Welfare:
o
The FY 14 budget
includes an additional $44 million for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
(OKDHS) to support
operations, including the implementation of the Pinnacle Plan -- the state’s
plan to improve DHS’ child welfare program -- and the reduction of the waiting
list for developmentally disabled services.
o
HB 2166:
Allows courts to
sentence child support obligators who have failed to pay child support and are
willfully unemployed. The bill also grants the courts power to assign the
obligator to a maximum 16 hours of weekly community
service.
·
Increasing
Access to Health Care:
o
SB
765: Creates
insurance coverage parity for orally administered chemotherapy agents and
traditional chemotherapy. SB 765 allows for easier care of patients in rural
areas with less access to hospitals and can reduce costs, since oral
chemotherapy pills are often more affordable than conventional chemotherapy
options.
·
Medicaid:
o
Because of
mandates within the Affordable Care Act, thousands of Oklahomans who are
currently eligible for Medicaid but are not enrolled will likely enroll in the
coming years. The state has a legal obligation under federal law to extend
Medicaid benefits to those qualified individuals who choose to enroll in the
program. Because of this obligation, combined with the rising cost of medical
care, administrative costs and other fixed costs, the FY 14 budget includes
$39.7 million for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to cover those costs
and other costs associated with Medicaid.
o
SB 272:
Directs the OHCA
to conduct a feasibility study of care coordination models among those who are
dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and to explore options for cost
containment and delivery alternatives, which are consistent with the mission of
the agency. SB 272 will help find discrepancies or overlap within the system,
helping Oklahoma better and more efficiently serve Medicaid
enrollees.
·
Wellness
Programs:
o
HB 1113:
Allows counties
to adopt voluntary wellness programs and reward county employees excelling in
those programs. Incentives are to be paid out of general county funds and
also through grants, donations, contributions and gifts from public or private
sources.
o
HB 2191:
Allows employers
under the Small Employer Health Insurance Reform Act to establish wellness
programs for their employees and incentivize participation. Similar to HB 1113,
this program allows for wellness to be encouraged, incentivized and rewarded at
a personal level.
·
Reducing the
Impact of Secondhand Smoke:
o
SB 501:
Makes it illegal
to smoke on state-owned or leased property and allows cities and counties to set
their own local smoking policy on city and county owned property. SB 501 puts
the governor’s executive order banning tobacco products on state property into
statute and helps ensure a safer and healthier environment for all on state
property.
·
Reducing Access
to Harmful Substances:
o
SB
619: Requires the
Oklahoma Tax Commission to cancel the tobacco license of anyone convicted of a
controlled dangerous substance violation, including the selling of synthetic
drugs in retail stores and gas stations. SB 619 ensures those who break drug
laws, such as selling these products to minors, are blocked from selling illegal
and dangerous products.
·
Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
o
SB
887: Clarifies
illegal transfer of food stamp benefits and allows for the removal of convicted
defendants from food stamp rolls. SB 887 helps ensure funds from the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are used appropriately and go to those
truly in need.
Supporting
Education and Workforce Development:
Initiatives
signed into law this year by the governor increase accountability, promote
increased access to education, and support college diploma and career
certificate attainment in Oklahoma. Additionally, the FY 14 budget provides more
than $120 million in new funding for education, including new appropriations to
continue funding and implementing reforms passed into law in 2011 and
2012.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Common
Education:
o
The governor and
Legislature provide $91 million in new appropriations for common
education, including $74 million in FY 14 to support reform efforts and
place more resources in classrooms, and a $17 million supplemental appropriation
for common education to fund teacher health benefits and other costs in FY
13.
o
HB
1038: Transitions
from “seat time” requirements to “competency” requirements to determine a
student’s mastery of a subject. HB 1038 allows students to advance through
course work more quickly, if competency standards are met, in order to move on
to more challenging material or potentially graduate from high school
early.
o
HB 1658:
Simplifies the
A-F grading calculation while maintaining high standards for schools. HB 1658
instates a new calculation based more heavily on academics, similar to the
previous API grading system. The overall grade calculation will be based 50
percent on whole school performance, 25 percent on whole school growth, and 25
percent on bottom quartile student growth. Changes from HB 1658 also replace the
GPA system with a numeric scale (for example, 90-100 = A), and count any factors
not directly related to state assessments as bonus points.
·
Improving
Standards and Creating Accountability:
o
SB
91: Requires
a school district board of education member to obtain instruction on education
issues of at least 12 hours in the areas of school finance or legal issues,
which include, but are not limited to, employment, due process, new laws,
ethics, the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, and
duties and responsibilities related to special education.
·
Increasing
Educational Opportunities for People with Developmental
Disabilities:
o
HB
1756:
Allows schools to
give students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) an alternative
method of passing the End of Instruction (EOI) assessments required under the
Achieving Classroom Excellence Act. In order to receive a standard diploma, the
students must meet certain criteria, such as completing remediation, repeating
course work and maintaining a C average. HB 1756 helps educators assess the
subject knowledge of certain students in more conducive ways to the student’s
skill set and creates better opportunities for student success.
·
Higher
Education:
o
The governor and
Legislature are providing $33 million for higher education and $3 million for
the Career Technology system to support operations and continue efforts toward
the goal of awarding more degrees and career certificates.
Improving Public
Safety and Protecting Oklahoma’s Children
Improving public
safety and protecting Oklahoma’s children remain key priorities to Governor
Fallin. Bills signed into law this year address a number of key issues, such as
comprehensive school safety reform and human trafficking.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
School
Safety:
o
SB
256:
Requires schools to administer two additional emergency drills per school year.
In addition, SB 256 requires principals, under the direction of their
superintendent, to conform to written plans and procedures adopted by the
district to protect students against tornadoes, severe weather, natural
disasters and other potential emergencies. Districts must document each drill
and keep the records for at least three years.
o
SB
257:
Creates the Oklahoma School Security Institute division within the Oklahoma
Office of Homeland Security. The Institute is to act as the central contact
repository for public and private elementary and secondary schools for
information on resources to enhance school security and assess risks to school
campuses. The FY 14 budget provides $522,000 to fund the
institute.
o
SB
258:
Requires schools to create and annually update plans for emergencies, man-made
and natural disasters, and to submit those plans to the appropriate emergency
response authorities. SB 258 ensures school districts are prepared for emergency
situations and will allow for increased safety in Oklahoma
schools.
o
SB
259:
Requires school authorities to report the discovery of a firearm on any student
or upon any other person not authorized by law to possess a firearm on school
property. SB 259 keeps local law enforcement informed and engaged with firearm
issues on school property, which will ensure proper action is taken and
potential threats are addressed.
o
SB 283:
Requires school
district courts to notify the State Board of Education when a district employee
is charged with a felony or violent misdemeanor and when the employee has
received sentencing. SB 283 requires districts to notify the State Board of
Education after the dismissal of an employee as a result of criminal sexual
activity.
·
Improving
Rural Public Safety:
o
HB
1871:
Closes law enforcement gaps in rural parts of Oklahoma by making CLEET trained
and certified tribal law enforcement officials peace officers within the State.
HB 1871 also expands tribal officers’ powers within Indian Country to enforce
state law.
·
Juvenile
Affairs:
o
EO
18:
Establishes the Juvenile Justice Reform Committee to study Oklahoma’s juvenile
justice system and recommend organizational improvements. Executive Order 18
allows for close examination of current juvenile justice issues, including
effectiveness, recidivism, diversion programs and others.
·
Human
Trafficking
o
HB
1067:
Requires any peace officer who comes into contact with a victim of human
trafficking to inform the victim of the emergency hotline number and hand the
victim notice of certain rights. HB 1067 also requires if a child may be a
victim of human trafficking or sexual abuse, the officer shall notify OKDHS and
the child shall be accepted into OKDHS custody.
o
HB
1508:
Allows OBNDD the ability to issue investigative subpoenas for human trafficking
cases. HB 1508 helps OBNDD better complete investigative duties and gain vital
information in the fight against the human trafficking situation in
Oklahoma.
o
SB
889:
Ensures persons subject to Sex Offender Registration remain registered for the
entire term required by law and allows the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to
retain the offender on the registry until the total time has been completed. SB
889 decreases instances of offenders not completing total time legally required
on the registry and increases safety precautions by retaining violator names for
the correct amount of time.
Promoting
Oklahoma’s Agriculture and Natural Resources
Oklahoma has a
rich and vast array of natural resources. Promoting the state’s agriculture
industry and supporting energy production is a vital element of the governor’s
policy agenda. This session, the governor signed several measures enhancing
local agriculture, supporting compressed natural gas, and protecting Oklahoma’s
water resources.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Protecting
Oklahoma’s Water Resources:
o
SJR
35: Approves
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rules that establish primacy
over Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for state drinking water
testing. SJR 35 maintains state control of water testing and blocks federal
overreach in the environment sector.
o
A
$1.5 million supplemental appropriation for FY 13 was directed to the DEQ to
maintain control of Oklahoma’s drinking water status and implement the state
primacy created by SJR 35.
·
Drought
Relief:
o
The FY 14 budget
provides $3 million to the Drought Relief Fund for additional drought-related
assistance across the state. With many of the devastating effects from the
recent drought are still evident, this funding will continue recovery and
support for agricultural producers and others still in dire need of
assistance.
·
Supporting
Made in Oklahoma Products:
o
HB
1039: Removes
the special events license requirement for farmers’ markets, promoting
participation among agricultural producers and allowing for the sale of more
Made in Oklahoma products. HB 1039 makes farmers’ markets more affordable
for local producers to participate, and encourages the opportunity for more
interaction between consumers and agricultural producers.
·
Agri-Tourism:
o
HB
1638:
Promotes agri-tourism business creation and growth by eliminating customer
injury liability at the venue, as long as the agri-tourism professional posts
and maintains a warning notice at the venue entrance.
·
Compressed
Natural Gas:
o
HB
2005:
Extends the income tax credit for qualified clean burning motor vehicle fuel
property to January 1, 2020. HB 2005 is a valuable investment in Oklahoma’s
economy as it incentivizes energy investment, creates jobs and increases CNG
utilization throughout the state.
o
HB
1718: Increases
safety by requiring businesses using qualified clean-burning motor vehicle fuel
tax credits to have their fueling infrastructure installation completed by a
certified alternative fuels technician and allowing the Corporation Commission
to inspect CNG pumps.
·
Promoting
Pipeline Safety:
o
EO
19:
Establishes the Pipeline Safety Task Force to study potential hazards and damage
prevention in Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry. Executive Order 19 helps Oklahoma
retains primacy over its pipeline safety by ensuring it meets federal
regulations set forth through the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement,
and Safety Act of 2006.
Supporting Our
Veterans
It is incredibly
important to Governor Fallin that we continue to pursue policies honoring and
recognizing the sacrifice made by Oklahoma veterans. Initiatives implemented
this year will help veterans continue to seek education, obtain quality jobs and
have quality facilities for care. Our veterans deserve nothing but the best, and
we will continue seeking just that.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Creating
Educational Opportunities for Veterans:
o
SB
22: Allows
veterans who meet or exceed performance standards and are employed by the
Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to participate in educational and
training opportunities free of charge, as long as they remain employed with
ODVA. SB 22 encourages continued education and removes financial barriers
for ODVA employed veterans.
·
Improving
Accountability at Veterans’ Centers:
o
SB
629:
Requires veterans’ centers be inspected by the Department of
Health, ensuring veterans living in long-term care facilities are safe and
receiving high-quality care and services.
o
SB
235:
Centralizes the management of veterans’ centers from the purview of the War
Veterans Commission to the ODVA. SB 235 gives ODVA greater flexibility in
managing operations at the centers, addressing the inconsistencies in quality
highlighted in the ODVA audit.
Expanding Gun
Rights and Defending the Second Amendment
Governor Fallin
continues to be a strong advocate for the constitutional right to bear arms.
This session, she signed a number of bills strengthening gun rights in the
state, including the implementation of open carry, allowing for judicial carry,
and aligning gun license laws.
Legislative/Policy
Highlights
·
Protecting
Gun Owners and the Second Amendment:
o
HB
1413: Allows
an armed private investigator to carry an unconcealed weapon on or off duty. HB
1413 maintains provisions of law requiring possession of a valid driver’s
license and valid armed private investigator license.
o
HB
1242: Allows
district, municipal or retired judges to carry a firearm anywhere in the state
for personal protection if the judge has CLEET training.
