$20M in agriculture drought relief passed by legislature, signed by Gov. Stitt

Lawmakers Approve Drought Relief for Farmers, Ranchers

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Legislature has appropriated $20 million to aid the agriculture industry across the state during the ongoing drought.

House Bill 1006XX designates $20 million to the Emergency Drought Relief Fund from any monies not otherwise appropriated from the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury. During the regular session in the spring, lawmakers also approved House Bill 2959 to designate $3 million for the fund.

Galbraith: train wreck legislation demonstrates the need for public testimony

Train Wreck Legislation Demonstrates the Need for Public Testimony

By Brad Galbraith

Shutting out Oklahomans’ voices in the legislative process leads to uninformed public policy. A recent hearing of the House Transportation Committee serves as just one example of the testimony deficiency in Oklahoma’s legislative process.

The committee recently considered House Bill 1048, sponsored by Representative Kerbs, which requires private railroads to maintain at least “two crewmembers in the control compartment of the lead locomotive unit of a train.”

Limited to the knowledge and testimony of the bill’s sponsor and the Secretary of Transportation, the committee unanimously voted to approve a simple bill that it believed was an innocuous codification of current standards that would protect public safety indefinitely into the future.

Legislation allowing renewal of CDLs in Tag Agencies passes House

Legislation Allowing Renewal of CDLs in Tag Agencies Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill shifting renewal of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from offices of the Dept. of Motor Vehicles to local tag agencies passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives [yesterday] afternoon.

House Bill 1966 was authored by Rep. Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee). Kerbs, who holds a commercial driver’s license, knows firsthand how frustrating the renewal process is.

“It’s inconvenient for our hardworking commercial drivers to spend an entire afternoon waiting to simply renew their licenses,” Kerbs said. “It slows down our companies who use commercial drivers licensed employees and decreases their productivity. With the passage of House Bill 1966, we’re one step closer to making government more effective and helpful for Oklahomans.”

CDLs are renewed every 4 years; however, if a driver is driving commercially, they are required to undergo a Dept. of Transportation physical annually. Under HB 1966, a person with a hazardous material endorsement will continue to be required to renew or replace it at the Dept. of Public Safety.

House Bill 1966 passed the House 87-0 and may now be taken up by the Senate.

New law allows use of school bus cameras to ticket reckless drivers

New Law Allows Use of School Bus Cameras to Ticket Reckless Drivers

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill allowing law enforcement to use cameras on school buses to track down drivers who illegally pass stopped buses went into effect Friday, Nov. 1.

House Bill 1926, by Rep. Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee) and Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) requires a minimum ticket of $100 for drivers who break this law. The law also requires 75% of tickets for this violation be deposited into the newly created Cameras for School Bus Stops Revolving Fund, a grant that schools without video surveillance on buses can apply for in order to purchase the equipment.

“Drivers passing stopped school buses endanger the lives of children loading onto or unloading the bus,” said Kerbs, a former school bus driver. “This is a very serious problem, but unfortunately it’s difficult for our officers to enforce this law. I’m glad school districts across the state will now have the means to install video cameras and hold these reckless drivers accountable. I hope this law will remind Oklahomans on the road to abide by our traffic laws or else face a tough fine.”

“I’m glad this bill has finally become law to help better protect our students. Hopefully, a majority of school districts have been able to install cameras on their buses or are in the process of getting them,” said Sharp. “Unfortunately, drivers don’t always think about the dangerous consequences of passing stopped buses, but this new law will help hold them accountable.”

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, nearly 84,000 drivers ignore a bus’ stop arm every day.