Investments in prison job training will lower the cost of Oklahoma’s incarceration crisis

Stable employment is the single biggest factor in determining whether Oklahomans released from prison are likely to re-offend. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for justice-involved Oklahomans is five times higher than the statewide average. Workforce training in prisons is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve public safety. The past ten years of budget cuts and disinvestment from prisons and rehabilitation programs mean that this mechanism for lowering crime has been critically underfunded.

Now Oklahoma’s budget realities have started to improve, and the state has an estimated additional $544 million to appropriate this year. Lawmakers should invest some of this growth revenue in more career training for inmates. These investments would build on the success of public-private partnerships which already provide some inmates with training for high demand jobs, and in turn, inmates with valuable career skills would be less likely to end up back inside Oklahoma’s costly and overcrowded prisons.      

Cuts to prison job training harm rehabilitation

If more inmates are trained for better-paying jobs in high demand industries, then more Oklahoma inmates would successfully return to their communities after being released. This is why lowering the state budget for this training has been so harmful.

The Department of Corrections partners with a number of vocational and workforce development schools in Oklahoma. Part of the Corrections budget and some of the state’s general appropriations are allocated to these schools.

Oklahoma Career Tech is one of the largest of these providers of job training for inmates in Oklahoma. The school offers training at 12 sites and has 35 programs in prisons across the state. However, budget constraints have dramatically reduced the impact of these programs.  The entire Oklahoma Career Tech budget has declined 28 percent in the past decade, and this has been particularly detrimental to their prison workforce training programs.

In fiscal year 2016, their Skills Centers School System program for inmates served 1,353 full-time students and 355 short-term students. The next year the agency faced a 10 percent reduction of staff and was unable to fund 70 requested new classes. This means that hundreds of inmates who could be trained for high-demand jobs aren’t able to receive that training because of budget cuts.

Oklahoma Career Tech has requested a 14.8 percent increase in its total budget for next year, and part of that new funding would go towards prison training to add 12 new programs inside state correctional facilities that would serve 500 to 600 more inmates. Expanding access to prison workforce education will reduce recidivism and, ultimately, the cost to taxpayers.

Investing in prison job training helps keep Oklahoma families together  

Incarcerated parents are significantly more likely to lose their parental rights than parents without justice involvement. These custody determinations often have little to do with a child’s well-being. Mothers and fathers who have a child placed in foster care because they are incarcerated — but who have not been accused of child abuse, neglect, endangerment, or even drug or alcohol use — are more likely to have their parental rights terminated than those who physically or sexually assault their kids, according to a Marshall Project analysis of approximately 3 million child-welfare cases nationally.

Parents being separated from children produces trauma for those kids. Children with incarcerated parents are six times more likely to end up in prison themselves. Studies show that stable employment increases the likelihood of a justice-involved family staying together. Employment decreases the likelihood of re-offense, it decreases the likelihood that justice-involved parents will lose their housing and it lowers the chances that the children of incarcerated parents will ultimately end up in prison themselves. These outcomes improve dramatically for justice-involved parents with the skills for higher wage jobs.

Better pay has a proven positive effect on mental and physical health and the overall well-being of a family. This is why improving the budget for prison workforce training is so important. Training for high demand technical and vocational skills offers families life-changing economic opportunities. Programs like The Last Mile, which has a pilot program training women in computer coding at Mabel Bassett Correctional facility, are a template for improving the economic well-being for Oklahomans.

Even traditional vocational training programs offered in prisons can have a profound impact. One of the Career Skills programs at Lexington Prison trains eligible inmates to become journeymen, a high demand electrician position with a starting average pay of $25 an hour. Expanding these types of high wage, high demand job training programs would increase the likelihood that justice-involved families in Oklahoma stay together.

Job training in prison can lower the cost of incarceration long-term

Practicing high demand skills like electrical repairs and plumbing while in prison can reduce facility costs and provide job training for inmates. The Department of Corrections requested about $32 million for “critical” facility maintenance in prisons. While these investments are vital to a functioning prison system, job training programs can help defer some of those costs and give inmates an opportunity to practice their trade.

The Career Tech program at Lexington prison trains inmates to become journeymen. These licensed journeyman practice their skills at Department of Corrections facilities across the state. This program saves the Department of Corrections thousands of dollars annually, according to Greg Dewald, the Superintendent of Career Tech Skills Centers.

There is no evidence that investments in prison beds significantly lower crime. However, work has a remarkable effect on recidivism.

Lower recidivism rates also mean lower prison costs over time. As Oklahoma’s prison bed cost has increased investments in rehabilitation programs like job training for inmates has steadily declined. There is no evidence that investments in prison beds significantly lower crime. However, work has a remarkable effect on recidivism. Investing in the human capital of Oklahoma inmates means a smaller percentage of them will return to prison and those cost savings will help produce a more efficient justice system over time. 

Job training for the incarcerated lowers crime and improves communities

Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and despite recent reforms, our prisons are still projected to grow more than 14 percent over the next decade. This growth is projected to cost Oklahoma nearly a billion dollars. Workforce training is one of the most proven and cost-effective ways to reduce re-incarceration. Lawmakers should invest in the human capital of those in prison. These budget investments will reduce the cost of incarceration and empower these Oklahomans to return to their families with the skills to improve their communities and ultimately to improve our state.

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22.6%

Percentage of Oklahoma citizens age 18 to 24 who voted in November 2018 elections, third lowest in the nation.

[Source: U.S. Census]

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Quote of the Day | April 30, 2019

“As it now stands, our criminal justice system utterly fails rural Oklahomans. It incarcerates them disproportionately, offers inadequate treatment resources and is not in line with the wishes of the communities themselves.”

-Lee Denney, a former state Representative and the Oklahoma state director for USDA Rural Development [Source: Journal Record]

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[In The Know] Immigration trends; political realities change Medicaid debate; Democrats offer budget proposal...

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. New from OK Policy (Capitol Update) A ‘special law’ cannot stand: A long-awaited ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court was issued last week dealing with the Legislature’s ability to place a limit or “cap” on the recovery of non-economic damages by persons injured through the fault of another party. There’s no limit on economic damages like doctor and hospital bills and lost earnings, but the Legislature in 2011 placed a $350,000 cap on non-economic damages which consist of kinds of damages usually called “pain and suffering.” [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Bill Watch: JCAB is now the room where it happens: Last week marked another major deadline for this year’s Legislature. Bills had until last Thursday to pass the full chamber opposite from where they originated. Now all bills that passed both chambers in identical form have gone to the governor, while the Legislature moves on to ironing out differences in bills that passed the chambers in different forms. Consensus can be reached either by the first chamber accepting all of the second chamber’s amendments or by sending the bill to a conference committee. [OK Policy] Substance use disorders a public health crisis in Oklahoma: Substance use disorder is a public health crisis that must be addressed. Between 2003 and 2018, drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma increased by 91 percent. More adults between the ages of 25 and 64 die of unintentional prescription opioid overdoses than car accidents. [Lauren Turner / Enid News & Eagle] In The News Oklahoma drawing more people from other countries than other states: The number of people moving to Oklahoma from other countries has far outpaced residents relocating from other states in the past eight years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More people actually left Oklahoma than moved here from 2017 to 2018. If births had not outnumbered deaths, the state would have lost population, Census estimates show. [NewsOK ($)] Health, political realities pushing Oklahoma Republicans on Medicaid: Oklahoma Republican lawmakers say they’re coming up with a plan that might expand Medicaid in the state. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat said the proposal they're working on is similar to one offered by a Republican five years ago, which Republicans summarily rejected. So, what’s changed? [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma House Democrats offer $8.5B budget proposal: With Oklahoma lawmakers set to start budget work in earnest, House Democrats made their pitch Monday with an $8.5 billion spending proposal. Their Brand New State budget proposal calls for Medicaid expansion. It also includes raises for teachers, support staff and state employees, and $200 million in additional classroom funding. [Public Radio Tulsa] Legislators, educators debate viability of four-day school weeks: After a decade of funding cuts, Noble Public Schools was left with a choice: continue to cut services and personnel, or find an alternative. Noble Superintendent Frank Solomon said moving to a four-day school week was that alternative. [CHNI] Benefit corporations allowed under new state law: A new law providing for the formation of “benefit corporations” in Oklahoma will allow businesses to work not just on behalf of shareholders but also on behalf of people in need. Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed House Bill 2423 into law. [Journal Record] Bill affecting medical marijuana tax structure, law enforcement survives House deadline cuts: A key piece of medical marijuana legislation survived the cut Thursday on the final day non-appropriation Senate bills could get third reading in the House of Representatives. Those failing to get House approval by the final gavel Thursday afternoon are done for this session. [Tulsa World] Bill allowing concealed-carry in Gathering Place, zoos, called 'advancement' by gun rights leader: People would be able to carry concealed weapons but not carry them openly in locations such as Gathering Place and the Tulsa Zoo under a state bill that has been sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk. House Bill 2010 is seen by some as a compromise between Second Amendment advocates and those wanting gun-free public places. [Tulsa World] Anti-abortion measure stalls in Oklahoma House: An anti-abortion bill that would ask Oklahoma voters to specify the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion will not advance this legislative session. But the bill’s author, reinvigorated by a recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling that protects a woman’s right to an abortion, promised to revive the legislation next year, in time for the measure to go to a statewide vote during the 2020 general election. [NewsOK] Rebate reshoot: Film incentive bill sent back to Senate: The amount of money available for filmmakers who work in Oklahoma could increase if Senate Bill 200 is approved. The House of Representatives OK’d it on Thursday and has been sent back to the Senate for a final review of a House amendment. [Journal Record ($)] Oklahoma Gov. Stitt diversifies mostly white, male board of education: Previously all white and mostly male, the state Board of Education under Gov. Kevin Stitt will see an increase in both racial and gender diversity at a time when Oklahoma's public school system is majority nonwhite. Stitt's office confirmed Thursday he is appointing Brian Bobek, Estela Hernandez, Jennifer Monies and Kurt Bollenbach to succeed Lee Baxter, Cathryn Franks, Bob Ross and Bill Price, whose terms expired April 2. [NewsOK] Denney: Flawed criminal justice system disproportionately affects rural Oklahomans: Rural America has been hit hard by over-incarceration. Between 1978 and 2013, rural jail incarceration levels increased a staggering 888% nationally with no end in sight. In Oklahoma, the situation is particularly dire. [Lee Denney / Journal Record] Chaotic night at Lockett execution kickstarted five years of death penalty turmoil: Oklahoma’s prison system was using a new, unproven sedative — midazolam — that most experts said may not fully anesthetize Lockett before the second and third drugs in the state’s lethal cocktail kicked in. [The Frontier] Prior to botched execution, the public had lost interest in Oklahoma’s death penalty. [The Frontier] Timeline: Oklahoma death penalty developments. [The Frontier] Parents, teachers to see state test results before end of current academic year for first time: Parents and educators will no longer have to wait for months and months to learn state test results for their third-graders through eighth-graders. For the first time, the Oklahoma State Department of Education has negotiated with its test contractor for preliminary results of the Oklahoma School Testing Program to be made available by the end of May. [Tulsa World] Protests continue in Hugo after officers' gunfire injures children during arrest of robbery suspect: Three of Jacobs’ children — La’Kvionn, 5, Asia, 4, and Daidriona, 1 — were injured Friday during an officer-involved shooting in Hugo, in southeastern Oklahoma. Monday marked three days of sustained protests in response to the shooting. [Tulsa World] Hugo residents demand answers after police shooting wounds three children. [AP News] City of Tulsa launches program to repurpose abandoned homes: The City of Tulsa is launching a new program to tackle blight and help residents become homeowners. The new Housing Opportunity Partnership in Bynum's proposed 2020 city budget will get the Working In Neighborhoods Department started on the demolition work, but there's more to it than tearing down dilapidated houses. [Public Radio Tulsa] Neese says she's now a resident of congressional district she seeks to represent: Republican Terry Neese, who announced last week her plans to run for the congressional seat that includes most of Oklahoma County, said Monday that she moved into the district within the past month after spending the last several years in another congressional district. [NewsOK] A crane accident took his arm, and he was denied millions in settlement money. Now, his case has overturned an Oklahoma law: James Todd Beason unwittingly became the face of failed legislative efforts to put more restrictions on monetary damages awarded in personal injury cases. [Tulsa World] Legacy of change: Langston University continues to shape Oklahoma history: By fulfilling its historical mandate and continuing to grow and develop, Langston University has helped shape Oklahoma history, said Nikki Nice, who represents Ward 7 on the Oklahoma City Council. [NewsOK] NRA president resigns amid turmoil with OKC agency: The Oklahoma City-based advertising firm Ackerman McQueen lost its top ally in a legal battle with the NRA following the resignation this weekend of its president, Oliver North. [NewsOK] NRA chief accuses OKC ad agency of blackmail. [NewsOK] Quote of the Day “As it now stands, our criminal justice system utterly fails rural Oklahomans. It incarcerates them disproportionately, offers inadequate treatment resources and is not in line with the wishes of the communities themselves.” -Lee Denney, a former state Representative and the Oklahoma state director for USDA Rural Development [Source: Journal Record] Number of the Day 22.6% Percentage of Oklahoma citizens age 18 to 24 who voted in November 2018 elections, third lowest in the nation. [Source: U.S. Census] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note A mother’s zip code could signal whether her baby will be born too early: How a pregnancy turns out though often has to do with much more than a woman’s agency. ... Researchers say that birth outcomes are not just a barometer of a mother’s health, but the health of the community, and also a predictor of its next generations’ health. In many places, adverse birth outcomes can be traced to a history of segregation and economic inequality. [The Atlantic] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

In The Know: Immigration trends; political realities change Medicaid debate; Democrats offer budget proposal…

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

New from OK Policy

(Capitol Update) A ‘special law’ cannot stand: A long-awaited ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court was issued last week dealing with the Legislature’s ability to place a limit or “cap” on the recovery of non-economic damages by persons injured through the fault of another party. There’s no limit on economic damages like doctor and hospital bills and lost earnings, but the Legislature in 2011 placed a $350,000 cap on non-economic damages which consist of kinds of damages usually called “pain and suffering.” [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]

Bill Watch: JCAB is now the room where it happens: Last week marked another major deadline for this year’s Legislature. Bills had until last Thursday to pass the full chamber opposite from where they originated. Now all bills that passed both chambers in identical form have gone to the governor, while the Legislature moves on to ironing out differences in bills that passed the chambers in different forms. Consensus can be reached either by the first chamber accepting all of the second chamber’s amendments or by sending the bill to a conference committee. [OK Policy]

Substance use disorders a public health crisis in Oklahoma: Substance use disorder is a public health crisis that must be addressed. Between 2003 and 2018, drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma increased by 91 percent. More adults between the ages of 25 and 64 die of unintentional prescription opioid overdoses than car accidents. [Lauren Turner / Enid News & Eagle]

In The News

Oklahoma drawing more people from other countries than other states: The number of people moving to Oklahoma from other countries has far outpaced residents relocating from other states in the past eight years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More people actually left Oklahoma than moved here from 2017 to 2018. If births had not outnumbered deaths, the state would have lost population, Census estimates show. [NewsOK ]

Health, political realities pushing Oklahoma Republicans on Medicaid: Oklahoma Republican lawmakers say they’re coming up with a plan that might expand Medicaid in the state. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat said the proposal they’re working on is similar to one offered by a Republican five years ago, which Republicans summarily rejected. So, what’s changed? [Public Radio Tulsa]

Oklahoma House Democrats offer $8.5B budget proposal: With Oklahoma lawmakers set to start budget work in earnest, House Democrats made their pitch Monday with an $8.5 billion spending proposal. Their Brand New State budget proposal calls for Medicaid expansion. It also includes raises for teachers, support staff and state employees, and $200 million in additional classroom funding. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Legislators, educators debate viability of four-day school weeks: After a decade of funding cuts, Noble Public Schools was left with a choice: continue to cut services and personnel, or find an alternative. Noble Superintendent Frank Solomon said moving to a four-day school week was that alternative. [CHNI]

Benefit corporations allowed under new state law: A new law providing for the formation of “benefit corporations” in Oklahoma will allow businesses to work not just on behalf of shareholders but also on behalf of people in need. Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed House Bill 2423 into law. [Journal Record]

Bill affecting medical marijuana tax structure, law enforcement survives House deadline cuts: A key piece of medical marijuana legislation survived the cut Thursday on the final day non-appropriation Senate bills could get third reading in the House of Representatives. Those failing to get House approval by the final gavel Thursday afternoon are done for this session. [Tulsa World]

Bill allowing concealed-carry in Gathering Place, zoos, called ‘advancement’ by gun rights leader: People would be able to carry concealed weapons but not carry them openly in locations such as Gathering Place and the Tulsa Zoo under a state bill that has been sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk. House Bill 2010 is seen by some as a compromise between Second Amendment advocates and those wanting gun-free public places. [Tulsa World]

Anti-abortion measure stalls in Oklahoma House: An anti-abortion bill that would ask Oklahoma voters to specify the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion will not advance this legislative session. But the bill’s author, reinvigorated by a recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling that protects a woman’s right to an abortion, promised to revive the legislation next year, in time for the measure to go to a statewide vote during the 2020 general election. [NewsOK]

Rebate reshoot: Film incentive bill sent back to Senate: The amount of money available for filmmakers who work in Oklahoma could increase if Senate Bill 200 is approved. The House of Representatives OK’d it on Thursday and has been sent back to the Senate for a final review of a House amendment. [Journal Record ]

Oklahoma Gov. Stitt diversifies mostly white, male board of education: Previously all white and mostly male, the state Board of Education under Gov. Kevin Stitt will see an increase in both racial and gender diversity at a time when Oklahoma’s public school system is majority nonwhite. Stitt’s office confirmed Thursday he is appointing Brian Bobek, Estela Hernandez, Jennifer Monies and Kurt Bollenbach to succeed Lee Baxter, Cathryn Franks, Bob Ross and Bill Price, whose terms expired April 2. [NewsOK]

Denney: Flawed criminal justice system disproportionately affects rural Oklahomans: Rural America has been hit hard by over-incarceration. Between 1978 and 2013, rural jail incarceration levels increased a staggering 888% nationally with no end in sight. In Oklahoma, the situation is particularly dire. [Lee Denney / Journal Record]

Chaotic night at Lockett execution kickstarted five years of death penalty turmoil: Oklahoma’s prison system was using a new, unproven sedative — midazolam — that most experts said may not fully anesthetize Lockett before the second and third drugs in the state’s lethal cocktail kicked in. [The Frontier] Prior to botched execution, the public had lost interest in Oklahoma’s death penalty. [The Frontier] Timeline: Oklahoma death penalty developments. [The Frontier]

Parents, teachers to see state test results before end of current academic year for first time: Parents and educators will no longer have to wait for months and months to learn state test results for their third-graders through eighth-graders. For the first time, the Oklahoma State Department of Education has negotiated with its test contractor for preliminary results of the Oklahoma School Testing Program to be made available by the end of May. [Tulsa World]

Protests continue in Hugo after officers’ gunfire injures children during arrest of robbery suspect: Three of Jacobs’ children — La’Kvionn, 5, Asia, 4, and Daidriona, 1 — were injured Friday during an officer-involved shooting in Hugo, in southeastern Oklahoma. Monday marked three days of sustained protests in response to the shooting. [Tulsa World] Hugo residents demand answers after police shooting wounds three children. [AP News]

City of Tulsa launches program to repurpose abandoned homes: The City of Tulsa is launching a new program to tackle blight and help residents become homeowners. The new Housing Opportunity Partnership in Bynum’s proposed 2020 city budget will get the Working In Neighborhoods Department started on the demolition work, but there’s more to it than tearing down dilapidated houses. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Neese says she’s now a resident of congressional district she seeks to represent: Republican Terry Neese, who announced last week her plans to run for the congressional seat that includes most of Oklahoma County, said Monday that she moved into the district within the past month after spending the last several years in another congressional district. [NewsOK]

A crane accident took his arm, and he was denied millions in settlement money. Now, his case has overturned an Oklahoma law: James Todd Beason unwittingly became the face of failed legislative efforts to put more restrictions on monetary damages awarded in personal injury cases. [Tulsa World]

Legacy of change: Langston University continues to shape Oklahoma history: By fulfilling its historical mandate and continuing to grow and develop, Langston University has helped shape Oklahoma history, said Nikki Nice, who represents Ward 7 on the Oklahoma City Council. [NewsOK]

NRA president resigns amid turmoil with OKC agency: The Oklahoma City-based advertising firm Ackerman McQueen lost its top ally in a legal battle with the NRA following the resignation this weekend of its president, Oliver North. [NewsOK] NRA chief accuses OKC ad agency of blackmail. [NewsOK]

Quote of the Day

“As it now stands, our criminal justice system utterly fails rural Oklahomans. It incarcerates them disproportionately, offers inadequate treatment resources and is not in line with the wishes of the communities themselves.”

-Lee Denney, a former state Representative and the Oklahoma state director for USDA Rural Development [Source: Journal Record]

Number of the Day

22.6%

Percentage of Oklahoma citizens age 18 to 24 who voted in November 2018 elections, third lowest in the nation.

[Source: U.S. Census]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

A mother’s zip code could signal whether her baby will be born too early: How a pregnancy turns out though often has to do with much more than a woman’s agency. … Researchers say that birth outcomes are not just a barometer of a mother’s health, but the health of the community, and also a predictor of its next generations’ health. In many places, adverse birth outcomes can be traced to a history of segregation and economic inequality. [The Atlantic]

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Bill Watch: JCAB is now the room where it happens

Last week marked another major deadline for this year’s Legislature. Bills had until last Thursday to pass the full chamber opposite from where they originated. Now all bills that passed both chambers in identical form have gone to the governor, while the Legislature moves on to ironing out differences in bills that passed the chambers in different forms. Consensus can be reached either by the first chamber accepting all of the second chamber’s amendments or by sending the bill to a conference committee.

The exception to this rule (there is almost always an exception) is that new bills can be brought up in the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget (JCAB), with the support of the chairs of that committee, the House Speaker, or the Senate President Pro Tem. If a deal is reached later in session to, for example, restore the EITC or expand health coverage, we’ll likely see the bill language introduced in JCAB.

Here’s what happened last week with the key bills that we’re following:

Budget and Taxes

Last week, Governor Still signed the first appropriations bill of this session, HB 2676, that provided $30 million to the County Roads and Bridges Improvement Fund from the General Revenue Fund.  Once an overall budget agreement is reached between House and Senate leaders and the Governor in the weeks ahead, a General Appropriations bill will be written and run through JCAB, the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget, along with other bills related to the budget and taxes. These will likely include pay raises for state employees and, possibly, a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees.

On the tax side, the most notable development last week was the failure of SB 407 (Sen. Rader and Rep. Echols). The bill, that would have expanded the cap on the Equal Opportunity Scholarship tax credit from $5 million to $30 million, was not heard on the House floor after it became clear that a majority of members were committed to voting against it. Meanwhile, several tax credit bills with significant revenue impacts remain alive with their titles stricken, which means they are headed to a conference committee. These include HB 2667 (Rep. Wallace and Sen. Paxton), which allows more people to deduct their gambling losses; HB 2355 (Rep. Chad Caldwell and Sen. David), which exempts used vehicles from the sales tax; and SB 746 (Sen. Smalley and Rep. Pfeiffer), which creates an income tax credit for qualified software or cybersecurity experts. Meanwhile, a pair of active bills — HB 2352 and SB 513, both authored by Rep. Caldwell and Sen. Bice — would amend Oklahoma law to conform with last year’s Supreme Court case by requiring all remote sellers to collect Oklahoma tax. The Oklahoma Tax Commission has been unable to estimate how much additional tax revenue could be generated by these bills.

Criminal Justice

Last week represented another major step forward for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma. Some of the signature reforms aimed at lowering Oklahoma’s world-leading incarceration rate survived Thursday’s deadline. Now the focus of reform efforts will turn towards several bills that passed with the title stricken. These bills will be part of the conference committee negotiations in coming weeks, and several important elements of these measures will be impacted by decisions made related to the budget. Here are a few of the key bills we’re following.

HB 1269 (Rep. Dunnington and Sen Bice), which makes the impact of State Question 780  retroactive, passed the Senate with broad support, but with the title stricken. Now that final elements of the bill will be decided in the conference committee process, it will be critical to see if the bills’ original language survives or if lawmakers substitute a less efficient process to resentence those formerly sentenced for felonies under current law. It will also be important to see how much money lawmakers appropriate for the county mental health and substance abuse treatment called for by State Question 781.

SB 252 (Sen. Thompson and Rep. Kannady), the most significant Oklahoma bail reform measure in decades, passed the House with bipartisan support last week. There is still a great deal of debate about many key provisions of this law, which also passed with the title stricken. Reform advocates should watch the next few weeks of conference committee debate carefully for changes to core parts of the bill. If budget negotiations result in greater funding for public defenders in Oklahoma, then that would contribute to the likelihood that this bill reaches the Governor’s desk intact.

HB 2218 (Rep. May and Sen. Jech) and  HB 2273 (Rep. West and Sen Jech), which both reform parole, probation, and supervision practices, both passed with title stricken last week. The budget negotiations to lower the Oklahoma justice system’s reliance on court fines and fees will be important to the final versions of each of these measures.

 HB 1100 (Rep. Mize and Sen. Bice), which reforms drug possession sentences, HB 2009 ( Rep. Mize and Sen. Coleman), which reforms sentence enhancements, and HB 2310 (Rep. Frix and Sen. Bice), which reforms jury verdict and sentencing practices, each passed with their titles intact last week.  Each of these measures is headed for the Governor. Hopefully, these critical reforms are only days away from becoming law.

Economic Opportunity

Oklahoma will be trading short-term payday loans for longer-term installment loans next summer, as SB 720 (Sen. Leewright and Rep. Kannady) was signed by Gov. Stitt last week. These new installment loans will have longer-terms (they can be taken out for up to 12 months and will not need to be repaid in a single payment like payday loans) but they are still a very high-cost product, with annual interest rate of 204 percent. This change is not a real solution to the problem of economic insecurity in our state.

On a more positive note, occupational licensing reform is still moving forward in the Legislature. That could be a boost for some Oklahomans who are currently disqualified from getting many occupational licenses because they have a criminal record. HB 1373 (Rep. Taylor and Sen. Daniels) would prohibit licensing agencies and boards from using “blanket bans” to deny a license to anyone with any record and instead require them to list specific crimes related to the occupation that would be disqualifying. This reform could be a real economic boost for the justice-involved in Oklahoma.

It is also still possible that restoring the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) could happen this session.  Though none of the nine bills that would’ve have restored the credit to its full value were considered, an agreement on the EITC could still be included in the final budget deal that is still being negotiated. To help us make sure that happens, go to oksays.com to get more information about the EITC in your area and send a quick note to your legislators.

Education

The most attention-grabbing bill that survived a long and heated debate on the House floor last week was SB 441 (Sen. Quinn and Rep. Baker). Initially, this bill sought to restrict 4-day school weeks by requiring districts to meet student performance and cost savings measures to maintain the 4-day schedule. However, last week, the House amended the bill to include a $1,200 teacher pay increase. The bill passed 68-30 after over an hour of debate, with opponents arguing that the bill would become another unfunded mandate for cash strapped schools. 

Another important bill that passed deadline is HB 1395 (Rep. Dills and Sen. Pemberton). Among a couple other new oversights, the bill would hold virtual charter schools to the same financial reporting requirements as brick and mortar schools. This would include producing detailed reports about payments made to contract management companies. 

SB 193 (Sen. Pemberton and Rep. McBride) also passed the House this week. This bill would extend the moratorium on penalties for failure to meet certain requirements in HB1017, including exceeding class size limits. In addition, SB 926 (Sen. Floyd and Rep. Bush), which would require sex education curriculum to include information about consent, was signed by Gov. Stitt. 

Two other bills were laid over and failed deadline. SB 362 (Sen. Stanislawski and Rep. Baker) would have made important adjustments to the state aid funding formula such as increasing the weight given to economically disadvantaged students. HB 2336 (Rep. Roberts and Sen. Bullard) also died, and it would have loosened training requirements for staff to carry a handgun in schools.

Health Care

Last week was something of a mixed bag for health care. Bills to drop needed regulations around some dangerous health insurance products advanced, including one to the Governor’s desk. If signed, SB 943 (Sen. Treat and Rep. McCall) will dramatically loosen restrictions around association health plans (AHPs), which have a history of fraud and insolvency. A similar bill, HB 1053 (Rep. McEntire and Sen. Treat), recently cleared the Senate with title off but is unlikely to advance further.

 

On a similar note, SB 993 (Sen. Dahm and Rep. Moore) has House amendments pending. The bill would increase availability of skimpy, unreliable health coverage in the from of short-term limited-duration health plans. Short-term limited-duration plans don’t have to cover important services that real health insurance does, such as prescription medication or substance use disorder treatment. This leaves Oklahomans’ health, finances, and lives at risk because they may find that their health coverage is worthless when they need it most. 

 

However, there may yet be reason for optimism this session. Legislators are aware that this spring is likely their last chance to act before a ballot initiative gets underway to expand Medicaid. Expansion legislation may yet be introduced through the budget process, although reports of a legislative working group meeting this summer suggest that the odds of legislation being passed this session are slim. 

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A ‘special law’ cannot stand (Capitol Update)

A long-awaited ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court was issued last week dealing with the Legislature’s ability to place a limit or “cap” on the recovery of non-economic damages by persons injured through the fault of another party. There’s no limit on economic damages like doctor and hospital bills and lost earnings, but the Legislature in 2011 placed a $350,000 cap on non-economic damages which consist of kinds of damages usually called “pain and suffering.”

In this case a 41- year old man was injured when the arm of an 80-foot crane crashed down on him causing him to have his arm amputated and to live with severe daily nerve pain and several other health complications. The man and his wife were awarded $6 million in non-economic damages. Because of the Legislature’s action, the $6 million was cut to $350,000 each for the man and his wife, or $700,000 total instead of $6 million. They appealed, and after 7 years from the injury the Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature overstepped its constitutional authority by passing a “special law.”

Article 5, Section 46 of the Oklahoma Constitution limits the Legislature from passing “local or special laws” authorizing such things as granting divorces, fixing the rate of interest, exempting property from taxation, and several other types of laws. Important here, one of those prohibitions is a limitation of civil or criminal actions. The Legislature can pass general laws on these topics meant to apply to everyone, but they cannot pass laws on these subjects meant to apply to only one person or class of persons. The court found this section had been violated.

The $350,000 cap was passed during Governor Fallin’s first year in office under the general rubric of “tort reform.” The cap had the strong support of the governor, the State Chamber, and many of the state’s business elite, and to be fair, others in the business community. They claim catastrophic cases, though few, cause higher insurance rates. Doctors, subject to liability for negligent medical treatment, were also strong backers. Even so, the bill failed its first vote in the House by a substantial margin. But overnight a flurry of calls from prominent voices in business leadership switched enough votes to pass the cap.

The other side of the story is that a cap on damages penalizes only the most egregiously injured, people who suffer severe burns, lost or mangled limbs and organs, brain injuries, and other painful, life changing injuries. Some argue that no amount of money can truly compensate them, so why not set an arbitrary number. But the Supreme Court ruled that under our constitution, that’s what juries in individual cases are for, not legislators. Each case has its own individual facts and amount of suffering. Just as the Legislature cannot grant a divorce, it cannot decide a civil lawsuit by creating a class and ruling that everyone in the class gets no more than a certain amount.

You can look for the same forces who got this measure passed in the first place to begin looking for ways to defeat the Court’s ruling. A couple of possibilities are amending the constitution to change the “special laws” rule or to put a damage cap directly into the constitution. Another might be to populate the Court with Justices more likely to uphold a cap.

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438,000

Estimated number of Oklahoma workers who would directly benefit if the minimum wage was increased to $15 by 2024.

[Source: Economic Policy Institute]

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Quote of the Day | April 29, 2019

“We can’t just say, ‘Don’t vote for that.’ We can’t just keep saying, ‘No, no, no.’ We have to come up with a plan to improve health care in Oklahoma.”

-Gov. Kevin Stitt, speaking about the possibility of Medicaid expansion going to a ballot question [Source: Enid News & Eagle]

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In The Know: Changing ideas on Medicaid expansion; education funding in budget talks; boost for higher ed…

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

In The News

Conservative sentiment changing on Medicaid expansion: When it comes to Medicaid expansion, some Republican lawmakers are finding new meaning in the old phrase, if you can’t beat them, join them. Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled Legislature has long been opposed to accepting Medicaid expansion funding through the Affordable Care Act. But as several other red states have approved expansion plans, Oklahoma may be close behind — either through a Legislature-approved plan or statewide vote. [NewsOK ] Contact your legislators to expand health coverage in Oklahoma by going to CoverOK.org.

Lawmakers determined to increase school funding but wrestle with how to designate it: Oklahoma’s public schools will be getting more money in the next budget year, two top-ranking legislators said Friday. The only real dispute is whether it will come with a mandated teacher pay increase. Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew, vice chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, told a Tulsa Regional Chamber breakfast that legislative leaders are in general agreement on boosting support for common education. [Tulsa World] 

Budget talks to decide if teachers get pay raises: Whether Oklahoma teachers receive pay raises next school year is likely to be dependent on how budget negotiations shake out at the state Legislature over the next several weeks. A bill to give teachers a $1,200 pay bump did not advance before a Thursday legislative deadline. A second bill that would grant teachers the same pay boost advanced, but with a catch. [NewsOK] Teacher pay raise boosts Oklahoma to 34th in nation, new rankings find. [Tulsa World]

Boost in funding could be coming for Higher Education: After a decade of cuts to higher education funding, all signs from the state Capitol appear that an increase in funding could be on the way, though not as much as state regents had hoped for. Speaking this week at a meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Rep. Kevin Wallace, who is chairman of the Appropriations and Budgets Committee, said he expected a $28 million increase in funding for higher education next fiscal year. [NewsOK] Over the past two decades, a dramatically shrinking share of the higher education budget has come from the state.

Opportunity Scholarship among bills failing last week’s legislative deadline: Thursday’s third-reading deadline in the Oklahoma Legislature culled fewer than 100 bills in this session’s filings, among them a measure to expand a tax credit program for certain contributions to benefit private and public schools, and another that would have set up a system for measuring water flows for “treasured streams” in eastern Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] The scholarship tax credit bill would have diverted even more dollars from public education.

Legislation makes finding employment easier for those with criminal past: John Masquelier knows all too well how hard it can be for a former inmate in Oklahoma to carry on with life after prison. Finding a job can be especially tough for some, said Masquelier, who worked for 10 years as a probation officer and for the last two years as director at the Enid Community Corrections Center. [Journal Record ]

Justice reform bill would reduce ‘excessive sentences’ and lower crime: It’s possible that Oklahoma will be able to reduce crime while at the same time reducing its high incarceration rate, the author of a criminal justice reform bill making headway at the Capitol said Friday. “Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana…they’ve all reduced crime and incarceration rates at the same time. I think it’s time for Oklahoma to do the same,” said state Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. [Journal Record ]

Five questions surrounding this year’s criminal justice reform bills: In past sessions, many criminal justice reform proposals have lost momentum by April, when the last major bill deadline hits. But this year, a broad coalition of groups have gotten behind a package of reform bills. “We’ve had some real movement on criminal justice reform here at the Capitol and we continue on that path, and we’ll continue in the conference committee process to push that issue,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said on Thursday. [Oklahoma Watch]

Point of View: Moving on criminal justice reform: For the first time in recent history, Oklahoma’s incarcerated population declined by more than 1,000 state inmates from this time last year. Yet our state’s incarcerated population still includes more than 27,000 men and women. And while the decrease was a welcomed change, we have a long way to go to modernize our criminal justice system and end Oklahoma’s reputation as the top state for incarceration. [Gov. Kevin Stitt, Sen. Kim David and Rep. Jon Echols / NewsOK]

Unable to purchase execution equipment, Oklahoma poised to build the device itself: Monday will mark five years since the botched Clayton Lockett execution. As Oklahoma attempts to move forward with a new death penalty protocol, the state is finding that implementing it will be harder than anticipated. Whoever becomes the next person to be executed in Oklahoma is going to face an entirely different experience than the last one. [The Frontier]

Lawmakers approve bill to expand tax credit for affordable housing: Housing advocates are awaiting the governor’s signature on a bill that would expand the state’s affordable housing tax credit. House Bill 1411 eliminates the 150,000-population restriction on where the tax credit can be used. Currently, the credit can’t be used in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties because their populations exceed 150,000. [Journal Record]

Stitt signs controversial bill on drug-induced abortions: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday signed a controversial bill dealing with abortion. Senate Bill 614 requires those who perform medication abortions using Mifepristone to tell the patient in writing that it may be possible to reverse the effects of the drug. Critics say the ability to reverse a medication abortion is not based on science. [Tulsa World]

Stitt touts his plan for state at Americans for Prosperity town hall: Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke to a capacity crowd Friday in the InterBank Community Room in Kingfisher, at a town hall meeting hosted by the Oklahoma chapter of the conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity. [Enid News & Eagle]

Public school’s switch to charter allows Epic to operate rural district: To save his financially imperiled school district, Panola Superintendent Brad Corcoran in 2017 pitched a plan to convert the traditional public district into a charter school. In becoming a charter, Panola Public Schools would turn over its management to a company affiliated with Epic Charter Schools, the largest online school in the state. The school board agreed. [Oklahoma Watch]

OKC district hikes fees, rent for charter schools: Local charter school leaders expressed surprise over a letter from the leader of Oklahoma City Public Schools calling for rent and administrative fee increases. In the letter, Superintendent Sean McDaniel outlines a “cost-neutral” agreement for charters that lease OKCPS-owned facilities “moving forward.” [NewsOK ]

Community colleges serve diverse student population with limited resources: Oklahoma’s 14 community colleges serve students that range from high school students getting an early jump on college credits to displaced workers seeking a certification for new skills. The majority are part-time students. The average age is about 25. Together they represent 42 percent of the 222,000 students in Oklahoma’s public higher education system. [NewsOK ]

Federal grants are preparing a more diverse student body in Oklahoma: The freshmen who enter Oklahoma colleges in 2025 are likely to be more racially diverse than today’s student body, thanks to three federal grants targeting 12,000 pupils in 48 schools across the state. Last fall, the University of Oklahoma K20 Center was awarded GEAR UP grants totaling $68 million to work with three cohorts of middle-schoolers — one urban, one rural and one suburban. [NewsOK]

Education and eSports are trying to level up in Oklahoma: The high score keeps getting broken. The world of competitive video gaming has been ratcheted up to new heights in recent years, and several high schools and colleges are trying to take Oklahoma to the next level. “Take the Super Bowl and replace football with people playing a video game against each other,” says Michael Aguilar, the lead adviser for Sooner eSports at the University of Oklahoma. [NewsOK]

GOP’s 2020 offensive in Oklahoma Congressional race underway: The Republican campaign to unseat deep-red Oklahoma’s lone Democrat in Congress is officially underway after a GOP state lawmaker Wednesday jumped into the fray for a seat both parties expect to work fiercely to win in 2020. [AP News]

At OU regents meeting, alleged victims call for Title IX review: While the OU Board of Regents met in executive session this morning, two accusers at the center of sexual misconduct investigations into former President David Boren and former Vice President Tripp Hall called for the university to release its internal report and review its Title IX Office. [NonDoc]

Quote of the Day

“We can’t just say, ‘Don’t vote for that.’ We can’t just keep saying, ‘No, no, no.’ We have to come up with a plan to improve health care in Oklahoma.”

-Gov. Kevin Stitt, speaking about the possibility of Medicaid expansion going to a ballot question [Source: Enid News & Eagle]

Number of the Day

438,000

Estimated number of Oklahoma workers who would directly benefit if the minimum wage was increased to $15 by 2024.

[Source: Economic Policy Institute]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Syphilis is spreading across rural America: Public health officials say rural counties across the Midwest and West are becoming the new battleground. While syphilis is still concentrated in cities such as San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, its continued spread into places like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma creates a new set of challenges. Compared with urban hubs, rural populations tend to have less access to public health resources, less experience with syphilis and less willingness to address it because of socially conservative views toward homosexuality and nonmarital sex. [The Daily Beast]

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[In The Know] Changing ideas on Medicaid expansion; education funding in budget talks; boost for higher ed...

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. In The News Conservative sentiment changing on Medicaid expansion: When it comes to Medicaid expansion, some Republican lawmakers are finding new meaning in the old phrase, if you can’t beat them, join them. Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled Legislature has long been opposed to accepting Medicaid expansion funding through the Affordable Care Act. But as several other red states have approved expansion plans, Oklahoma may be close behind — either through a Legislature-approved plan or statewide vote. [NewsOK ($)] Contact your legislators to expand health coverage in Oklahoma by going to CoverOK.org. Lawmakers determined to increase school funding but wrestle with how to designate it: Oklahoma’s public schools will be getting more money in the next budget year, two top-ranking legislators said Friday. The only real dispute is whether it will come with a mandated teacher pay increase. Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew, vice chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, told a Tulsa Regional Chamber breakfast that legislative leaders are in general agreement on boosting support for common education. [Tulsa World]  Budget talks to decide if teachers get pay raises: Whether Oklahoma teachers receive pay raises next school year is likely to be dependent on how budget negotiations shake out at the state Legislature over the next several weeks. A bill to give teachers a $1,200 pay bump did not advance before a Thursday legislative deadline. A second bill that would grant teachers the same pay boost advanced, but with a catch. [NewsOK] Teacher pay raise boosts Oklahoma to 34th in nation, new rankings find. [Tulsa World] Boost in funding could be coming for Higher Education: After a decade of cuts to higher education funding, all signs from the state Capitol appear that an increase in funding could be on the way, though not as much as state regents had hoped for. Speaking this week at a meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Rep. Kevin Wallace, who is chairman of the Appropriations and Budgets Committee, said he expected a $28 million increase in funding for higher education next fiscal year. [NewsOK] Over the past two decades, a dramatically shrinking share of the higher education budget has come from the state. Opportunity Scholarship among bills failing last week's legislative deadline: Thursday’s third-reading deadline in the Oklahoma Legislature culled fewer than 100 bills in this session’s filings, among them a measure to expand a tax credit program for certain contributions to benefit private and public schools, and another that would have set up a system for measuring water flows for “treasured streams” in eastern Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] The scholarship tax credit bill would have diverted even more dollars from public education. Legislation makes finding employment easier for those with criminal past: John Masquelier knows all too well how hard it can be for a former inmate in Oklahoma to carry on with life after prison. Finding a job can be especially tough for some, said Masquelier, who worked for 10 years as a probation officer and for the last two years as director at the Enid Community Corrections Center. [Journal Record ($)] Justice reform bill would reduce ‘excessive sentences’ and lower crime: It’s possible that Oklahoma will be able to reduce crime while at the same time reducing its high incarceration rate, the author of a criminal justice reform bill making headway at the Capitol said Friday. “Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana…they’ve all reduced crime and incarceration rates at the same time. I think it’s time for Oklahoma to do the same,” said state Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. [Journal Record ($)] Five questions surrounding this year’s criminal justice reform bills: In past sessions, many criminal justice reform proposals have lost momentum by April, when the last major bill deadline hits. But this year, a broad coalition of groups have gotten behind a package of reform bills. “We’ve had some real movement on criminal justice reform here at the Capitol and we continue on that path, and we’ll continue in the conference committee process to push that issue,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said on Thursday. [Oklahoma Watch] Point of View: Moving on criminal justice reform: For the first time in recent history, Oklahoma’s incarcerated population declined by more than 1,000 state inmates from this time last year. Yet our state’s incarcerated population still includes more than 27,000 men and women. And while the decrease was a welcomed change, we have a long way to go to modernize our criminal justice system and end Oklahoma’s reputation as the top state for incarceration. [Gov. Kevin Stitt, Sen. Kim David and Rep. Jon Echols / NewsOK] Unable to purchase execution equipment, Oklahoma poised to build the device itself: Monday will mark five years since the botched Clayton Lockett execution. As Oklahoma attempts to move forward with a new death penalty protocol, the state is finding that implementing it will be harder than anticipated. Whoever becomes the next person to be executed in Oklahoma is going to face an entirely different experience than the last one. [The Frontier] Lawmakers approve bill to expand tax credit for affordable housing: Housing advocates are awaiting the governor’s signature on a bill that would expand the state’s affordable housing tax credit. House Bill 1411 eliminates the 150,000-population restriction on where the tax credit can be used. Currently, the credit can’t be used in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties because their populations exceed 150,000. [Journal Record] Stitt signs controversial bill on drug-induced abortions: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday signed a controversial bill dealing with abortion. Senate Bill 614 requires those who perform medication abortions using Mifepristone to tell the patient in writing that it may be possible to reverse the effects of the drug. Critics say the ability to reverse a medication abortion is not based on science. [Tulsa World] Stitt touts his plan for state at Americans for Prosperity town hall: Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke to a capacity crowd Friday in the InterBank Community Room in Kingfisher, at a town hall meeting hosted by the Oklahoma chapter of the conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity. [Enid News & Eagle] Public school’s switch to charter allows Epic to operate rural district: To save his financially imperiled school district, Panola Superintendent Brad Corcoran in 2017 pitched a plan to convert the traditional public district into a charter school. In becoming a charter, Panola Public Schools would turn over its management to a company affiliated with Epic Charter Schools, the largest online school in the state. The school board agreed. [Oklahoma Watch] OKC district hikes fees, rent for charter schools: Local charter school leaders expressed surprise over a letter from the leader of Oklahoma City Public Schools calling for rent and administrative fee increases. In the letter, Superintendent Sean McDaniel outlines a "cost-neutral" agreement for charters that lease OKCPS-owned facilities "moving forward." [NewsOK ($)] Community colleges serve diverse student population with limited resources: Oklahoma's 14 community colleges serve students that range from high school students getting an early jump on college credits to displaced workers seeking a certification for new skills. The majority are part-time students. The average age is about 25. Together they represent 42 percent of the 222,000 students in Oklahoma’s public higher education system. [NewsOK ($)] Federal grants are preparing a more diverse student body in Oklahoma: The freshmen who enter Oklahoma colleges in 2025 are likely to be more racially diverse than today’s student body, thanks to three federal grants targeting 12,000 pupils in 48 schools across the state. Last fall, the University of Oklahoma K20 Center was awarded GEAR UP grants totaling $68 million to work with three cohorts of middle-schoolers — one urban, one rural and one suburban. [NewsOK ($)] Education and eSports are trying to level up in Oklahoma: The high score keeps getting broken. The world of competitive video gaming has been ratcheted up to new heights in recent years, and several high schools and colleges are trying to take Oklahoma to the next level. “Take the Super Bowl and replace football with people playing a video game against each other,” says Michael Aguilar, the lead adviser for Sooner eSports at the University of Oklahoma. [NewsOK] GOP’s 2020 offensive in Oklahoma Congressional race underway: The Republican campaign to unseat deep-red Oklahoma’s lone Democrat in Congress is officially underway after a GOP state lawmaker Wednesday jumped into the fray for a seat both parties expect to work fiercely to win in 2020. [AP News] At OU regents meeting, alleged victims call for Title IX review: While the OU Board of Regents met in executive session this morning, two accusers at the center of sexual misconduct investigations into former President David Boren and former Vice President Tripp Hall called for the university to release its internal report and review its Title IX Office. [NonDoc] Quote of the Day "We can't just say, 'Don't vote for that.' We can't just keep saying, 'No, no, no.' We have to come up with a plan to improve health care in Oklahoma." -Gov. Kevin Stitt, speaking about the possibility of Medicaid expansion going to a ballot question [Source: Enid News & Eagle] Number of the Day 438,000 Estimated number of Oklahoma workers who would directly benefit if the minimum wage was increased to $15 by 2024. [Source: Economic Policy Institute] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Syphilis is spreading across rural America: Public health officials say rural counties across the Midwest and West are becoming the new battleground. While syphilis is still concentrated in cities such as San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, its continued spread into places like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma creates a new set of challenges. Compared with urban hubs, rural populations tend to have less access to public health resources, less experience with syphilis and less willingness to address it because of socially conservative views toward homosexuality and nonmarital sex. [The Daily Beast] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe