On Friday, December 15, we passed another deadline as we prepare for the upcoming session and that was to have all our Senate bills filed that have a fiscal impact. These are the bills that will create revenue or require funding.
This is a new deadline and part of the Senate’s new budgeting process to help our appropriations subcommittees be better able to craft their individual budget proposals that the full Appropriations Committee will then use to craft the Senate’s state budget proposal. By having all these bills and their fiscal impacts now, we’ll have a clearer picture of what revenue will be available and be able to craft more precise agency budgets next month.
I’ve also been busy filing more than a dozen bills with even more to come in the next month.
My SB 1270 would direct the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), one of our state’s largest agencies, to prepare an 8-year plan for state facility management, operations, and maintenance. This would be similar to what the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) does for their road projects. The plan would be submitted annually to the governor and legislative leaders by December 1.
Last year, I filed legislation to provide paid maternity leave to fulltime state employees and I’m thrilled that it became law on November 1. Now, I want to also extend that benefit through SB 1278 to those employed at our Oklahoma colleges and universities.
As we continue working to improve our workforce and economic development efforts, I’ve filed SB 1335 to create the OK to Relocate Act, along with a revolving fund. The Department of Commerce would establish a talent attraction program focused on bringing out-of-state businesses here. They would determine the needs, priorities, or funding limits needed for this effort. Monies from the fund could be used to advertise and market the state to out-of-state businesses as well as reimburse those businesses who have provided relocation payments to their employees. These companies would need to provide at least $10,000 to their employees to relocate to Oklahoma.
Companies would be reimbursed for the amount provided to their employees, as long as those individuals signed affidavits of intent to remain in the state for three years. Companies could not reimburse more than 100 employees per year. The measure would appropriate $16 million from the General Revenue Fund into the revolving fund. Our state is facing a workforce crisis, and we need to find efficient ways to help them recruit and retain good employees.
In closing, I want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas season and a happy New Year filled with laughter, love, happiness, and health. God bless you all!
If I can be of any assistance, please contact me at the Capitol by writing to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, emailing me at [email protected] or calling 405-521-5522.
