Tulsa Area Legislative Consortium Agenda

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Legislative Consortium Develops 2007 Legislative Agenda

The Tulsa area Legislative Consortium has developed its slate of legislative initiatives for 2007.  In the upcoming legislative session, the Consortium will work to. . .      

Initiate Local Fire Protection District — Create a district to fund fire departments through special assessments. Enable more than  one jurisdiction to join together under an MFD.

Comprehensive Plan Funding — Secure funding for the City of Tulsa and unincorporated areas of Tulsa County to update  its comprehensive plan.

Rehiring of County Employees – Amend retirement statutes to allow the county to hire back retirees on a parttime basis.

Amtrak Study Resolution – Enact a joint resolution of the  legislature encouraging ODOT to request a study to  include the Tulsa to Springfield line in the Amtrak study  concurrently or as part of the Springfield to St. Louis  study.

Support

Poultry Waste and Other Nutrients in the Watershed –  Enact a new statute and amend an existing statute to  ensure that best management practices for the application of poultry litter conform to the terms of the settlement in Tulsa v. Tyson for persons applying litter to land  within the Eucha-Spavinaw watershed.

CLEET Reform – Allow larger law enforcement agencies  (100 or more officers) to conduct their own police academies; increase the number of training hours and fund  additional training. Reform CLEET administration, oversight, and curriculum.

Reconnection of Gas Services – Amend statute to allow a  property owner to authorize reconnection of gas service  when methane levels reach a pre-defined amount, and  exempting gas companies from liability if they do so.

Health Care Costs – Support all efforts to reduce health  care costs for governmental and business entities.

Contract Indemnity Reinstatement – Amend language to  allow subcontractors to indemnify a city against requiring additional insurance by the city to buy insurance  against the potential default of the contractor.

Public Transit Funding – Increase state funding for public transit.

REAP Funding – Add $1,833,333 or more to the REAP  program funding.

911 Agency & Employee Exemption from Liability – Address defects and ambiguities in statute that provides for  exemption from liability for the handling of 911 calls.

Add District Judges to Concealed Carry Law – Amend the  conceal carry law to add district judges as those who  may carry firearms in the course of their appointment.      

Full Reimbursement for Housing DOC Inmates – Support  efforts to obtain full reimbursement for housing Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates.      

Municipal Ambulance Districts – Prohibit expansion of  Municipal Ambulance Districts against the will of a municipality.  Secure adequate funding for EMS transport.      

Employ Private Council for County Commissioners –  Authorize county commissioners to employ in-house or  outside legal representation.      

Oppose      

Sales Tax Exemptions – Oppose all sales tax exemptions.      

TIF Changes – Oppose changes to legislation creating  Tax Increment Finance districts.      

Eminent Domain – Oppose any changes to eminent  domain.

For more information about the Legislative Consortium,  contact INCOG at 584-7526.