Senate to take up Paddack studies

By Jeff Shultz
Managing Editor

July 25, 2008 12:19 pm

— Two legislative studies requested by State Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, have been approved by Senate leadership.
The study requests were approved earlier this week by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.
The Senate leaders said the studies are assigned to the Senate committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in the request.
The Senate conducts legislative studies on a variety of issues each year in the interim between legislative sessions. Interim studies offer legislators an opportunity to take a more in-depth look at an issue than is usually possible within the Constitutional time constraints of a legislative session.
The first study requested by Paddack will be assigned to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
Committee members will look into increasing the cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for retired educators while increasing the amount of funds being deposited into OTRS.
The second study will focus on comprehensive assessment of healthcare workforce issues and will be handled by the Health and Human Resources Committee.