House Votes to Protect Social Security Information

State lawmakers voted today to protect the private information of Oklahoma couples.

House Bill 1362, by state Rep. Marian Cooksey, makes it illegal for state or local government to include the Social Security numbers of couples on public documents when those couples seek a marriage license.

“Government should punish identity theft, not make it easier to commit the crime,” said Cooksey, R-Edmond. “This legislation ensures couples are not forced to put out vital personal information that can easily be misused by a criminal.”

House Bill 1362 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives 97-0 today. It now proceeds to the state Senate.

House Passes Legislation to Protect EMTs

Legislation passed by the House would protect the men and women who save lives daily, according to state Rep. Marian Cooksey.

House Bill 1360, by Cooksey, R-Edmond, would allow prosecutors to bring felony charges against anyone who assaults an emergency medical technician (EMT) while they are performing medical care duties.

“Why would anyone want to attack the very people who save our lives,” Cooksey said. “We need to ensure our EMTS are given better legal protections.

According to medicinstitute.org, there were 14 assaults on EMTs last year that resulted in serious injury in Oklahoma. There were six assaults in Oklahoma City and eight in Tulsa.

A study conducted in 1999 concluded that during 12 years of service, EMTs received an average of nine assaults each year; and 92 percent of responding EMTs had been assaulted at some point while performing their duties.

Cooksey said that number should be zero and hopes her bill will put an end to the assaults.

HB 1360 increases the penalty for assaulting an emergency care provider to up to two years in prison.

HB 1360 was approved unanimously by the House and will now proceed to the Senate.

Legislation to Protect EMTs Passes Committee

To protect the men and women who save lives daily, state Rep. Marian Cooksey has filed legislation that would increase penalties on individuals who assault emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

House Bill 1360, by Cooksey, would allow felony charges to be pursued against anyone who assaults an emergency medical care provider who is performing medical care duties.

“Why would anyone want to attack the very people who save our lives?” asked Cooksey, R-Edmond. “We need to ensure our EMTS are given better legal protections.

According to medicinstitute.org, there were 14 assaults on EMTs last year that resulted in serious injury in Oklahoma. There were six assaults in Oklahoma City and eight in Tulsa.

A study conducted in 1999 concluded that during 12 years of service, EMTs received an average of nine assaults each year; and 92 percent of responding EMTs had been assaulted at some point while performing their duties.

Cooksey said that number should be zero and hopes her bill will put an end to the assaults.

HB 1360 increases the penalty for assaulting an emergency care provider to up to two years in prison.

HB 1360 passed the House Judiciary Committee today. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Speaker Fills House Leadership Positions

House Speaker Chris Benge announced additional floor leadership positions, naming assistant majority floor leaders and deputy whips.

The members will work closely with Majority Floor Leader Rep. Tad Jones and Majority Whip Rep. Mike Jackson to ensure bills run smoothly on the floor each day.

“It is critical that our floor activity is well-organized on a daily basis, and I am confident these members are capable of making sure legislation moves through the process as efficiently as possible,” said Benge, R-Tulsa

Rep. Jones said he looks forward to working with his floor leader team when session begins in February.

“I am committed to offering a fair and steady presence on the floor of the House, and I know these assistant floor leaders will help make that happen,” he said.

The Majority Whip and deputy whips serve as sounding boards for the Republican caucus for any issues members may have on upcoming legislation.

“Our doors are always open for members who have questions or concerns,” said Jackson.

The floor positions include:

Majority Floor Leader
Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore

First Assistant
Majority Floor Leader
Rep. Ron Peters, R-Tulsa

Assistant
Majority Floor Leaders
Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Purcell
Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee
Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan
Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada
Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford

Majority Whip
Rep. Mike Jackson, R-Enid

Deputy Majority Whips
Rep. Marian Cooksey, R-Edmond
Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks
Rep. Steve Martin, R-Bartlesville
Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle
Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher
Rep. Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon
Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Oklahoma City
Rep. Weldon Watson, R-Tulsa

Human Trafficking Legislation Headed to Governor

After four years of work, legislation to crack down on criminals who kidnap and sell human beings has gained final legislative approval and simply awaits the governor's signature to become law.

House Bill 1021, by state Rep. Marian Cooksey, creates new penalties for anyone convicted of human trafficking "for forced labor or forced sexual exploitation" who relies on the "use of force, fraud or coercion" to trap victims.

"Human trafficking is the slave trade of the 21st Century," said Cooksey, R-Edmond. "Anyone who holds another human being in slavery - for prostitution or forced labor or any other purpose - must pay a high price for their actions."

Under the bill, those convicted of human trafficking will face at least five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for each conviction.

Anyone convicted of human trafficking involving victims younger than age 14 will face at least 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $20,000.

Those convicted of the crime could also be ordered to pay restitution to their victims and the bill allows law enforcement officials to seize trafficker's property - including aircraft, vehicles and money - to help offset the state expenses of prosecution.

House Bill 1021 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 93-0 vote and passed the state Senate 45-0. It now awaits Gov. Brad Henry's signature.

"Internationally, human trafficking is the fast-growing crime outside of drug running," Cooksey said. "It's time we treated this crime and the thugs who perpetrate it with the severity it deserves."

A September 2004 Human Rights Center report titled, "Hidden Slaves: Forced Labor in the United States," found that at any given time more than 10,000 forced laborers are working in the United States. Most of them work in prostitution, domestic services, agriculture and
sweatshops.

The US Department of Justice estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked in the United States each year.

In 2003, the Department of Justice reported the largest concentrations of trafficking survivors who received federal assistance resided in California, Texas, New York and Oklahoma.

In 2004, nine people in Oklahoma City were charged with running a child prostitution ring that involved human trafficking. Pimps transported girls as young as 13 from Oklahoma to cities in Texas, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Arkansas for prostitution. The girls were recruited and controlled through threats, violence and intimidation.

In September 2006, a federal court in Oklahoma City handed down a judgment against men running a human trafficking scheme where workers from India were lured to Oklahoma for forced labor at a manufacturing facility.

Cooksey noted that most of the six states bordering Oklahoma have already passed laws targeting human trafficking.