National Background Checks for Firefighters Approved in Senate Committee

Oklahoma applicants for certain professions and licenses are required under state law to undergo both state and national background checks for the sake of public safety. Unfortunately, municipal fire departments do not have that same authorization, but State Sen. Ron Justice hopes that he can get that changed this year through his Senate Bill 249.

"My bill is about prevention and peace of mind. Victims of fire or other situations that require assistance from a fire department shouldn't have to worry about the integrity of the men and women helping them," said Justice, R-Chickasha. "This would give citizens peace of mind that the people in their homes aren't criminals and would also help our municipal fire departments prevent any wrongdoings from happening by keeping criminals off their forces."

SB 249 was requested by Mustang's Fire Department in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall's office. The measure would authorize municipal fire departments to conduct national criminal history records checks on perspective firefighters. They currently are authorized to conduct state background checks but as Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman pointed out that is not enough when departments are considering out of state applicants.

Hickman said he once had an applicant from out of state that, unknown to the department at the time, had an out of state felony warrant out for his arrest. The person was not hired, but when Hickman later found out about the individual’s criminal record he realized that the law needed to be changed.

“From a fire chief’s standpoint, I want to have as many tools at my disposal to ensure that I’m hiring people with integrity beyond reproach, not individuals with a shady background or issues in other states,” said Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman. “Our job is to protect the public, and we can’t do that to the best of our ability if we don’t know everything about our applicants.”

Each applicant would be required to provide the department with two completed fingerprint cards and a money order or cashier's check made payable to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to cover the fee for the background check. The Bureau would keep one set of fingerprints in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and submit the other set to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the national criminal history records check.

Some examples of other professionals that are required to undergo a national background check to obtain their professional license include teachers, locksmiths, jewelers, bell bondsmen and security guards as well as applicants for the Horse Racing and ABLE Commissions.

The measure will now go before the full Senate.

Bill Strengthening Penalties Against Elder Abuse Advances to House

A measure to better protect elderly and incapacitated Oklahomans passed the Senate this week. Senate Bill 1600, by Sen. Ron Justice, strengthens the Elderly and Incapacitated Persons Act by making abuse against these individuals a felony.

"I realize that most people are very cautious about the care of their elderly family members, but unfortunately some are not and that makes those senior citizens more susceptible to abuse because there is no one looking out for their well-being," said Justice, R-Chickasha. "This bill will help strengthen our current law to protect these individuals from any possible type of abuse."

The measure, which was requested by the Silver Haired Legislature, covers the crimes of assault and battery, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a weapon and caretaker abuse including verbal, physical and sexual abuse as well as exploitation. Under current law, most of these of crimes are misdemeanors.

"I'm honored to be carrying this bill because I do have concerns about the elderly in our state. A dear family member of mine was the victim of abuse so I know all too well how devastating and humiliating an experience like this can be for an elderly person," said Justice. "These are the people who worked hard making our state what it is today and we owe it to them to ensure that now when they have to be dependent on others they'll be protected and be able to live their lives in peace."

The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Op-ed

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Op-ed

Rural Oklahoma has roots that extend deep into our state’s history. With a variety of elements, rural Oklahoma is the unrivaled backbone for Oklahoma, and rural Oklahoma’s success and livelihood directly affect our entire state.

As a citizen and senator from rural Oklahoma, it is an honor for me to serve as chairman of the Republican Rural Caucus in the Oklahoma State Senate. As a caucus, we are dedicated to ensuring the voices of rural Oklahoma are heard at the State Legislature.

Last session we accomplished several reforms that benefited rural Oklahoma. The Republican Rural Caucus provided landowners and farmers with protection for their livestock and land, strengthened trespassing laws and modified the permission to hunt and fish on certain land, and authorized the State Board of Agriculture to collect fines from violators of the Boll Weevil Eradication Act.

In addition, we successfully classified animal waste as nonhazardous to protect Oklahoma’s livestock industry from attacks by radical environmentalists, and we increased the funding for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

The Republican Rural Caucus is dedicated to advancing and protecting the interests of rural Oklahoma. We recently unveiled our agenda for the 2008 Legislative Session, our “Vision for Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Oklahoma.”

At the top of our agenda is the dedication of more existing motor vehicle taxes and fees to the improvement of county roads and bridges. Too often counties are not even able to afford the upfront price tag of road and bridge improvements, so these remain unfixed. These efforts will not take away from the portion of motor vehicle taxes and fees that are already dedicated to education.

Providing quality education in our local schools is a top priority for us as well. Our children are our future and deserve to have great opportunities for learning and growth. The members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus know that local schools are the lifeblood of our rural communities, which is why we have made very clear that we will OPPOSE any legislation that requires the forced consolidation of public schools.

Another priority for the Republican Rural Caucus will be to immediately eliminate Oklahoma’s Death Tax. Many people have worked hard all their lives to build up a farming operation or small business to pass on to their family. Unfortunately, many families are forced to sell these assets to pay the death tax when a loved one dies. The Legislature has voted to phase out the Death Tax in the year 2010, but we will work to immediately abolish it.

The Senate Republican Rural Caucus will continue to work to ensure the protection of personal property rights in dealing with land and water. In addition to the trespassing bill passed last year, we want to protect property rights with respect to water, and to provide for water conservation. When addressing water conservation, we also will work to improve water quality and quantity.

In Oklahoma, it currently takes too long to move an oversized load as a result of the slow, archaic trucking permit system. This means that products and commodities that should be moving are often sitting on the side of a highway while waiting for a permit. The Senate Republican Rural Caucus will work to modernize this system by putting all Oklahoma roads on a computer-based system to keep the state’s valuable resources moving.

The final area we wish to address is healthcare for rural Oklahoma. Excellence in rural healthcare is vital to economic development and job growth. The Senate Republican Rural Caucus is committed to saving rural hospitals, making healthcare more affordable, and improving access to healthcare by attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma.

Rural Oklahoma can take pride in our people, our resources and our contribution to this great state. Protecting these assets is essential to the survival of the rural way of life.


Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Republican Rural Caucus Chair

Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee Co-Chair

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Members Announce Vision for Rural Oklahoma

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Members Announce Vision for Rural Oklahoma

Members of the Oklahoma State Senate’s Republican Rural Caucus released today their policy agenda for the 2008 legislative session, which includes their “Vision for Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Oklahoma.”

The Republican Rural Caucus’ agenda calls for more funding for county roads and bridges, opposing forced school consolidation, attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma, among others.

“As senators who represent a number of rural communities, we understand the significance tied to rural Oklahoma,” said Senator Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Republican Rural Caucus Chairman. “The success and livelihood of rural Oklahoma directly affects our entire state. Our vision for the 2008 legislative session echoes this thought and aims to bring support to rural families and businesses.”

“We as rural senators experience first hand the quality of Oklahoma’s resources,” said Senator Owen Laughlin, Republican Floor Leader. “Water is a necessary resource. We must find ways to increase the amount and quality of water.”

The Republican Rural Caucus vision includes:

Dedicating more motor vehicle taxes and fees to the improvement of county roads and bridges.

Opposing any legislation that requires the forced consolidation of public schools.
Immediately eliminating Oklahoma’s Death Tax, instead of its current date of elimination, 2010.

Ensuring the protection of personal property rights in dealing with land and water.
Modernizing the slow, archaic trucking permit system to help keep the state’s valuable resources moving.

Improving access to healthcare by attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma, and by protecting the financial viability of rural hospitals and ambulance services.

The Republican Rural Caucus is made up of 11 members: Senators Ron Justice of Chickasha, District 23; Patrick Anderson of Enid, District 19; Don Barrington of Lawton, District 31; Harry Coates of Seminole, District 28; John Ford of Bartlesville, District 29; Mike Johnson of Kingfisher, District 22; Todd Lamb of Edmond, District 47; Owen Laughlin of Woodward, District 27; David Myers of Ponca City, District 20; Mike Schulz of Altus, District 38; Anthony Sykes of Newcastle, District 24.

The purpose of the Republican Rural Caucus is to provide a voice for the citizens of rural, small town Oklahoma and promote their issues at the State Capitol.,/b>