Coleman 1 of 8 Senators with Perfect Pro-Child Voting Record

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH)–The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) released its legislative scorecard for the 57th Oklahoma Legislature detailing lawmakers’ stands on children’s issues on Tuesday.

The scorecard is a comprehensive look at the 2019-2020 sessions of the Oklahoma legislature, and evaluation on where lawmakers’ votes on bills relating to the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma children.

Eight of the 149-member Oklahoma Legislature had perfect pro-child scores, which means they voted on every bill and voted for the pro-child position.

The eight members are listed below:

• Rep. Johnny Adams (R-Ada)
• Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa)
• Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman)
• Sen. Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City)
• Sen. J.J. Dossett (D-Owasso)
• Sen. Tom Dugger (R-Stillwater)
• Sen. Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City)
• Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee)

32 of the members “did no harm,” which means they voted for the pro-child position on measures where they cast votes but did not vote on every child-related bill.

Below are the bills that were selected as part of the 2020 legislative scorecard:

• HJR 1040 – This measure would have disapproved of new rules established by the state Department of Health relating to parent information about vaccinations
• HB 1282 – The bill prohibits children under 12 years of age from being placed in a juvenile detention facility unless all other alternatives have been exhausted. The bill applied to children charged with an offense classified as a felony if committed by an adult
• HB 1276 – The measure ends the practice of revoking driving privileges for failure to pay child support. Keeps noncustodial parents paying child support as being able to work, which increases the likelihood the support payments could restart
• HB 2804 – The bill requires dyslexia screening in schools
• SB 1436 – The bill authorizes the State Board of Education to issue standard certificates, or one-year provisional teaching certificates, in the areas of mild-moderate disabilities and comprehensive special education to qualified individuals, but requires additional credentials and certifications be gotten within a standard period
• HB 3251 – The measure adds domestic abuse by strangulation, domestic assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon to the violent crimes list
• HB 2791 and SB 1303 – The two bills, which have the same effect relating to children’s seat belt use, both were considered by only one house of the Legislature