Agricultural News
Senate Review by Senator Roland Pederson
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:39:53 CST
We hit the ground running during the first week of session and have already completed a full week of committee hearings. I filed eight measures this session and have five bills I carried last year that are still eligible for consideration. I'm grateful to the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing my Senate Bill 1551, which would give priority consideration for adoption to foster parents.
Foster parents do have the opportunity to adopt their placements, but there's currently no priority consideration for these types of situations. Our foster children need stability - if they are living with a family that has prioritized them, taken care of them, and loved them, then those factors should carry a heavy weight when it comes to adoption. This doesn't mean a foster family will automatically be chosen for adoption, but it is a factor that should be considered.
We need to have the best interests of our foster children in mind and do what is best for them, while still respecting foster parents for the sacrifices they've made to love and take care of children in the system. This is not a new idea - Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas and Florida already have similar statutes in place to give adoption priorities to foster families. Since passing out of committee, this measure is now eligible to be heard on the floor for a full vote of the Senate.
The education committee passed two measures last week that I feel are important to note. Support personnel are the backbone of our schools, and anything we can do to make their lives easier should be a priority. That's why the committee approved a measure to allow children of support employees to transfer into the school district their parents work in. The committee also passed Senate Bill 703, which would give teachers 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. We must think outside of the box for ways we can retain our talented educators, and far too often, many feel like they must choose between being a mother or an education professional. Providing three months of paid maternity leave is one way we can support our teachers as they grow their families.
Speaking of committees, I'll once again serve on the Agriculture and Wildlife; Appropriations; Natural Resources and Regulatory Services; Transportation; and Veterans and Military Affairs committees. As a member of these committees, I'll be one of the first to vet legislation that pertains to these topics to ensure only the best bills advance to the floor.
The Capitol is now fully open to visitors with no COVID-19 restrictions, so if you're interested in watching any of our committee or floor sessions, please feel free to visit. Capitol renovations are also wrapping up, so there's no better time to visit and see the beautiful updates. If you can't make it in person, all of our meetings and sessions will still be streamed online at www.oksenate.gov
Finally, I'd like to welcome you all to participate in the governor's prayer breakfast, which will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Pastor James Lowe with the Bethel World Outreach Church in Nashville will be the keynote speaker, and we'll come together to pray for our leaders, the legislative session, and all Oklahomans. If anyone is interested, you can sign up to host a free livestream of the event at www.capitolculture.com
It's an honor to serve you here at our state Capitol. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything I can help you with. You can contact me at 405-521-5630 or via email at Roland.Pederson@oksenate.gov
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