Oklahoma Legislators Returning To Capitol For Interim Studies

Interim studies are studies of legislative and policy issues that may be requested by any member of the House or Senate. They often address issues that have been the subject of legislation that failed to pass in previous sessions, or emerging issues that are deemed worthy of more in-depth consideration.

What Are Interim Studies?

According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, interim studies are studies of legislative and policy issues that may be requested by any member of the Oklahoma House or Oklahoma Senate. They often address issues that have been the subject of legislation that failed to pass or emerging issues that are deemed worthy of more consideration.

Interim studies must be requested by House and Senate members by a deadline set by each chamber. The two chambers handle interim study requests differently. In the Senate, the President Pro Tem assigns all interim study requests to the appropriate Senate committee; the committee chair then decides which studies will be heard. In the House, the Speaker decides which studies to approve or disapprove. In some cases, House study requests on similar subjects are combined into a single study. Some studies may be considered jointly by the House and Senate.

Interim studies are typically held from September to November and usually meet at the State Capitol. A committee may devote anywhere from a single hour to several full meetings to each study. Local and national experts may be invited to testify at interim study meetings. Interim studies rarely generate formal reports or recommendations, but their work can guide future legislation.

2022 Senate Interim Studies

According to Oklahoma Watch reports, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat approved 41 of 60 Oklahoma Senate interim study requests on July 1. Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, approved all 82 study proposals a week later. The studies kickoff in August and will be completed by November.

Mental Health-Related Interim Studies to Watch

Several interim studies will be of interest to mental health providers and workers. More details will be provided as they become available so bookmark this post and check back. They include:

IS-2022-05 Direct Ship Alcohol
Requestor: Coleman
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Business, Commerce and Tourism

IS-2022-06 Addressing and treating mental health challenges, including PTSD, in first responders and other public employees
Requestor: Daniels
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-11 Applying ACE (Adverse Childhood Effects) Screenings Results to Assist in Preventative Treatment
Requestor: Garvin
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-12 Making Oklahoma a Top Ten State for Women
Requestor: Garvin
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Rules

IS-2022-13 Substance Abuse Treatment Options for Youth
Requestor: Garvin
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-19 Divorce/child custody concerns
Requestor: Jech
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-20 Non-profit Governance
Requestor: Kirt
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Finance

IS-2022-22 Male diversion, substance abuse and employment options for justice involved
Requestor: Matthews
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Public Safety

IS-2022-28 Permanency of Foster Kids
Requestor: Pederson
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-30 Prison Culture, Reform & Fiscal Impact of Crime
Requestor: Rader
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Public Safety

IS-2022-31 Children in OKDHS Custody
Requestor: Rader
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-32 DUI laws: Prevention & Intervention
Requestor: Rosino
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Public Safety

IS-2022-37 Rural Ambulance Services
Requestor: Thompson
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-40 Safety components for those living with mental illness
Requestor: Young
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Health and Human Services

IS-2022-41 Race and Equity Commission
Requestor: Young
Presentation & Reports: Not Available
Committee: Rules

 

2022 House Interim Studies

22-009 / The scope and impact of unsafe and unhealthy housing conditions across Oklahoma, and potential solutions to address those conditions.
Requestor: Dollens
Committee: Business and Commerce

22-019 / Criminalized Domestic Violence Survivors
Requestor: Hasenbeck
Committee: Judiciary – Criminal

22-019 / Underlying Causes of Homelessness
Requestor: Bennett, Forest / Pae, Daniel
Committee: General Gov

22-022 / Impact of sex education in schools and the sexualization of minors
Requestor: Williams, Danny; Conley, Sherrie; Bullard, David
Committee: Common Ed

22-023 / Possession With Intent to Distribute Reform
Requestor: Pae, Daniel
Committee: Judiciary – Criminal

22-025 / Mental Health Treatment Facilities for Juveniles in the Juvenile Detention Settings
Requestor: Lawson, Mark
Committee: Criminal Justice

22-028 / Nonprofit organizations
Requestor: Burns, Ty
Committee: General Government

22-034 / Parental rights in Oklahoma and how to improve the rights of parents and guardians in the state
Requestor: Williams, Danny; Conley, Sherrie
Committee: Judiciary – Civil

22-039 / DUI-Voluntary Program for repeat offenders
Requestor: West, Kevin
Committee: Public Safety

22-045 / PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) Study
Requestor: McDugle, Kevin
Committee: Public Health

22-046 / Looking into the effects of four-day school weeks.
Requestor: Sterling, Danny
Committee: Common Ed

22-047 / Quality of life for women in Oklahoma Roe
Requestor: Cynthia; Garvin,Jessica
Committee: Public Health

22-049 / Examination of Narcan Nasal Spray & the Opioid Epidemic in Oklahoma
Requestor: Virgin, Emily
Committee: Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

22-050 / Nursing Profession
Requestor: Sneed, Chris
Committee: Public Health

22-051 / Insurance; Health Insurance Premiums
Requestor: Sneed, Chris
Committee: Insurance

22-053 / Appropriate routes & mechanisms to divert incarceration cost savings per SQ 781 to localities for local need-based diversion & treatment programs.
Requestor: Sterling, Danny
Committee: A&B Judiciary

22-054 / Public safety systems and technology for cannabis industry in Oklahoma.
Requestor: Cornwell, Rusty
Committee: Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

22-055 / Homeless Students Falling through the Cracks
Requestor: Talley, John
Committee: General Government

22-062 / Reducing Alcohol/Drug Addiction
Requestor: Pae, Daniel; Echols, Jon
Committee: Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

22-064 / Title: Workforce strategies to strengthen reentry for those returning home from incarceration
Requestor: Miller, Nicole
Committee: Criminal Justice

22-065 / In depth evaluation and analysis on Oklahoma’s nursing shortages in order to identify root causes and potential solutions.
Requestor: Stark, Marilyn
Committee: Public Health

22-079 / Examination of Gendered Language in Oklahoma legislation.
Requestor: Turner, Mauree
Committee: State Powers

22-080 / This interim study will focus on details of how to expand the Handle With Care Oklahoma program statewide.
Requestor: Pittman, Ajay
Committee: Children, Youth and Family Services

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