Crime and confidence
Police officers and firefighters would be able to talk to peer counselors without fear of retribution under a bill being considered today in the House.
The legislation would give police and fire counselors the right to keep conversations secret, allowing law enforcement and emergency workers to be honest about traumatic situations they experience on the job.
Rep. Paul Roan and Rep. Glen Bud Smithson, both Democrats and former state troopers, debated in favor of House Bill 1460, saying many police officers are leery of speaking with ministers and psychiatrists about work-related incidents. Instead, they feel more comfortable speaking with a peer, but want some assurance that what they reveal will be kept private.
Opponents of the bill worry about expanding confidential communication beyond that with lawyers, ministers and in some cases doctors.
“It’s a slippery slope,” said Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 94-5 and will now go to the Senate for consideration.
Do you think police officers and firefighters should be able to talk with their peers in confidence, including details about crimes and accidents? Or should those discussions be left to professionals, like ministers and psychiatrists?
Jennifer Mock
Capitol Bureau
Tulsa trip turns up owners
Nearly 100 Tulsa television viewers have a little more wealth today after simply calling to see whether the state treasurer’s office has any of their cash or other holdings.
State Treasurer Scott Meacham appeared last night on the newscasts of one Tulsa television station and some of his staff appeared on another Tulsa TV station to invite viewers to call to see if any of their items were in the unclaimed property fund. The fund, which has about $175 million in assets, is managed by the treasurer’s office.
The treasurer’s office conducted 1,175 searches and found unclaimed property for 99 of them, said treasurer’s office spokesman Tim Allen.
The treasurer’s office found $25,525 and 461 shares of various kinds of stock that belonged to the 99 viewers, he said.
The largest, single amount found was $8,740 in mineral interest royalties for a viewer in McAlester.
Oklahomans may visit the Web site of the treasurer’s office to see whether any unclaimed property belongs to them or their relatives. Go to www.treasurer.ok.gov. From there, click on “Search for Unclaimed Property.”
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Democrats looking for donors
Oklahoma Democrats can help whittle their party’s debt down to five figures. But they have to act quickly.
Party Chairman Lisa Pryor says she has negotiated a settlement agreement with one of the party’s last remaining large creditors to wipe out a $97,000 obligation if the party can come up with $50,000.
The offer expires today.
When Pryor was elected state Democratic Party chairman in May 2005, she found the party was about $540,000 in debt. The latest papers filed with the Federal Election Commission show the party’s debt is $158,592.
Pryor said she would like to erase the remaining debt by the time her term expires in May.
“I don’t know if we’re going to be completely debt free, but we’re going to be close,” said Pryor, who earlier this month announced she is not planning on seeking re-election.
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Treasurer on the road
State Treasurer Scott Meacham and his staff are going on television tonight in Tulsa to try to find the owners of cash and other assets in the state’s unclaimed property fund.
One person in Tulsa has $300,000 in cash and $500,000 worth of stocks in the unclaimed property fund managed by the state treasurer’s office, said Tim Allen, a spokesman for the treasurer’s office.
Another person has $122,000 in cash and another individual has $137,000 in cash in the fund, he said. The treasurer’s office knows the identities of the owners, but has been unable to find them.
Meacham will appear during the 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts on KTUL-8. Six telephone lines will be available for viewers to call.
His staff will appear during the 9 p.m. newscast on KOKI-23. They will be answering four telephone lines.
Oklahomans may check to see whether any unclaimed property belongs to them or their relatives by going to the treasurer’s Web site at www.treasurer.ok.gov and click on Search for Unclaimed Property.
Assets in the unclaimed property fund include uncashed paychecks, overpayments, royalties, rebates, and stocks and bonds and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.
The treasurer’s office holds the money for perpetuity in the unclaimed property fund until a successful claim is made. The cash and property are turned over to the treasurer’s office when the businesses holding them lose track of the owners.
While it can’t touch money in the fund, the state earns interest on it. The unclaimed property fund has about $175 million in assets.
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Celebrating freedom
The House passed a bill today that would implement a Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools surrounding Veteran’s Day.
The legislation, House Bill 1874, would leave the way the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents and events are studied up to each school district. But some lawmakers fear this is another mandate on schools and will cut into required class time.
Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Whitefield, said students can celebrate freedom and America’s historical heritage without desginating a specific week for the lessons, allowing the studies to fall in historical order within a class.
But, students often get through school without learning much about some key points in the country’s history, said author of the bill Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan. This legislation would dedicate school time each year to making sure students know about the sacrifices made in the past to make our country what it is today, he said.
The bill passed with a vote of 80-18 and will now head to the Senate.
Do you think a special week dedicated to teaching about the American Revolution, the woman’s suffrage movement and other historical turning points should be required in Oklahoma’s schools?
Jennifer Mock
Capitol Bureau
