REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA...8 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 9 640,000 2011-12 659,537 2012-13 667,983 2013-14 675,486 2014-15

REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA2020 STATE PRIORITIES

LEGISLATIVE BENEFACTORS

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2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDAii 1

AGENDA ENDORSEMENTS ............................................................... 2

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STAFF.......................................................... 3

ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY .............................................. 4

Diversify municipal fundingFund statewide branding and marketingProtect economic incentivesMeet the demands for research and development in leading industriesReform Oklahoma’s criminal justice system

EDUCATED & HEALTHY WORKFORCE ................................................ 8

Address the teacher shortageFund public education for the 21st centuryExpand the health care workforceSupport full Medicaid expansionAddress mental health treatment and supportAddress adverse childhood experiences

INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS ...................................... 12

Invest in the MKARNS Infrastructure Revolving FundSupport regional water policySupport critically needed transportation fundingEliminate exemptions to 811 One-Call program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA2 3

2020 AGENDA ENDORSEMENTS*

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STAFF

Bartlesville Regional Chamber of CommerceBixby Metro Chamber of CommerceBixby Public SchoolsBlack Wall Street Chamber of CommerceBroken Arrow Chamber of CommerceBroken Arrow Economic Development CorporationBroken Arrow Public SchoolsCatoosa Chamber of CommerceCatoosa Public SchoolsCentral TechCity of Broken ArrowCity of CatoosaCity of GlenpoolCity of JenksCity of MannfordCity of MuskogeeCity of OkmulgeeCity of OwassoCity of Pryor CreekCity of Sand SpringsCity of SapulpaCity of SkiatookCity of TulsaClaremore Area Chamber of Commerce

Claremore Industrial & Economic Development AuthorityClaremore Public SchoolsCoalition of Tulsa Area GovernmentsCollinsville Chamber of CommerceGlenpool Chamber of CommerceGreater Muskogee Area Chamber of CommerceGreater Tulsa Association of RealtorsGreenwood Chamber of CommerceIndian Nations Council of GovernmentsJenks Chamber of CommerceJenks Public SchoolsMannford Area Chamber of CommerceMetro Tulsa Hotel & Lodging AssociationMidAmerica Industrial ParkNortheastern State UniversityOklahoma State University - Center for Health SciencesOSU-TulsaOkmulgee Area Development CorporationOkmulgee Chamber of CommerceOwasso Chamber of Commerce

Owasso Public SchoolsPort of MuskogeePryor Area Chamber of CommercePryor Public SchoolsRogers CountyRogers State UniversitySand Springs Area Chamber of CommerceSand Springs Public SchoolsSapulpa Chamber of CommerceSapulpa Public SchoolsSkiatook Public SchoolsTahlequah Area Chamber of CommerceTulsa Community CollegeTulsa CountyTulsa Health DepartmentTulsa Port of CatoosaTulsa Public SchoolsTulsa Regional ChamberTulsa Small Business ConnectionTulsa TechTulsa’s Future IIITYPROS Leadership TeamUnion Public SchoolsOU-TulsaUniversity of TulsaWorkforce Tulsa

ELIZABETH OSBURNSenior Vice President

Elizabeth leads the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, bringing more than a decade of experience in public policy. Before joining the Chamber staff, she was government affairs director for the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors and a long-time staffer to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, serving in Washington as a policy advisor and in Oklahoma as cor-respondence director.

EMAIL: [email protected]: 918.630.4602

CONNER CARROLL Director

Conner joined the Chamber staff in 2019 and focuses on energy, economic development, transportation infra-structure, environment resources and regional tourism issues. Conner was previously a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas in Washington, D.C.


KATIE HENKE Vice President

Katie joined the Chamber staff in 2019 and focuses on education, health care, workforce and economic develop-ment issues. She was a Tulsa-area educator for seven years and was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representa-tives in 2012. She served in the House for six years in mul-tiple leadership roles, including as floor leader in 2017.


RONNA MONTGOMERY Events Manager and Executive Assistant

Ronna joined the Chamber staff in 2017 and coordi-nates the many regional advocacy events hosted each year, including the OneVoice Regional Legislative Sum-mit, OneVoice Day at the Capitol and the OneVoice Washington D.C. Fly-In.

EMAIL: [email protected] CELL: 918.407.5677

* List current at time of publication. For a full list, visit tulsachamber.com.


Sales tax is a volatile revenue source, but state law requires cities to operate almost entirely on it. Neighboring municipalities are forced to vie for retail development just to pay for basic services like police officers and firefighters. By diversifying revenue sources, Oklahoma communities could better collaborate rather than compete.

Tourism presents a unique opportunity for Oklahoma to capture out-of-state dollars to fund core services. As the third largest indus-try in the state, tourism generates significant tax revenue. Under Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Oklahoma has embarked on a branding and marketing initiative to promote the state as a travel destination to national audiences. In-creasing the number of in-bound visitors will bolster the financial stability of Oklahoma’s cities and towns and strengthen their ability to improve infrastructure.

ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY

Northeast Oklahoma companies depend on a business-friendly climate to grow and prosper. Policymakers should preserve and expand programs that accelerate growth while removing or mitigating barriers that inhibit it.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

$7.42

$7.98

$8.30

$8.61

$8.83

$8.65$8.57

$8.94

TOURISM IN OKLAHOMADIRECT SPENDING BY YEAR, IN BILLIONS

TOURISM SPENDING IN TULSA, 2018

9.3 MILLION TOTAL VISITORS

$1.2 BILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING

$549 FOR EVERY TULSA HOUSEHOLD IN TOURISM

TAX DOLLARS

14% INCREASE IN VISITOR SPENDING

SINCE 2013

SOURCE: Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company

SOURCE: Oklahoma Tax Commission

$1.8 billion

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

$1.9 billion

$2 billion

$2.1 billion

$2.2 billion

$2.3 billion

$2.4 billion

$2.5 billion

OKLAHOMA SALES TAX COLLECTIONS, 2007–PRESENT

City of Tulsa laid off

155 police officers and 147 firefighters

SOURCE: Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company


Oklahoma policy makers have several tools with which to spur economic growth. Incentives, tax credits and ex-emptions encourage strategic investment from Oklahoma and out-of-state companies. Several programs proposed for review by the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Com-mission are critical to the state’s competitiveness and should be protected.

The rapid pace of technological advancement is both a chal-lenge and an opportunity for Oklahoma companies. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) creates public-private research partnerships that focus resources on innovation with the greatest potential for commercial success in the shortest amount of time. Increasing these resources – the demand for which has outpaced funding – is necessary for Oklahoma businesses to compete in global markets.

ONEVOICE PRIORITIES POLICY SOLUTIONS

DIVERSIFY MUNICIPAL FUNDING

• Diversify revenue for funding public safety, streets and other infrastructure improvements

• Preserve and strengthen cities’ authority to promote economic development within their borders

FUND STATEWIDE BRANDING AND MARKETING

• Provide dedicated funding through the Oklahoma Department of Tourism to implement branding and marketing strategies

PROTECT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES • Protect tax credits, exemptions and incentives that provide an economic return

MEET THE DEMANDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN LEADING INDUSTRIES

• Increase investment in OCAST

• Study ways to improve the speed of technology transfer

REFORM OKLAHOMA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• Support alternatives to incarceration

• Pursue further reforms in sentencing, reentry and rehabilitation

• Invest in treatment and early-diversion efforts for individuals suffering from mental illness and addiction

• Increase access to training and job placement services

ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY || STATE PRIORITIES STATE PRIORITIES || ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY

2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

In late 2019, Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board announced the single largest commutation in the nation’s history. More than 400 inmates were released, saving taxpayers $11.9 million. The commutation was the direct result of State Question 780, which reduced the pen-alty of simple drug possession crimes after voters approved the measure in 2016.

Oklahoma should continue the kinds of criminal justice reforms that made this historic commutation possible. The disproportionately high number of Oklahomans with a felony conviction constrains economic growth. Support of continued smart-on-crime policies will improve communi-ty safety, reduce recidivism, lessen the burden on prisons and safety net programs, and enable more Oklahomans to meaningfully contribute to the economy.

• HISTORIC REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT • ALL QUALITY JOBS PROGRAMS • QUALITY EVENTS PROGRAM • FILM ENHANCEMENT REBATE • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING TAX CREDIT • SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR TENANT CREDIT • OPPORTUNITY ZONES • OKLAHOMA SEED CAPITAL FUND

STATE TAX CREDITS, EXEMPTIONS AND INCENTIVES WITH A POSITIVE ECONOMIC RETURN

200

400

600

800

201520102005200019951990

PRISON INCARCERATION RATE

JAIL INCARCERATION RATE

OKLAHOMA’S PRISON AND JAIL INCARCERATION RATESNUMBER OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN STATE PRISONS AND LOCAL JAILS PER 100,000 PEOPLE

SOURCE: Bureau of Justice Statistics


640,0002011-12

659,537

2012-13

667,983

2013-14

675,486

2014-15

681,981

2015-16

686,271

2016-17

689,596

2017-18

691,137

650,000

660,000

670,000

680,000

690,000

$1,816,091,355 $1,816,091,355

$1,837,570,779

$1,876,284,000$1,855,684,226

$1,827,571,349

$1,870,977,666

EDUCATED & HEALTHY WORKFORCE

One of Oklahoma’s greatest opportunities for economic devel-opment is to fully realize the potential of its workforce. Policy-makers should make strategic investments in the workforce pipeline beginning in pre-K and continuing through career tech, college and beyond.

PERCENT CHANGE IN STATE SPENDING PER STUDENT ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, 2008–2018

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Louisiana

Arizona

-37.3%

-37.3%

-40.6%

-55.7%

0.3%

5.4%

7.8%

16.1%

California

Hawaii

Wyoming

North Dakota

TOP 4

BOTTOM 4

SOURCE: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities

OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND STATE FUNDING

SOURCE: Oklahoma Department of Education

Education is the foundation for a successful workforce. The state has recently made meaning-ful strides toward paying teachers at regionally competitive rates. Further investments will im-prove the ability of Oklahoma’s pre-K-12 public schools to attract and retain effective career edu-cators. According to the U.S. Department of Edu-cation, enrollment in teaching degree programs has declined by more than 50% in the last dec-ade. This decline hampers Oklahoma’s ability to recruit qualified teachers, which are in growing demand as public school enrollment reaches re-cord highs. Continued development of a highly skilled, well-educated workforce will elevate Okla-homa’s competitive reputation as a quality place to live, work and build a business.

KEY

ENROLLMENT

STATE FUNDING

2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA10 112020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA


ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE

• Develop a plan to become the top state in the region for teacher pay

• Provide full tuition waivers for education majors

• Reduce class sizes and increase the number of education support professionals

FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

• Invest in common and higher education and career tech with a comprehensive, multiyear plan to be a top 10 state by 2025

EXPAND THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE

• Expand the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Act to include community-based training

• Support the Physician Manpower Training Commission

• Allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants with appropriate levels of training and experience to practice to the full extent of their license

• Incentivize graduate medical education and fellowships in underserved specialties, including psychiatry

• Request the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education seek funding to address the gap in health care professionals across the state

SUPPORT FULL MEDICAID EXPANSION • Support an expansion that serves the largest number of uninsured Oklahomans in the most cost-effective way

ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND SUPPORT

• Increase agency appropriations for prevention, early intervention and treatment

• Reverse cuts in provider rates and restore reimbursements for behavioral health and addiction treatment providers

• Provide financial support for screenings, programs and training that ensure earlier detection of mental illness and appropriate evidence-based treatment in primary care settings throughout Oklahoma

• Treat federal mental health parity laws as minimum standards, and identify and fill gaps that prevent system-wide parity

• Support state agencies in seeking federal waivers to provide more and better options for treatment

ADDRESS ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

• Invest in social/emotional learning in schools and early screening and intervention for students

• Support crisis care services and community-based treatment, including for substance use

• Support training for mental health integration in family practice and pediatric care

• Provide comprehensive postpartum mental health care for parents up to a year after birth

Health care professionals, particularly in rural areas, are among the most in-demand occupations in the state. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and other education leaders should pursue funding for more gradu-ate medical programs. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is dedicated to improving health outcomes for people who are geographically isolat-ed and economically or medically vulnerable. By expanding the impact of HRSA’s Teaching Health Center programs in Oklahoma, the state can train more homegrown physicians and expand services where they are most needed.

The health of Oklahoma’s workforce is an economic issue af-fecting taxpayers and businesses alike. In particular, mental illness and the effects of childhood trauma severely lim-it full participation in the labor force. According to Mental Health America, Oklahoma is 45th in the nation for youth mental illness and access to care. More than 85% of people with mental illness in Tulsa are not working, and untreated mental illness costs Tulsa about $387.8 million each year. Expanding behavioral and substance abuse services will help more Oklahomans gain access to the treatment and support they need to live healthy, productive lives.

EDUCATED & HEALTHY WORKFORCE || STATE PRIORITIES STATE PRIORITIES || EDUCATED & HEALTHY WORKFORCE

Primary Care 183

Dental Health 163

Mental Health 118

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS IN OKLAHOMA

SOURCE: Health Resources and Services Administration

HAVE TWO OR MORE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES BEFORE THE AGE OF 17.

ONE IN THREE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN

SOURCE: Urban Institute

Early intervention and proactive treatment are the most cost-ef-fective ways to improve physical and mental health out-comes. According to the Georgetown Center for Children and Families, 8.2% of Oklahoma children did not have health in-surance in 2018, the third worst rate in the country. By fully

expanding Medicaid and investing in preventive care, Okla-homa can more effectively and efficiently improve the health of its residents, as well as ensure the vitality of the $12.5 billion health care industry, which employs more Oklahomans in pri-mary jobs than any other industry.

11

$2,000$5,000 $5,400

$15,318

$19,000 $20,965$23,000

OOMHSASTREATMENT DRUG COURT

MENTAL HEALTH COURT

SINGLE HOSPITAL STAY

INCARCERATED PERSON

CHILD ENTERING

FOSTER CARE

INCARCERATED PERSON WITH

SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS

ANNUAL PER-PERSON TREATMENT COSTS IN OKLAHOMA

SOURCE: Urban Institute


INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS

Infrastructure is the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. Policymakers should support investments that improve critical transportation routes and provide resources for future growth.

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) connects the nation’s farthest in-land ports, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and Port of Musko-gee, to the world through a 445-mile network of locks and dams. MKARNS has a $250 million backlog of criti-cal maintenance that requires state and federal support to address. State contributions are needed in the newly created infrastructure revolving fund to show local sup-port and encourage federal spending.

More broadly, policymakers should treat reliable water supply as a major economic development driver. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates Oklahoma will require $6.86 billion in drinking water infrastructure in the next 20 years. Large and small communities bene-fit from both water quantity and quality.

MKARNS ECONOMIC IMPACT

11.7 MILLION TONS TRANSPORTED EQUIVALENT TO 221,896 TRUCKS & 57,693 RAILCARS

55,872 JOBS 4 4 5 N A V I G A B L E M I L E S E I G H T T I M E S T H E L E N GT H O F T H E PA N A M A CA N A L

$8.5 BILLION IN SALES

SOURCE: Oklahoma Department of Transportation

2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA14 152020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA


INVEST IN THE MKARNS INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLVING FUND

• Request funding at a minimum of $4 million to create state-level support for efforts at federal level

SUPPORT REGIONAL WATER POLICY

• Reinstate Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) grants for water system consolidation

• Add CWSRF grants for the interconnection of water systems to increase regional reliability

• Implement the Tulsa Regional Water Plan

• Support cooperation between point source discharge and non-point source discharge communities

SUPPORT CRITICALLY NEEDED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

• Fully fund the ODOT Eight-Year Plan

• Fully fund the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges Five-Year Plan

• Initiate the programming and funding for the next phase of major regional roadway projects

ELIMINATE EXEMPTIONS TO 811 ONE-CALL PROGRAM • Eliminate all exemptions to the state One-Call program

INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS || STATE PRIORITIES STATE PRIORITIES || INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS

Underground infrastructure poses a public safety risk to workers from a variety of industries. The 811 One-Call pro-gram is designed to protect workers and promote pipeline and underground utility safety. In recent years, legislators removed the exemptions for cities and counties, but several

entities, including railroads, remain exempt from require-ments to use the service. These exemptions contribute to underground utility incidents, which threaten the safety of excavators and nearby residents.

FACILITY & PERCENT OF U.S. INCIDENTS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

48% NATURAL GAS

27% CABLE TV

11% ELECTRIC

9% UNKNOWN/OTHER

5%


TELECOMMUNICATIONS

48% NATURAL GAS

27% CABLE TV

11% ELECTRIC

9% UNKNOWN/OTHER

5%


TELECOMMUNICATIONS

48% NATURAL GAS

27% CABLE TV

11% ELECTRIC

9% UNKNOWN/OTHER

5%

FACILITIES DAMAGED IN UNDERGROUND INCIDENTS, 2017

SOURCE: Common Ground Alliance

Oklahoma roads and bridges need continued support to maintain progress and return streets and highways to a state of good repair. Despite concerted effort, structurally deficient bridges are still a concern for cities and counties.

Policymakers should consider future opportunities to in-crease connectivity between hubs of economic activity fol-lowing the blueprint of the Oklahoma Department of Trans-portation’s Eight-Year Plan.

CRITICAL ROADWAY PROJECTS

High-capacity expressway-to-expressway interchanges between I-44, U.S. 169, and State Highway 51; and I-44 and State Highway 66 (near Catoosa)

Capacity expansion of U.S. 169 to six lanes from 66th St. North to State Highway 20

State Highway 20 bypass in Claremore

Expansion of U.S. 75 to six lanes from I-244 (Red Fork Expressway) to State Highway 67


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REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA...8 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2020 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 9 640,000 2011-12 659,537 2012-13 667,983 2013-14 675,486 2014-15