McDaniel Wants OESC To Allow Electronic Filing

State Rep. Randy McDaniel (R-Oklahoma City) has filed legislation requiring the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) to accept electronic payments by the end of the year.

Currently, most state agencies and commissions accept electronic payments, especially those like OESC that receive payments from taxpayers regularly.

"We need to modernize state government for the purposes of openness andefficiency," said McDaniel. "Businesses should be able to file electronically if it saves them time and money. Efficiencies will also be gained by the Commission when their operations take full advantage of modern technology advancements."

A law passed in 1998 addressed how filings could be made to OESC. It included the use of electronically transmitted filings. As a result, McDaniel noted, taxpayers should already be able to conduct electronic filing at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, but the agency has not implemented the necessary procedures and software to allow this form of payment.

"The OESC has many important duties to accomplish and has been effective. However, there has been no sense of urgency at the Commission to accomplish this cost savings task," said McDaniel. "My legislation will put a deadline in place to ensure timely efforts are made to save taxpayers time and money."

The legislation will give the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission until Dec. 31, 2008, to be able to accept Internet payments. Taxpayers will be able to file electronically or by traditional means if they choose.

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Education Committee Studies Longer School Year

Members of the House Education Committee looked at the possibility of extending the school year for Oklahoma students during an interim study at the Capitol on Tuesday.

The committee heard testimony that said Oklahoma students have fewer instructional days than most of their counterparts in the surrounding states. Committee members were also told that many nations outside the U.S. have as many as 200 to 220 instructional days in one year.

Based on data presented by state Secretary of Education Sandy Garrett, Oklahoma public schools have 175 instructional days per year, while Arkansas schools have 178, New Mexico and Texas schools have 180, and Kansas schools have 186.

“This was a very interesting interim study,” said Rep. Tad Jones (above right), R-Claremore, who chairs the committee. “It appears that our students’ classroom time can be improved under our current structure, but we also need to consider extending the school year if we want to be competitive.”

Several officials from the education community testified before the committee today, including Garrett, Phyllis Hudecki of the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition, Superintendent Marilyn Bradford of Shawnee Public Schools, Stratford School Board member Rick Griffin, and Sabra Tucker of the Oklahoma Education Association, who is also a teacher in Shawnee.

Another teacher, Robert Marshall of Sentinel Public Schools, gave information to committee members that charted all the students who would be gone from his class during a given month due to various school activities. In one particular month, Marshall said there wasn’t one day that he had his entire class in attendance.

Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Oklahoma City (pictured), requested the interim study. “We want to be competitive with surrounding states and other countries,” he said. “That may very well require more classroom time for our students.”

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McDaniel Seeks Agency Expenditure Disclosure

Legislation to shine a light on how tax dollars are used by state agencies was filed this week by State Rep. Randy McDaniel.

McDaniel authored House Bill 1073, the Oklahoma Public Finance Openness and Accountability Act, which would require all state agencies to publish on their website their financial expenditures throughout the year. While some state agencies already report their expenses, the Oklahoma County Republican said it should be a requirement for all to ensure tax dollars are spent efficiently.

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McDaniel Wants Light On Tax Dollars

Legislation to shine a light on how tax dollars are used by state agencies was filed this week by State Rep. Randy McDaniel.

McDaniel authored House Bill 1073, the Oklahoma Public Finance Openness and Accountability Act, which would require all state agencies to publish on their website their financial expenditures throughout the year. While some state agencies already report their expenses, the Oklahoma County Republican said it should be a requirement for all to ensure tax dollars are spent efficiently.

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