Capitol briefs: Friday, April 18, 2008

Published: April 18, 2008

A proposal for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment to limit statewide elected officials to 12 years in office cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Senate Bill 1987 now goes back to the state Senate for consideration of House amendments.

The limits would affect the offices of lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, attorney general, state treasurer, labor commissioner, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner and corporation commissioner.

A measure requiring insurance coverage for routine health care costs for patients undergoing clinical trials was revived Thursday in the Senate.

Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, successfully placed language from Steffanie's Law into House Bill 3115, a measure about health plans.

The bill passed the Senate and returns to the House for consideration of Senate amendments.

Steffanie's Law was not heard in a House Committee earlier this month.

Property owners would be able to recover money from trespassers for any damages they cause under a measure approved Thursday in the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 2111 would make convicted trespassers responsible for any actual damages caused while trespassing on the land of another.

Under current law, convicted trespassers face jail time and/or a fine.

SB 2111 would require the court to order the trespasser to pay restitution to the landowner.

The bill passed 91-1 and now will go back before the Senate.

John Greiner and Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau

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