LATEST ON BREAKING NEWS AND WEATHER ANY MINUTE NOW. OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS COULD TAKE UP A CONTRACT BILL THAT WOULD PLACE CHAPLAINS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? WE HAVE KOCO ANDY WEBER JOINING US LIVE. ANDY. THIS WOULD ALLOW VOLUNTEER OR PAID CHAPLAINS AND AN UPDATE. THAT BILL IS ACTUALLY BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. IT’S SENATE BILL 36. IT’S BY STATE REP KEVIN WEST. HE ARGUES CHAPLAINS COULD SHOULD BE IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT GUIDING ROLE FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. THEY’RE NOT EVANGELIZING THE KIDS ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THEY’RE JUST THERE TO TO HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER THEY NEED, HELP WITH. THAT WAS WEST’S REASONING BEHIND THE BILL WHEN IT PASSED COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS MONTH. IT WOULD ALLOW DISTRICTS TO CHOOSE TO HAVE A CHAPLAIN WORK IN THE SCHOOL. NO TEACHING CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THE BILL CONCERNED. IT VIOLATES SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, AND THEY ALSO ARGUE THE DEFINITION OF CHAPLAIN IS FAR TOO BROAD. THAT WOULD ALLOW ANYONE TO WORK IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS. NOW, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS BILL BEING DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, IF IT WERE TO PASS, IT THEN MOVES TO THE SENATE BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANDY, WE KNOW YOU’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT ONE. AND QUICKLY, OVER IN THE SENATE, THEY PASSED A BILL THIS MORNING THAT WOULD IMPACT HOW WE OKLAHOMANS VOTE FOR ELECTED LEADERS. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? WELL, THAT IS HOUSE BILL 3156. IT WOULD BAN THE USE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING HERE IN OKLAHOMA. SO WHAT IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING? LET’S BREAK THAT DOWN FOR YOU. IT’S SIMPLY YOU. INSTEAD OF PICKING ONE CANDIDATE, YOU WOULD RANK A LIST OF THEM. THE PROCESS WOULD DO AWAY WITH RUNOFFS AND SOME CONTENDED ALLOWS FOR VOTERS TO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE A CANDIDATE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS. REPUBLICANS ARGUE THE STATE SHOULDN’T CHANGE A SYSTEM THAT ALREADY WORKS FINE AND ARE CONCERNED VOTERS MAY THINK THEY HAVE TO LIST CANDIDATES ON A PREFERENCE LIST, EVEN IF THEY TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT CANDIDATE’S POSITION. BUT WITH THIS BILL PASSING OFF THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A VOTE OF 37 TO 8 TODAY ALONG PARTY LINES, IT NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR. SO ODDS ARE VERY LIKELY THAT THIS PRACTICE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING WILL BE BANNED HERE IN THE STATE. REPO
Senate bill banning ranked-choice voting passes, House looks to take up chaplains in schools
Both bills were met with pushback from some Democrats
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Updated: 4:47 PM CDT Apr 24, 2024
Oklahoma lawmakers could take up a controversial bill that would place chaplains in public schools on Wednesday. | MORE | Oklahoma bill would allow chaplains to work as school counselors Senate Bill 36, authored by state Rep. Kevin West, would allow volunteer or paid chaplains to serve as what he called an important guiding role for school-age children. It would allow districts to choose to have a chaplain work in the school, with no teaching certificate required."They're not evangelizing the kids, anything like that. They're just there to help them with whatever they need help with," West said earlier this month when the bill passed out of committee. Democrats opposed to the bill were concerned that it violates the separation of church and state, and that the definition of a chaplain is far too broad, allowing anyone to work in schools. The bill is expected to be heard Wednesday afternoon on the House floor. In the Senate, the chamber passed a bill that would impact how Oklahomans vote for their elected leaders. House Bill 3156 bans the state from offering ranked-choice voting, where voters can rank a list of candidates instead of choosing just one. The process would do away with runoffs, and some said it would allow for voters to not have to choose a candidate because they are the lesser of two evils. Republicans argued that the state shouldn't change a system that already works fine and are concerned voters may think they have to list candidates on a preference list, even if they disagree with their positions. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppThe bill passed off the Senate floor 37-8 along party lines. The bill is on its way to the governor, signifying a good chance Oklahoma won't have ranked-choice voting anytime soon. Top Headlines Oklahoma mom reunites with kids after nightmare vacation leaves her husband behind bars TIMELINE: First round of severe storms with hail risk moves in on Wednesday 'Never expected this': Yukon neighborhood shocked by family massacre Investigation continues after man shoots, kills wife and 3 children at Yukon home: What we know 104-year-old time capsule found and salvaged during a school demolition project has been opened
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers could take up a controversial bill that would place chaplains in public schools on Wednesday.
| MORE | Oklahoma bill would allow chaplains to work as school counselors
Senate Bill 36, authored by state Rep. Kevin West, would allow volunteer or paid chaplains to serve as what he called an important guiding role for school-age children. It would allow districts to choose to have a chaplain work in the school, with no teaching certificate required.
"They're not evangelizing the kids, anything like that. They're just there to help them with whatever they need help with," West said earlier this month when the bill passed out of committee.
Democrats opposed to the bill were concerned that it violates the separation of church and state, and that the definition of a chaplain is far too broad, allowing anyone to work in schools.
The bill is expected to be heard Wednesday afternoon on the House floor.
In the Senate, the chamber passed a bill that would impact how Oklahomans vote for their elected leaders. House Bill 3156 bans the state from offering ranked-choice voting, where voters can rank a list of candidates instead of choosing just one.
The process would do away with runoffs, and some said it would allow for voters to not have to choose a candidate because they are the lesser of two evils. Republicans argued that the state shouldn't change a system that already works fine and are concerned voters may think they have to list candidates on a preference list, even if they disagree with their positions.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
The bill passed off the Senate floor 37-8 along party lines. The bill is on its way to the governor, signifying a good chance Oklahoma won't have ranked-choice voting anytime soon.
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