Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oklahoma Senate panel rejects bill to end district payroll deductions for union dues and political contributions
Summary
Senate Bill 62, which would have prohibited school districts from facilitating payroll deductions for professional organization dues and political contributions, failed in committee after extended debate over taxpayer subsidy and employee choice.
The Senate Education Committee voted down Senate Bill 62, a proposal that would have removed the requirement that school districts process payroll deductions for professional organization dues and political contributions and barred districts from doing so going forward.
Senator Bergstrom, the bill's author, said the measure would prevent school districts from using taxpayer dollars to process deductions that he described as funding “left wing” political activity and argued the decision should rest with individual employees. Opponents said the bill went too far by ending a mechanism that many employees use for voluntary payroll deductions and could eliminate protections or convenience the now-existing statutory process provides.
Senator Rader and others warned that removing district-facilitated deductions without careful transition mechanisms could harm employees and complicate administrative processes. The author asked to strike the bill’s title during questions to allow further negotiations; the committee later voted 3 ayes and 8 nays and the bill failed in committee.
Votes and procedure: the chair recorded a do-pass motion and then the final roll call produced 3 ayes and 8 nays; the chair declared SB 62 failed in committee. Senator Bergstrom said he will work with members on possible revisions.
