Hager (OSU)
Faith Gregory of OBU authored the freshman bill today. The bill (OBU-501) aimed to increase funds for the Oklahoma City SWAT team as well as make them full-time. This was a bill that divided the room in half. Some people did not understand the value of having a full-time SWAT team in Oklahoma due to the state’s high crime rates and the author’s statement that they had no knowledge of a time when the state’s part-time SWAT team failed. This bill got through four rounds of questioning and was on the verge of becoming a debate. The author offered Utah as an example of a full-time SWAT team, but when asked if she was aware that most SWAT teams in the United States and Canada are part-time positions, she answered yes. She also stated that she was aware that SWAT is a part-time force due to the fact that they are continuously on call. This prompted significant debate among delegates because they couldn’t see how this bill would benefit the state of Oklahoma in the long run. By a majority vote, the bill was altered to clarify that the Oklahoma SWAT team will stay part-time, and that the funding intended for a full-time SWAT team will now be placed into further training to ensure that they are well-equipped and prepared for any crises they may be called into. Gregory (OBU), the author, stated that she felt this move was more advantageous to the SWAT team after the amendment was made to the law, and that she highly pushed her fellow delegates to pass the bill and have it go into effect 550 days after passage. Unfortunately, a delegate pointed out that if this bill is not tabled, then it may become dilatory. OBU-501 will be sent back to committees. OBU-501 will be the first bill on the agenda for April 1, 2022 to be voted on.