OKLAHOMA CITY — House Speaker Chris Benge announced the approval Friday of 120 interim studies that will be conducted during the summer and fall prior to the next legislative session.

The studies cover a breadth of issues, including government modernization, health care, public safety, education and economic development.

“Interim studies give members an opportunity to delve deeper into an issue and give thoughtful study to a topic prior to writing and working to pass law,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “This year we have a good set of studies that will help to find ways to make our government more efficient all while providing vital government services to the people of our state.”

The House Republican effort to improve government services by better utilizing technology and spending each taxpayer dollar as efficiently as possible will continue with numerous interim studies on the issue this summer.

Benge noted that taxpayers expect their elected officials to be good stewards of their tax dollars, which includes a continual study of how government is spending the peoples’ money.

“These studies will help ensure our taxpayers are getting the most out of their money in government services and programs,” Benge said. “As legislators, we must continually look at all government expenditures with a critical eye.”

The House legislative studies on government modernization approved this year include the following, among others:

• A study to analyze possible consolidation of state government licensing and permitting functions, requested by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, and Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso.

• Efforts to use new technology to enable better purchasing processes and transparency in government, requested by Reps. Murphey and Derby.

• A study will analyze other government entities’ usage of open source technology products and consider possible application to Oklahoma state government in order to realize savings, requested by Reps. Murphey and Derby.

• A study to determine the potential effect of passage of State Question 744, the “HOPE” petition, requested by Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle.

Lawmakers also will focus on several health care and public safety proposals in the coming months.

The House health care and public safety legislative studies approved this year include the following, among others:

• A study on using tax relief (deductions, credits, exemptions) to help more Oklahomans purchase health insurance, requested by Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City.

• A study to review emergency medical services, requested by state Reps. Doug Cox, R-Grove, Phil Richardson, R-Minco, and Paul Roan D-Tishomingo.

• Efforts to reduce the number of “shake ‘n bake” meth labs in Oklahoma, requested by state Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa.

• A study to consider the cost benefits and best practices for preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, requested by Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow.

• Efforts to reduce cell phone use/texting while driving, requested by Reps. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, and Danny Morgan, D-Prague.

• Possible increased privatization of foster care and welfare services to both reduce costs and improve results, also requested by Nelson.

“I believe state government should focus on a few core functions while empowering private citizens as much as possible,” Benge said. “These legislative studies will help us accomplish that goal by seeking new ways to make health care affordable and accessible, target crime, promote safety and provide efficient delivery of services.”

Other interim studies of note include:

• Assessing quality and costs in higher education, requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada.

• A study to consider the potential benefits/downside of allowing schools to offer an extended school year, requested by Rep. Eddie Fields, R-Wynona.

• A study of KIPP Charter School Teacher Preparation/Student Teacher Prep, requested by Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton.

• Worker’s compensation reform, requested by Reps. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa, and Eddie Fields, R-Wynona.

• A study on the economic impact of the film industry on the state budget, requested by Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow.

• Consider creation of a Market Oklahoma program to conduct outreach and recruitment of out-of-state persons/businesses to promote Oklahoma as a place to live and to do business, requested by Rep. T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton.

FOR A FULL listing of the approved interim studies, visit: http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/ShowInterimStudies.aspx. For video of Murphey discussing his government modernization studies and the benefit of interim studies in general, go to: http://www.okhouse.tv/