Oklahoma Senate Passes Bill Redirecting Marijuana Tax Money for Schools

Public Radio Tulsa reports….A bill that redirects medical marijuana tax revenue dedicated to education from Oklahoma’s General Fund has passed the Senate.

Senate Bill 1758 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski sends the money into the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund, which helps smaller districts improve facilities.

Stanislawski said $760,000 in marijuana taxes went into the general fund last year, only enough to hire 11 new teachers statewide. He said that money could make a significant difference if districts with few resources can use it to improve their schools.

“I don’t believe a ZIP code should define the quality of education that a child receives. Statewide, we should have good, clean, well-built facilities,” Stanislawski said.

When voters legalized medical marijuana through a state question, they approved a provision for 75% of its tax revenue to go toward education. Sen. J.J. Dossett pushed back against the bill, saying the money should be available to help all schools.

“Any time we’re picking and choosing which schools are getting money, it’s not an equitable situation. I have concerns that we’re putting it into a fund that will only help a small pocket of schools,” Dossett said.

SB1758 passed 27–16 and now goes to the House.

Source:  https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-senate-passes-bill-redirecting-marijuana-tax-money-schools

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

Section 426. SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 7, State Question No. 788,

Initiative Petition No. 412 (63 O.S. Supp. 2019, Section 426), is

amended to read as follows:

A. The tax on retail medical marijuana sales will

shall be established at seven percent (7%) of the gross amount

received by the seller.

B. This tax will shall be collected at the point of sale. Tax

proceeds will shall be applied primarily to finance the regulatory

office.

C. If proceeds from the levy authorized by subsection A of this

section exceed the budgeted amount for running the regulatory

office, any surplus shall be apportioned with seventy-five as

follows:

1. Seventy-five percent (75%)

going to the General Revenue Fund

and may only be expended for common education. shall be deposited in

the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund

established by Section 32 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution;

and

2. Twenty-five percent (25%) shall be apportioned to the

Oklahoma State Department of Health and earmarked for drug and

alcohol rehabilitation.

SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2020.

SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby

declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

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1 Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2020.

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Presiding Officer of the Senate

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5 Passed the House of Representatives the

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Presiding Officer of the House

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