Friday marks voter registration deadline for statewide primary

(Oklahoma City) – The deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration for Oklahoma’s Primary election is Friday, June 5.

The State Election Board’s new voter registration “wizard” makes it easier than ever to complete a Voter Registration Application. State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said the “wizard” is designed to simplify the registration process. Applicants who use the "wizard" will also receive a transaction code they can use to check the status of the application with their County Election Board.

“The new voter registration wizard allows you to complete your application online, then print, sign and mail the application to your County Election Board. By using the State Election Board’s website to fill out your application, you can be certain your personal information is safe and secure,” Ziriax said.

Voters can access the voter registration “wizard” through the OK Voter Portal.

In addition to the voter registration wizard, applicants can download a Voter Registration Application from the State Election Board's website. Current voters can update their voter registration address online using the OK Voter Portal, if the new address is in the same county. Voters can also get a paper voter registration application from their county election board or at a voter registration agency, such as a tag agency.

Voter registration applications must be received by the Election Board or postmarked no later than Friday, June 5.

Visit the State Election Board website at elections.ok.gov for more information.

The Oklahoma Primary Election is Tuesday, June 30.

Senator Ikley-Freeman discharged from hospital after deadly accident

OKLAHOMA CITY –Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, issued a statement Monday on Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman’s continuing recovery. The Tulsa Democrat was seriously injured in a collision on the Turner Turnpike while traveling to the state Capitol for the legislative session on May 22.

“While we still want to be mindful of Senator Ikley-Freeman’s privacy, many people have called, emailed and messaged asking to be updated. I can share that Allison was discharged today from OU Medical Center and has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Tulsa to continue her recovery from her injuries. This is a positive step in that process.

“Again, Senator Ikley-Freeman, her family, and all of us in the Senate Democratic Caucus continue to be heartened by the outpouring of love and support from throughout the state. We want to thank everyone for the kind words, positive thoughts and prayers.”

Oklahoma Department of Corrections to allow visitation beginning next weekend

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is set to resume inmate visitation next weekend.

Visitation will be highly structured to accommodate social distancing. Visiting sessions will be two hours long and offered multiple days a week. More information will soon be available on visitation schedules.

All visitors must abide by the following rules and any other rules posted inside the visitation room:

• Remain in their vehicle until it is their time to enter

• Wear a facemask provided by the facility while on facility grounds

• Complete health-screening questionnaire and have temperature measured prior to entering visitation room

• Visitors presenting with COVID-19 symptoms will be required to leave facility grounds

• Maintain, at all times, at least 6 feet social distancing

Facility personnel will immediately end any session where a visitor is not adhering to these or other posted rules. The safety of our inmates and staff is our first priority.

The facility will ensure visiting rooms and visitor’s restrooms are cleaned and disinfected before each session. Facilities will provide hand sanitizer stations at visitation checkpoints and inside visitor bathrooms.

Visitors are only allowed to bring inside the facility an identification card, car key, and baby care items (if a young child is present). Visitors are not allowed to bring money inside the visitation room. Visitors are not allowed use of vending machines at this time.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections will cease visitation privileges if the state realizes a significant increase in COVID-19 cases or if the health or safety of staff or inmates is jeopardized.   

Tulsa County announces upcoming major construction to Wekiwa Road in Sand Springs

View fullsize

Tulsa County Engineering is announcing that construction improvements on Wekiwa Rd., just west of Sand Springs, will begin near the end of June 2020. Work will be done between 161st W. Ave. and 129th W. Ave. and will include widening Wekiwa Rd. to accommodate bike lanes and provide a safer roadway for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists accessing the nearby USACE Keystone Dam and Keystone Lake. Wekiwa Rd. will be used as a portion of the bicycle leg of the Ironman competition in May of next year.

This Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) project is funded by state and federal monies combined with Vision Tulsa bond funds and will widen the roadway from 18 feet to 24 feet, including 11-foot lanes with 1-foot paved shoulders and recoverable foreslopes. New signs and striping will be provided, including "share the road" type signage for bicycle traffic. Guardrails will be added to two existing box culverts and milling and overlaying of the existing pavement will be completed. Through traffic will be maintained for the duration of the project.

The contract for this work was awarded to Ellsworth Construction in March 2020 and is scheduled to be completed within 120 calendar days from the start date.

Keystone Dam to 177th W. Ave.

Design is currently underway for the section of Wekiwa Rd. farther west, from Keystone Dam to 177th W. Ave. This Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) project will be done by County employees with an anticipated completion time slated for the early spring of 2021. The project will include widening the road 3-feet on each side, lengthening several culverts, widening structures to accommodate the wider roadway, and overlaying the entire width.

The portion of Wekiwa Rd. between the TAP-funded and FLAP-funded sections will be concurrently repaired by County employees to complete the roughly 6-mile corridor

Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act signed into law

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan voted in favor of the bill, while District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted against).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was signed into law Thursday to hold physicians who perform fraudulent abortions solely liable for the wrongful death. Senate Bill 1728, by Sen. David Bullard, creates the Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act and modifies provisions related to awarding damages resulting from such wrongful deaths. 

The Durant Republican said the bill will allow parents and grandparents of unborn children to seek damages against a physician if consent is gained through fraudulent means.  If the woman is coerced, inebriated, given falsified information, or if the physician does not disclose the physical and/or psychological harms that will be caused by the abortion, the physician may be sued. 

“An overwhelming amount of data indicates these are the tactics used by the abortion industry.  Once these fraudulent schemes are exposed and no longer available, thousands of unborn babies will be saved every year,” Bullard said.  “When women and families choose to use this power to make Oklahoma an abortion desert, countless innocent lives will be saved.”  

The bill specifies that physicians cannot waive liability prior to performing an abortion. Recoverable damages may not include the cost of the abortion. The bill also removes the exclusion of legal abortions and acts committed during diagnostic testing or treatment from deaths, which may constitute recoverable damages.

In addition, the bill also protects physicians who choose life over an abortion. Doctors who do everything a reasonably prudent doctor would do to save the life of the mother and child will be protected from civil liabilities. 

Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, is the House author of the measure, which will become law November 1, 2020.

“We’ve gotten to the point in this country where a woman is only believed if her voice lines up with a specific political ideology,” said Gann. “This legislation restores the voice of millions of women and gives them the right to fight back against an industry that brutalizes them for profit.

According to the Justice Foundation, up to 69 percent of abortions in the U.S. are performed without legal consent and are coerced. They’ve found that mothers are persuaded to go through with abortions through illegal coercion including being lied to about the age or health of their babies or about the safety of the actual procedure. Many women are drugged prior to actually agreeing to the procedure thinking they are only getting examined, but wake up to realize the procedure is complete.

The CDC’s latest statistics show that there were more than 623,000 abortions performed in 2016, or nearly 200 abortions for every 1,000 live births.

Hofmeister praises bills addressing dyslexia, school transparency

View fullsize

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22, 2020) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the passage of five bills this legislative session will have a positive and meaningful impact strengthening student supports and improving transparency in education. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed all five bills earlier this week. 

“Taken together, these new laws will help push education forward and provide desperately needed supports,” Hofmeister said. “In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, our schools do not lack for challenges, but these measures will help ensure we maintain focus on all of Oklahoma’s more than 700,000 public school students.” 

State lawmakers filed more than 2,300 bills for the 2020 legislative session. The following were among those passed into law. 

House Bill 2804 requires schools to screen kindergarten through third-grade students for dyslexia if they are not reading on grade level at the beginning of the school year. Dyslexia screening will begin in the 2022-23 school year. The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) will have until 2021 to develop the screening process. HB 2804 was authored by Rep. Mike Sanders and Sen. Stephanie Bice. (*Editor’s Note: District 37 Senator Ikley-Freeman and District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan both voted in favor of the bill).

House Bill 2905, also known as the Virtual Charter School Reform and Transparency Act, was authored by Rep. Sheila Dills and Sen. Dewayne Pemberton. Changes to instructional activities, truancy and a required student orientation will go into effect next school year. The OSDE will work to implement changes to the virtual charter school transfer process by 2021-22. (*Ikley-Freeman and Nollan both voted in favor).

Authored by Rep. Tammy West and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, House Bill 3466 requires the State Textbook Committee to use a three-tiered rubric when reviewing materials to be approved for the state list. The committee will be required to provide comments and/or justification for the rating given to each item and to share the rubrics with districts. HB 3466 goes into effect Nov. 1. (*Ikley-Freeman and Nollan both voted in favor).

“By improving transparency and efficiency in the adoption process for new textbooks, Oklahoma can better ensure teachers have high-quality instructional materials for every child they serve,” Hofmeister said.  

Senate Bill 212, authored by Stanislawski and Rep. Rhonda Baker, requires the initial allocation of state aid for statewide virtual charter schools to be calculated like that of all other schools, rather than using a weight of 1.333 for all virtual students enrolled as of Aug. 1. (*Nollan voted in favor of the bill, while Ikley-Freeman was excused).

Senate Bill 1436 creates a new micro-credential for special education teachers already certified in mild-moderate disabilities to become certified in severe-profound disabilities and allows the State Board of Education to issue a two-year provisional certificate as teachers work to complete the credential. SB 1436, which was authored by Stanislawski and Rep. Nicole Miller, also creates a new certification in the area of comprehensive special education. (*Nollan voted in favor of the bill, while Ikley-Freeman was excused).

Bill signed into law creating ‘Imagination Library’ for Oklahoma children

(*Editor’s Note: District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted against the bill, while District 66 Representative Jadin Nollan was excused from the vote).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma is on its way to having its own Imagination Library—a literacy program providing free books to encourage children to read. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, are principal authors of SB 1803, creating the framework for Oklahoma’s Imagination Library, modeled after a program founded by entertainer Dolly Parton in her home state of Tennessee.  The governor signed the measure into law on Thursday.

“The Imagination Library is a public/private partnership that will mail every single child in Oklahoma one high-quality, age appropriate book a month from birth through age five, with no restrictions or financial limits for families to participate,” Haste said.  “This program has been proven to increase reading time, increase kindergarten readiness and is credited with helping children score higher on reading tests.”

SB 1803 creates a revolving fund for Oklahoma’s Imagination Library and places administration under the State Department of Education.  Haste said the first book mailed to each Oklahoma child will be “The Little Engine that Could.”

Haste said he was inspired to begin an Imagination Library after attending a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Tennessee in 2019, which included a presentation with Parton.  She founded the Imagination Library in 1995 for the children in Sevier County, Tennessee, with the program later expanding throughout the entire state. Today, Parton’s Imagination Library has partners in communities throughout the country, with statewide programs in North Carolina, Ohio, Arkansas and Delaware and has been adopted in Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

“Reading is the basis for all learning,” Townley said. “Inspiring a love of reading in children at an early age will help better prepare them to become life-long learners and give them a leg up when they start school. I’m thankful to have worked with Senator Haste to bring this program to Oklahoma and I look forward to seeing the impact this will have on our school-age children.”

Bill extending emergency certifications signed into law

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan voted in favor of the bill, while District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted against).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s schools will soon have more teaching applicants thanks to a bill signed Thursday. The State Board of Education approved emergency rules in March to allow emergency teaching certificates to be renewed for up to three years, and the governor approved the rules in April. However, the legislature felt more must be done for Oklahoma schools, so Senate Bill 1115 removes the emergency certification renewal cap all together beginning November 1.

Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, authored the bill to help address the state’s teacher shortage and shrink class sizes.

“In order to provide the best education to our students, we desperately need more teachers. So many schools have no other applicants besides these individuals so when their two years is up, the school is forced to leave the position open and increase class sizes,” Sharp said.  “There are many reasons that keep people from becoming fully certified and that’s their choice, but until we have more certified teachers seeking positions, we can’t continue to punish the schools by forcing them to let those with alternative certification go.  If they have a passion for teaching, we need to keep them in the classroom.”

Anyone who has been employed by a school district for at least two years can have their emergency teaching certificate renewed if the following criteria are met:

• They have not successfully completed the competency exams.

• They submit a portfolio of their work to the State Board of Education, including progress toward standard certification.

• The local school district’s superintendent proves the district is unable to hire a teacher with a standard certificate to the State Board of Education.

Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, is the House author of SB 1115.

“Oklahoma has been dealing with a teacher shortage for years, and I hope this legislation will help meet a need,” Sterling said. “Allowing school boards to have the option of rehiring emergency certified teachers who have done well in their classrooms in lieu of qualified certified teachers will expand the hiring pool and bring more stability to our classrooms.”

SB 1115 exempts emergency certified teachers from protection under the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990.

Gov. Stitt signs nation's first anti-red flag law

(*Editor’s Note: House District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan voted in favor of the bill. District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted against the bill).

OKLAHOMA CITY – The nation’s first anti-red flag gun law is now on the books in Oklahoma to strengthen and protect citizens’ Second Amendment rights. Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, authored the measure, which was signed into law by the governor on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1081, also known as the Anti-Red Flag Act, prohibits the state or any city, county or political subdivision from enacting red flag laws. It also prohibits the acceptance of any grants or funding to enact red flag laws.

“As other states have expanded infringements on the Second Amendment and other rights protected in our U.S. Constitution through their ‘red flag’ laws, I’m thankful we have a governor who has committed to protecting and defending our rights by signing Senate Bill 1081, the Anti-Red Flag Act, into law,” Dahm said. “Whether it is passing constitutional carry or opposing these stealthy attempts at denying our due process, I’m honored to be continually leading the charge to defend the rights of Oklahomans and am pleased to see us be the first in the nation to pass this type of law.”

Red flag laws have been passed in more than a dozen states across the country and permit police or family members to temporarily remove firearms from at-risk people who may present a violent threat to themselves or others.

Dahm said these types of laws are a serious abuse of constitutional rights, and he’s concerned the federal government may try to offer grants to states or municipalities to create such laws. The Anti-Red Flag Act prohibits this from happening in Oklahoma. 

State Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, is the House author of the bill and a 22-year military veteran.

“During each of my nine deployments I kept in the forefront of my mind the list of freedoms for which I was fighting,” Steagall said. “Near the top of that list is the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed to American citizens by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. Red flag laws would circumvent our laws, stripping American citizens of their rights to due process under the law. As a veteran and an American, I could never let that happen.”

The Anti-Red Flag Act went into immediate effect upon the governor’s signature.

Riley Boatwright Act is signed into law

(*Editor’s Note: House District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan and District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman both voted in favor of the measure).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation requiring school districts across the state to provide emergency medical services at athletic events and school activities was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Named the Riley Boatwright Act in memory of a Lexington, Okla., middle school athlete who died from injuries suffered in a football game in 2019, Senate Bill 1198 directs all Oklahoma school district boards of education to coordinate with emergency medical service providers to develop a plan to provide emergency medical services at athletic events or activities held at school facilities.

The measure requires the plan to be reviewed and updated annually and placed on file with the school district and emergency medical services provider.

“Requiring an emergency medical plan for school athletic events and activities could be the difference between life and death in a serious injury situation,” said Senate author Rob Standridge, R-Norman. “There should never be a question if an ambulance or doctor will make it in time to tend to an injury. This is a commonsense law that has the ability to save lives.”

The bill passed with bipartisan majorities in both the Senate and the House.

State Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, was the House author of the bill.

“Working with Riley’s family to craft this legislation that will hopefully save the lives of other young people was some of the hardest work I’ve had to do since my time in the legislature,” Conley said. “The legislation itself sailed smoothly through the process, and I’m thankful for the support it received from my fellow lawmakers and the governor. But knowing the family’s grief at losing their precious son made this an emotional issue that will long live in my memory.”

School boards must form their emergency plan prior to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.

Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman appointed to state health care board

View fullsize

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, was recently appointed to the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Resources Board.

The board governs the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Resources Center (OHCWRC), which was created in 2006 to collect and analyze data relating to health care worker supply and demand trends; ensure Oklahoma’s education and training systems have the resources to support and produce the number of health care workers needed in the state; increase awareness among citizens of health care careers and opportunities; and improve job satisfaction and retention rates of state health care employees.

As a member of the board, Ikley-Freeman will be responsible for the oversight of the executive director of the OHCWRC.

“I’m excited to get to work on the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Resources Board, and am thankful to Sen. Floyd for the opportunity,” Ikley-Freeman said. “As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to ensure we are recruiting our state’s best and brightest to fill our health care related jobs, as well as provide the support our current health care workers need to be successful.”

Ikley-Freeman was appointed to the post by Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.

“I am pleased to appoint Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman to the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Resources Board,” said Senate Democratic Leader Floyd. “As a mental health professional, Senator Ikley-Freeman will bring a much-needed perspective to this board.”

Gov. Stitt signs bill legalizing curbside pickup and home delivery of alcohol

(*Editor’s note: both House District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan and District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted in favor of the bill).

OKLAHOMA CITY – A convenience to Oklahoma consumers born out of the pandemic will be allowed to remain in place.  The measure, by Sen Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, allows curbside sales or home deliveries of beer, wine and spirits to continue.  Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1928 into law Thursday. 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission (ABLE) allowed restaurants, grocery and liquor stores to serve customers through curbside service and delivery.  I’ve talked to many citizens who really appreciated the convenience and didn’t want to see it end. This measure will allow that service to continue,” Thompson said.  “It’s another important step in continuing to modernize Oklahoma’s liquor laws, offering more choices to consumers.”

Under SB 1928, delivery or curbside service of beer, wine or spirits would have to be provided by the establishment holding the license—third party companies cannot deliver those products.  Restaurants, grocery and convenience stores can only provide curbside sales or home delivery of beer or wine.  Liquor stores can provide that service for beer, wine and spirits.

“We found during the COVID-19 pandemic that this practice worked well and posed no additional public safety problems for law enforcement or anyone else in the general public,” Wallace said. “This will allow this ease of commerce to continue in the future, and it’s a welcome addition to the services we allow consumers and our small business owners.”

Governor signs Oil and Gas Produced Water and Waste Recycling and Reuse Act into law

(*Editor’s Note: District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman and District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan both voted in favor of the measure).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation designating who owns and is responsible for wastewater resulting from oil and natural gas drilling operations was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, Senate Bill 1875, also known as the Oil and Gas Produced Water and Waste Recycling Reuse Act, clarifies that produced water and waste is the property of the oil and gas producer until it is officially transferred to another person. It also shields liability from those who process wastewater into recycled water and/or transport this recycled water for further use in oil and gas production. 

By clarifying ownership and liability, the measure aims to attract entrepreneurs to innovate and invest in technology to process and treat oil and gas produced water and waste, resulting in a beneficial resource and a reduction in wastewater injection, Rader explained.

“This law is the result of unprecedented negotiations between oil, gas, agricultural and landowner stakeholders across the state,” Rader said. “We’ve all seen negative impacts of underground wastewater injection. It’s in the state’s best interest to cultivate, encourage and promote developments that allow for the economical treatment of wastewater so it can become a useful resource in the future. By clarifying ownership and liability, this law could help protect existing freshwater resources and groundwater from potential pollution.”

House author Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, said the bill helps clarify an issue that until now was ambiguous in state statute.

“Such clarity will give Oklahoma a competitive edge in attracting entrepreneurs looking to turn wastewater into a reusable resource,” O’Donnell said. “This helps us create a stronger business environment as we continue to seek ways to diversify our state’s economy.”

Numerous groups came together to support this legislation, including the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment; Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality; Oklahoma Farm Bureau; The Petroleum Alliance; Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association; State Chamber of Commerce; Environmental Federation of Oklahoma; Coalition of Surface Owners and Mineral Owners; and Lagoon Water Midstream.

Oklahoma to honor out-of-state teaching certificates under new law

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan and District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman both voted in favor of the bill).

OKLAHOMA CITY – This week, the State Board of Education must begin authorizing out-of-state teaching certificates after Senate Bill 1125 was signed into law Monday.  The bill, by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, will help increase the number of teachers in the state by recognizing valid out-of-state teaching certificates, with no other requirements except a criminal history record check. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for Oklahoma to help get more certified teachers in the classroom this fall and help shrink classroom sizes,” Pugh said.  “Before we were requiring out-of-state teachers to jump through too many hoops to teach in our state. Under this new law, they won’t have to get recertified, take competency exams or any of the other unnecessary requirements that were keeping them from returning to the classroom.  Instead, Oklahoma will honor and respect their knowledge and expertise welcoming them with open arms.”

Pugh said he filed SB 1125 to follow his 2019 SB 670, which provided reciprocal licensing for military personnel and their spouses. Teacher licensing is under its own title of law requiring a separate bill.

Under SB 1125, the teaching certificate issued by the State Board of Education will only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to those recognized on the out-of-state teaching certificate.  New teachers will be required to take competency exams for any other subjects or grade levels they decide to teach. Qualifying out-of-state teachers must have both a current Oklahoma and national criminal history record check on file. 

House Speaker Charles McCall is the House principal author of the measure.

Gov. Stitt signs two measures protecting rights of nursing mothers

View fullsize

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan and District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman both voted in favor of both bills).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt signed two bills Tuesday to protect state employees who are nursing.  Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, authored the measures to ensure mothers are allowed daily break time and privacy to breastfeed or express milk. 

“There is nothing more beneficial to a baby’s health than to be nursed.  We want to support moms who choose this healthy option,” David said.  “It’s something that needs to be done throughout the day to protect the milk supply and ensure the mother’s comfort. These changes will help support nursing moms and hopefully encourage more to consider this nutritious option for their kids.”

SB 285 requires state agencies to allow lactating employees reasonable paid break time to use a designated lactation room.

SB 1877 requires all buildings owned or leased by the state where state employees work to have a place other than a bathroom for breast feeding or to express breast milk. 

“Lactation rooms can already be found in federal buildings for their employees. Oklahoma state employees deserve the same,” David said. “I’m proud of Oklahoma for supporting nursing mothers and ensuring Oklahoma’s children get off to a healthy start.”

Currently, federal law requires that all federally owned or leased buildings have a lactation room.  The Affordable Care Act (ACA) amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 to require employers to provide reasonable break times for employees to express breast milk for the first year of the child’s life.

Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, is the principal House author of both bills, which will become law November 1, 2020. 

“Nursing mothers returning to work deserve consideration of their needs and privacy where they can lactate,” said Bush. “These bills ensure that state employees will have a designated room for lactation and appropriate break time allotted for them to take care of this need.”

Nonconsensual selling of intimate images/video to become felony

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Kim David is the author of legislation to protect victims from their intimate images and videos being sold by former partners without their knowledge or consent. Such actions will become a felony under Senate Bill 1462, which the Porter Republican filed after learning of a constituent’s struggles to protect her image and reputation from someone she trusted at one point, who is now her ex-spouse. 

“Anyone with a moral compass would never think to stoop so low, but unfortunately we have some sick individuals in our society. They thrive off humiliating their current or former partners any way they can, and when they get paid to do it, it’s even more enticing,” David said. “My constituent’s ex-husband sold private videos of her to over 150 adult websites profiting from her humiliation and nearly costing her her job in the military. Even after having numerous misdemeanor charges brought against him, he continues selling the videos. This is disgusting, and we need to protect people from having their private moments used against them during or after a relationship.”

Under SB 1462, attempting to gain financial advantage or gain anything of value as a result of the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images will become a felony. First time offenders will face up to four years in prison while repeat offenders will face up to ten years imprisonment and be required to register as a sex offender. The bill remove’s the state’s discretion to file a misdemeanor charge on anyone who commits the offense. Provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act will not apply to anyone while incarcerated in a medium or maximum security prison. 

Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal House author of the bill that will go into effect November 1, 2020.

Legislation to address workplace violence in hospitals/health care facilities signed into law

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan voted in favor of the bill, which passed the House 74-26. District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman voted against the bill, which passed the Senate 43-4).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation strengthening laws dealing with violence against people who work in hospitals and health care facilities has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 1290, the Medical Care Provider Protection Act, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, and Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, was approved by the governor on Tuesday.

Weaver said despite a lifelong career in law enforcement, he was shocked to learn how often health care workers are the victims of workplace violence.  He thanked the governor and fellow members for approving legislation aimed at keeping them safer, especially now.

“Our health care workers and other employees in these facilities are on the frontline during this pandemic.  I think the current situation just highlights how important it is to do all we can to ensure their safety while on the job” Weaver said.  “In Oklahoma City hospitals alone, between five and 10 assaults are reported every day, but it’s a problem that impacts health care workers throughout the state.  I’m grateful for the governor and the members of both chambers for their support of this legislation.”

Provisions included in SB 1290 would:

• Raise awareness through uniformed signage in medical settings, which will read:  WARNING:  ASSAULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHO IS ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES IS A SERIOUS CRIME.

• Require the annual reporting of all assaults on health care workers to the State Health Department. The data would be nonidentifiable.

• Create an inclusive listing of specific health care workers that the bill covers.

• Increase the penalty for aggravated assault and battery on a medical care provider from the current range of up to one year to a minimum of two years and a maximum of five.

Roe has 37 years of health care experience and is currently a nurse practitioner in Pauls Valley, where she has worked on the front lines during the state’s COVID-19 response.

“In my career as a nurse and nurse practitioner, I have seen and experienced firsthand the violence that often faces our health care workers,” Roe said. “Violent behavior from patients or visitors is a problem far too many medical professionals have been a victim of, and it unfortunately has caused many talented health care workers to pursue other careers. An estimated 75% of all workplace violence occurs in health care. I’m hopeful that the actions taken by the Legislature through this bill will cut down on this violent behavior and help keep our medical professionals safe.”

Sand Springs City Councilman Mike Burdge makes 200th blood donation

View fullsize

Sand Springs, OK - When Mike Burdge learned back in 1970 that he could earn a little extra time off during his tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam by making a blood donation- he did not flinch. The young soldier scrambled at the chance to give blood and enjoy a little more time away from the war. It has taken years since then for Burdge, now a former Mayor and current City Council member with the City of Sand Springs to realize the immense value of his blood donations made back then, and those he has given for more than fifty years.

Five decades later Burdge recently reached a milestone by making his 202nd blood donation with the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Like the cavalry, Burdge’s steadfast commitment to donate blood platelets and plasma has come to the rescue for agencies like the Oklahoma Blood Institute, who are in dire need of the “gift of life” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of social distancing and concerns over large gatherings, blood drives have been suspended and only a small number of people can participate at one time at the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s facility in Tulsa while making a donation. The pandemic has put real pressure on the need for donations of blood to save lives in Oklahoma.

Somewhere along the way Burdge shifted his war strategy on blood donations too. These days he focuses his mission on donating the more precious platelets and plasma, which take much longer (2 ½ to 4 hours) to give than the more common unit of 2 blood donation. He has come to understand that his donations are critical for people making their way (for example) through cancer treatments and much more, and that the call for blood will never go away.

“I realized the impact of saving lives through donating blood was much more powerful than many of my efforts to save lives during my time in Vietnam,” said Burdge who plans to continue his war on blood supply.

For the Oklahoma Blood Institute, they are grateful that many Oklahomans have answered the call, and invite anyone who can help the cause to consider following in Burdge’s mission. For more information about giving blood or if you have questions about how blood products are used daily to save lives visit www.obi.org or call them at 1-888-584-7557.

Shepherd’s Law, providing for licensure of midwives, becomes law

(*Editor’s Note: District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan and District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, representing Sand Springs, both voted yes on the bill).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation creating a system for licensing midwives has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 1823, creating Shepherd’s Law, was signed into law Monday by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

State Sen. Brenda Stanley, a former educator, is principal author of SB 1823, also known as Shepherd’s Law, named for the baby of a former student--the infant died a day after a planned home delivery that went wrong.  Stanley, R-Midwest City, expressed her thanks to supporters inside and outside the Capitol for helping move the bill all the way through the process.  Stanley noted that Certified Professional Midwives are already regulated in 34 other states.  She said getting SB 1823 signed into law is an important step for Oklahoma.

“Shepherd’s Law provides for licensure, oversight, accountability, informed consent, and preserves parental choice about who they want to use, whether it’s an obstetrician, a lay-midwife, or a licensed, certified midwife,” Stanley said.  “Ultimately, I believe this bill will help us better protect the health and safety of mothers and babies.”

Under SB 1823, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) or Certified Midwife (CM) would be required to be licensed in Oklahoma.  All midwives would be required to disclose what credentials or licensure they may or may not have, their limitation of skills and whether they carry malpractice insurance.  A required informed consent document would also include information on the midwife’s plan for emergencies and complications and gives parents the ability to pre-select a hospital in case of an emergency.

Licensed midwives would also be required to advise clients to seek medical care for pregnancies outside their scope of practice and to call for emergency assistance in situations that fall outside their scope of practice.  The $1,000 license would be good for three years.

The legislation also places oversight of the midwifery profession under the State Commissioner of Health and creates an Advisory Committee on Midwifery to assist the commissioner in matters pertaining to licensure, discipline and related issues.  Rulemaking authority of the commissioner includes scope of practice, a formulary of prescription drugs for licensed midwives to administer, routine tests, and continuing education. The Health Department would also maintain a roster of licensed midwives.

The measure was supported by the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, Oklahoma Chapter.

The House principal author of SB 1823 is Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsey.  She said the new law will take effect on November 1, 2020.

“This law will give prospective Oklahoma mothers the ability to determine the credentials and skills a midwife has before making a decision about who they want to entrust with their life and that of their baby,” Roe said. 

Unemployed Oklahomans rally at State Capitol to protest problems with unemployment system

OKLAHOMA CITY – Unemployed Oklahomans who are self-employed rallied at the state Capitol Monday wanting answers to why their claims have not been fulfilled after weeks of waiting. State Senator Mary Boren has been working tirelessly trying to get answers as many unemployed Oklahomans are facing eviction and other financial troubles.

“Being that the state has already received its federal unemployment funds, I don’t understand why these citizens aren’t getting their benefits,” Boren said. “It’s beyond frustrating that our citizens, through no fault of their own had to close their businesses because of the health crisis yet haven’t received the unemployment benefits they were promised.  Something must be done immediately so these people don’t lose their homes, cars, or have to close their businesses permanently and experience complete financial ruin.”

Boren said her office has been inundated with calls and emails of Oklahomans who have not received any unemployment benefits, cannot get through to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) to get an update on their case, or if they do get through are told someone will get back to them but never does.

Three types of unemployment are currently available to self-employed Oklahomans, gig workers, independent contractors and those who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.

1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is available to those who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits. PUA benefits became available at the end of April.

2. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Assistance (PEUA) will begin this week and will provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits (through the week ending Dec. 26, 2020) to those who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits.

3. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provides an additional $600 per week to all eligible Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants through the week ending July 25, 2020.

The Norman senator cited a survey from the Oklahoma Self-Employed Professionals, a group of private citizens who have received no PUA assistance and are demanding accountability from the OESC, the governor and other state leaders. The survey included responses from more than 300 Oklahomans.

Nearly half of respondents said they have received no confirmation that their claim has been approved or denied. Nearly 60% of those surveyed said they have been disconnected at least twice when calling in to check on the status of their claim. Only 14% of those approved for PUA have been able to file their weekly claims.

The survey found that when people did get through they experienced long wait times.  Over 28% said they waited 30 minutes to an hour, nearly 16% waited 1-2 hours, and nearly 24% waited over 2 hours to talk to an OESC employee about their claim.

Of those surveyed, 88% said when their call was answered there was no Tier 1 Specialist available to help them. Nearly 46% said when they talked to a Tier 1 Specialist, they were provided incorrect information.

When speaking to a Tier 1 Specialist, 69% were told their case was "high priority" or "critical" and that they were at the top of the list for a Tier 2 agent to return their call. Nearly 85% of these individuals are still waiting to be contacted by a Tier 2 agent. Less than 3% of those who have talked to a Tier 2 agent said they were able to address their issue successfully.

“This is a just a small reflection of what is happening to Oklahomans all over the state.  I urge Gov. Stitt to hold OESC accountable and get these hardworking Oklahomans the benefits they have earned and deserve before their lives are destroyed.  This isn’t a game.  These are people’s lives and they need relief immediately,” Boren said.

According to OESC, the state has received just over $1.21 billion in federal funds for PUA, PEUC and FPUC.