The Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs held its second interim study meeting Thursday in an effort to improve services at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Administrators from all seven of the state’s veteran’s centers presented information before the committee. Topics discussed included staffing and pay levels, turnover rates and training as well as how inspections and investigations are conducted within the centers.
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On Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman appointed Sen. Frank Simpson to serve as Chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The retired Navy veteran has served as vice-chair of the committee since getting elected in 2010.
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A measure to ensure better safety for homemade amusement rides was approved Tuesday by the Senate. Sen. Frank Simpson is author of Senate Bill 379, which would require inspection and certification of homemade amusement rides brought to public venues.

Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Tommy Hardin were pleased when Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 742 into law earlier this week allowing for the regulated use of utility vehicles (UTVs) in certain instances on public roadways.

On Thursday, the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) was among seven state agencies to testify before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services during the committee’s second budget and performance hearing. Sen. Frank Simpson said he was greatly disappointed by the changes made by ODVA to address problems discovered within the agency and at the state’s seven veteran centers during last year’s interim study.
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A measure to protect deployed soldiers from certain legal actions was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Under Senate Bill 466, by Sen. Frank Simpson, a soldier’s deployment time could not be counted under the statute of limitations if legal action is brought against that individual.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee has given unanimous approval to a bill restoring Oklahoma State Department of Health inspections at state-run veterans’ centers. Sen. Frank Simpson is principal author of Senate Bill 629, which was approved Wednesday on a vote of 18-0.
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In order to ensure Oklahoma’s veterans are receiving the best possible care at state veterans centers, Sen. Frank Simpson filed Senate Bill 228 this year. The bill, which creates the Quality Workforce for Oklahoma’s Heroes Act, received unanimous approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday. SB 228 authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to establish education and training programs for positions critical to the quality care of veterans residing within Department institutions.
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Oklahoma currently has over 100 one-hundred-percent disabled veterans who have been injured while serving in the line of duty and over 100 veterans who have been killed-in-action since September 11, 2001. In order to provide some financial assistance to these brave individuals and their families as well as to those surviving spouses and children of those killed-in-action, Sen. Frank Simpson filed Senate Bill 486 this year creating the 9/11 G.I. Bill. read more.

The Senate General Government Committee has given unanimous approval to a measure allowing cities and counties to ban smoking on government property. Senator Frank Simpson, R-Springer is the author of Senate Bill 501, which was approved on Monday—just a week after that same committee voted overwhelmingly against a bill which would have given local government the authority to ban smoking in private businesses as well as government owned properties.
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