Governor Henry signed a measure last Thursday that clears the way for inpatient hospice care throughout the state, according to the bill’s author, Senator Daisy Lawler, D-Comanche.

Senate Bill 591 authorizes the Department of Health to create a licensing process and establishes set standards. The legislation also allows for regular inspections of inpatient hospice facilities.
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State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Governor Brad Henry’s veto of House Bill 1269 on Sunday makes it more likely that Oklahoma heart attack victims might lose their lives and puts Oklahoma-based health insurers at a competitive disadvantage, Senator Scott Pruitt said.

HB 1269 would have limited medical liability associated with Automatic External Defibrillator Systems (AED), allowing the placement of hundreds of defibrillators into public and private institutions.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been given a reprieve in its management of the state fund created to pay for the cleanup of leaking underground petroleum storage tanks, a key State Senator said today.

But that doesn’t mean it should be business as usual within OCC’s Petroleum Storage Tank Division, Senate Energy Environment and Communications Committee Chairman Kevin Easley said.

Easley told Commissioners in a letter today that he intends to make sure the Petroleum Storage Tank Division follows state statutes.
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(Oklahoma City) -- Senate Majority Whip Keith Leftwich has been appointed to a new commission dedicated to protecting Oklahoma’s military installations from being downsized or closed.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, announced Leftwich’s appointment to the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission Thursday.

“All of Oklahoma’s bases are absolutely essential to our state’s economy. We want to do all we can to make sure we keep them,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) The House and Senate of the Oklahoma Legislature have passed a concurrent resolution (SCR-23) for the establishment of the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative (ONI). read more.

Democrats Support Hobson for Second Two-year Term as
President Pro Tempore

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson confirmed Tuesday that he has secured unanimous support from fellow Democrats for a second two-year term as the leader of the Oklahoma State Senate. The Lexington Democrat said that every member of the Democratic caucus has provided him with an official pledge card, promising to support his election to the top Senate post in January 2005.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – A tort plan issued by Governor Henry’s medical liability task force “falls far short” of being reform, Republican leaders said Friday.

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin, Senate Republican Floor Leader James Williamson, and House Republican Floor Leader Todd Hiett issued the following statement on the tort plan issued by Governor Henry’s medical liability task force on Friday:

There is a single purpose to passing medical lawsuit reform in Oklahoma: To lower the cost of skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance for doctors and medical providers, thereby lowering the overall medical costs for Oklahoma families.

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and House Speaker Larry Adair announced Tuesday that lawmakers will return after the Memorial Day holiday weekend to complete the work of the First Session of the 49th Oklahoma Legislature.

Sine die adjournment will come sometime after Tuesday, May 27.

Senator Charles Ford announced the dedication of another original painting commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. The painting, titled “Nathaniel Pryor and Sam Houston at Three Forks” by nationally renowned artist Mike Wimmer of Norman, was unveiled during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber this afternoon.
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