Two Senate bills to help better address the needs of Oklahoma’s veterans will soon be considered in the House. Sen. Frank Simpson is the principal Senate author of Senate Bills 1610 and 1970, which both received unanimous approval in the Senate last week.

Under current Oklahoma law in order for a veteran to be eligible for state veterans’ benefits, including admission to an Oklahoma Veterans Center, they must meet the definition of a war veteran. Oklahoma statutes define these as veterans who served in a branch of the U.S. military during a period of war including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf Wars.

State Sen. Frank Simpson will be filing legislation this coming session to prevent youth access to e-cigarettes. Rep. Pat Ownbey will be the House author for the bill, which will expand the definition of tobacco products in the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act to include all nicotine delivery products other than FDA-approved cessation aids.

The following is a statement issued Tuesday following the third and final meeting of the Senate Veterans Committee’s interim study of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The meeting focused on the results of the audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs that was requested by the Governor earlier this year, specifically the structure, duties, training and responsibilities of the War Veterans Commission.

Over the past several months, Sen. Frank Simpson and Representatives Pat Ownbey and Tommy Hardin have been working diligently with the Governor’s staff, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA), and the War Veterans Commission to develop a plan to accommodate those veterans at the state’s seven centers who choose to smoke. The issue arose after Gov. Fallin banned smoking on all state property, including the state’s veterans centers, on February 6, 2012 with executive order 2012-01.

There are currently approximately 340,000 veterans in Oklahoma. Of those, almost 78,000 are considered peacetime veterans and are not eligible for admission to the state’s veterans’ centers. The Senate Veterans Committee held their first meeting Monday to study the disparity in eligibility and how it can be addressed.

This fall, the Senate Veterans Committee will be conducting three interim studies on issues affecting Oklahoma’s veterans. The studies were requested by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Frank Simpson, who has dedicated his time in the legislature to improving state services for veterans.

Staff at Oklahoma’s veterans centers will soon have access to more educational and training opportunities thanks to legislation signed late Tuesday by Governor Fallin. Sen. Frank Simpson said his Senate Bill 228, creating the Quality Workforce for Oklahoma’s Heroes Act, will help substantially improve services at the centers.

On Wednesday, the Senate gave final approval to a measure that will improve services at the state’s seven veteran centers by providing more educational and training opportunities to center staff. Senate Bill 228, by Sen. Frank Simpson, will create the Quality Workforce for Oklahoma’s Heroes Act authorizing the Oklahoma Department of Veteran’s Affairs (ODVA) to contract with accredited institutions to establish education and training programs for positions critical to the quality of care of veterans residing with ODVA institutions.

Legislation giving communities local control over smoking in public parks and municipal facilities has been signed into law. Gov. Mary Fallen signed Senate Bill 501, by Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Pat Ownbey, on Monday. The measure also places Fallin’s Executive Order prohibiting the use of all tobacco products in state-owned or leased buildings, land and vehicles into state law.