Press Releases

Gov. Mary Fallin’s desk is the next stop for legislation requiring new recruits in law enforcement to receive training to recognize Alzheimer’s and how to respond to people with the disease. Senate Bill 315, by Sen. Brian Crain and Rep. Marian Cooksey, was approved by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

An individual with Alzheimer’s may get confused and wander off, but when someone tries to help them, they may seem combative and aggressive. Crain said recognizing the symptoms and responding correctly can ensure a positive resolution.
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On Monday, the Senate gave unanimous approval to a measure that will help provide financial assistance around the state during severe droughts. House Bill 1923, authored by Rep. Dale DeWitt and Sen. Ron Justice, would create the Emergency Drought Relief Fund and an Emergency Drought Commission.
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A measure to help decrease Medicaid fraud in Oklahoma was approved overwhelmingly 86-1 in the House Tuesday. Senate Bill 27, by Sen. Josh Brecheen, will direct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to require the state’s 40,000 Medicaid providers to post signage explaining how to anonymously report fraudulent Medicaid activity in all locations where services are provided.
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Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman issued the following statement Thursday after passage of the Oklahoma Commission on School Security’s legislative recommendations.
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The growing problem of human trafficking has resulted in Senate passage of two bills aimed at helping the victims of this crime. House Bill 1058 by Sen. Nathan Dahm and Rep. Sally Kern and House Bill 1067 by Sen. A.J. Griffin and Rep. Lee Denney were approved in the Senate on Thursday.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee has given approval to a measure to better protect Oklahoma children from child molesters. Sen. Kyle Loveless is Senate author of House Bill 2228, creating the “Protect Against Pedophiles Act,” which was approved on Wednesday. Loveless said federal law forbids schools to require background checks unless they are specifically allowed by state law.
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The Senate on Tuesday recognized Duane “Dog” Chapman and his wife Beth for their efforts to establish regulations on bail enforcers and bring fugitives to justice. Chapman, formerly the star of the long-running television series, Dog the Bounty Hunter, visited the state Capitol in support of Sen. Ralph Shortey’s Senate Bill 1013, which would create the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act.

The measure would require all persons acting or engaging in bail enforcement or bail recovery to be certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET).
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Before a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday, the Oklahoma Gold Star Medal of Honor was presented to the families of two fallen Oklahoma servicemen. The honor is given to members of the military born in Oklahoma who have lost their lives in the line of duty, or in a combat zone, since Sept. 11, 2001.
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Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage and Caucus Chairman Tom Ivester issued the following comments Thursday in response to the passage of HB 2032 by the Senate Finance Committee earlier in the day.

Sen. Harry Coates is disappointed one of his bills was not given a hearing Thursday even after the chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee said he would hear the measure. House Bill 1056, by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel and Sen. Coates, would have created the Parole of Aging Prisoners Act in an effort to address the costs associated with Oklahoma’s ever increasing aging population and prison overcrowding.
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Introducing House Bill 1419 to the Senate Public Safety Committee on Thursday, Sen. Rob Standridge said state leaders must acknowledge Oklahoma has a problem with prescription drug abuse. The Norman Republican said addressing the issue should be a central priority of the state’s public health strategy.
Authored by Rep. Richard Morrissette, HB 1419 is a bipartisan effort to address fraud by strengthening the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program. The measure won committee approval and will advance for consideration by the full Senate.
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Having received unanimous approval from both the Senate and House, Senate Bill 251 is on its way to the Governor’s desk. The measure, authored by Sen. Earl Garrison and Rep. Author Hulbert, will give the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf more leniency in making decisions for their students.
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