A bill to make sure caregivers are kept informed about when a patient is being discharged and given follow-up care instructions is now on its way to the governor’s desk for her signature. House amendments to Senate Bill 1536, by Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, were approved by the full Senate on Monday.

SB 1536 allows hospital patients to designate a lay caregiver upon formal admission. The hospital must also notify the designated caregiver of the patient’s discharge and consult with the caregiver about aftercare.

In order to avoid a budget shortfall in the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget has approved a $13 million supplemental appropriation. Senate Bill 2126 was approved by the committee Monday afternoon.

Senate Appropriations Chair, Clark Jolley said DOC had actually needed $27 million, but had worked to identify ways of reprioritizing funds within the agency. Jolley praised DOC director Robert Patton for his fiscally conservative approach and leadership.

Under legislation signed by the governor this week, Oklahoma taxpayers will be able to better understand where their tax dollars are being spent.

Senate Bill 1980, authored by Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, will require the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to include a taxpayer receipt feature on the existing Open Books website. The function will allow a taxpayer to enter data on the amount of taxes they have paid, and see how those funds were allocated under statutory apportionment provisions.

Sen. Ralph Shortey today said the House of Representatives sent a message that they are serious about protecting the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans by overriding the governor’s veto of House Bill 2461.