SB 888 will allow seniors to take advantage of options counseling to ensure they are fully informed of their options prior to admission to a long-term care program, including less costly choices like home health and adult day services. One option provided under SB 888 is the PACE program, which is a Medicare and Medicaid…
The Oklahoma Senate approved legislation that preserves and strengthens landmark workers’ compensation reforms adopted in 2013. House Bill 2367 passed unanimously and now goes to the governor’s desk for consideration. Senator Julie Daniels, Senate Judiciary Committee chair, is the Senate author of the bill and said HB 2367 clarifies and secures the reforms while addressing…
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a measure creating a legislative office to evaluate agency budgets and programs for lawmakers. Senate Bill 1 would create the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) within the existing Legislative Service Bureau (LSB). The LSB is a shared office between the House of Representatives and the Senate that currently…
Governor Kevin Stitt issued Executive Order 2019-22 to form the Criminal Justice Reentry, Supervision, Treatment and Opportunity Reform (RESTORE) Task Force. “This task force will bring together all stakeholders to discuss the criminal code, diversion programs, victims’ rights, and our prison system. When Oklahoma comes together as one team, we can create bold change that…
The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 252, which reforms the state’s bail system. SB 252 ensures that most people accused of misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies are considered for unsecured release and are detained only if they threaten public safety or have a history of failing to appear in court.
Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, is the author of Senate Bill 101 to update Oklahoma’s barbering and massage therapist licensing rules. “We have individuals who have diplomas for completing competent training in another state or country and are not allowed to qualify for a license, take examination, or work in Oklahoma due to our current licensing…
The Oklahoma Senate on passed a bill that provides increased classroom time for students beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, is the author of the bill. “Everyone can agree that it’s beneficial for a student to spend more time in the classroom learning from a quality teacher. More time in the…
Oklahoma is second in the nation for nursing home residents with low-care needs who could be better served in home and community-based settings. The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 888 to provide seniors and their families options that best suit the individual’s long-term healthcare needs while saving the state money. “Oklahoma spends 70…
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s budget sets aside $200 million in savings, pumps an extra $203 million into public education and gives teachers an annual pay hike of $1,220. The House passed the budget on Friday and now it goes to the Senate. The budget has an additional $157.7 million for common education (K-12) and $28 million…
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a free-market think tank, has filed a legal challenge to an initiative petition that would expand the state’s Medicaid welfare program, saying the proposal is unconstitutional and the petition gist is so misleading it violates state law. “There are a lot of policy reasons to oppose Medicaid expansion,” said…