Garvin County legislators ask for AG opinion on sales taxes for rural ambulance services

Roe, Garvin Push for AG Opinion on Sales Taxes for Rural Ambulance Services

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, have requested an opinion from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond regarding the distribution of county sales tax revenue to support private businesses providing a public service.

In April 2021, Garvin County voters approved Proposition No. 2, which would set aside a portion of sales tax toward Emergency Management Services (EMS) in certain rural areas that did not previously maintain emergency services.

Senate passes bill to help fill teacher shortage

Measure to help fill teacher void heads to House

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave approval Wednesday to legislation to allow schools to utilize highly-qualified professionals in their classrooms as long as needed. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, authored Senate Bill 1119 to remove the 270-hour cap for adjunct teachers per semester as the state continues to struggle with the teacher shortage.

According to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), the number of adjunct teachers in Oklahoma schools has increased annually from around 175 during the 2015-2016 school year to more than 400 last school year. The State Board of Education has also approved more than 3,800 emergency certifications so far this school year, pointing to districts’ ongoing need for classroom teachers.

“Until we no longer have a need for emergency certified or adjunct teachers, we must remove any barriers keeping districts from being able to have these highly qualified individuals in the classroom,” Garvin said. “Not only are these professionals helping fill a teaching void, but they’re also helping expose students to their professions, industries and perspective career fields, which is so important as students make decisions about their futures.”

Adjunct teachers are professionals with distinguished qualifications in their field, such as scientists or accountants. Because of their professional background, they do not have to meet the standard certification requirements but can be authorized by the local school board to teach a subject related to their field of expertise.

Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, is the principal House author of the measure that now moves across the rotunda for further consideration.       

LT. GOVERNOR PINNELL APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL TO HELP FILL TEACHER VOID 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell commends the Oklahoma Senate for passing Senate Bill 1119, authored by Senator Jessica Garvin.  The bill removes the 270-hour cap per semester for adjunct teachers in order to help combat Oklahoma’s teacher shortage.

“In a time where many Oklahoma school districts are struggling to fill teaching positions, we need to explore different avenues to get great instructors in the classroom,” said Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. “Oklahoma has many professionals who are highly qualified to teach courses within their fields. We should not be limiting them with arbitrary caps when they are ready and willing to provide quality education to Oklahoma students.”

State Rep. Roe files bill allowing COVID patients to designate visitor

Roe Files Bill Allowing COVID Patients to Designate Visitor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, has filed legislation to require medical entities to allow visitation to COVID-19 patients, even when the patient is in isolation from the public and other patients. 

House Bill 3313 allows a patient with COVID-19 to designate an individual with full visitation rights. The individual may be required by the hospital to comply with certain requirements, including signing an acknowledgment-of-risks document, receiving a health screening from staff or wearing personal protective equipment. 

“Many Oklahomans have had to endure the horrible heartbreak of not being with a loved one while they were hospitalized with COVID-19,” Roe said. “This adds stress and trauma onto an already fraught situation.”

Roe said she has heard from constituents who were either not allowed to visit a loved one or were not allowed to receive a guest while hospitalized for COVID-19.

“Hospitalized Oklahomans have the right to visitation regardless of their health issues,” Roe said. “Not seeing anybody besides their nurses and doctors takes a severe toll on a patient’s mental health.”

Roe added, "I firmly believe that human touch is essential to the healing process."​

Roe has been a registered nurse for 39 years and a nurse practitioner for 22 years. She currently chairs the House Public Health Committee. ​

The hospital may revoke visitation rights to individuals if they fail to follow safety protocols or visitation policies.

If an individual’s right is revoked, the patient may designate a new individual. Individuals who have been suspended from visitation shall be reviewed every 30 days for reinstatement.

Last year, the Legislature approved the No Patient Left Alone Act to allow patients to designate a visitor to have unrestricted visitation, but Roe said facilities have not been complying. The legislation, House Bill 2687, did not include any kind of enforcement mechanism.​

HB3313 also allows any person to bring a civil action against anybody who isolates a COVID-19 patient without visitation rights, knowingly aids in the isolation of a patient or intends to isolate or aid in the isolation. 

The bill has an emergency clause allowing it to take effect immediately upon becoming law. 

HB3313 is available for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which begins Monday, Feb. 7.

Rep. Cynthia Roe, a Republican, serves House District 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Garvin and McClain counties. 

State Sen. Weaver, State Rep. Roe: SQ805 would endanger Oklahoma healthcare workers

The following press release is from Oklahomans United Against 805:

Safety of Oklahoma Healthcare Workers Threatened by SQ 805 

Oklahoma hospitals report between 5 to 10 assaults on workers every day

 
Oklahoma City — SQ 805, the effort to reduce incarceration by lessening penalties on habitual offenders, has come under fire from those who have worked to protect Oklahoma’s front-line health care workers. 

“It is unconscionable, especially during this time of Covid, that any group would seek to lessen punishment for those who attack our healthcare workers,” stated Darrell Weaver, the state senator who authored SB 1290 to increase the range of punishment for those assaulting medical professionals in the line of duty.  

SQ 805 would restrict the ability of judges and juries to extend harsher penalties on habitual criminals, such as those who attack health care workers.  SQ 805 uses Title 57, Section 571 as it existed on January 1, 2020, to define the difference between violent and non-violent felonies.  Assault on a medical professional is not on that list.  

“We have worked for years to extend the protections to our nurses,” Weaver continued.  “SQ 805 is a substantial step backwards.  It will prohibit the use of prior felony convictions to extend the punishment of those attacking the very folks we depend on.  SQ 805 will forever enshrine in our constitution that such attacks are quote, non-violent, un-quote,” Weaver added.  

Shepherd’s Law, providing for licensure of midwives, becomes law

Shepherd’s Law, providing for licensure of midwives, becomes law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation creating a system for licensing midwives has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 1823, creating Shepherd’s Law, was signed into law Monday by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

State Sen. Brenda Stanley, a former educator, is principal author of SB 1823, also known as Shepherd’s Law, named for the baby of a former student--the infant died a day after a planned home delivery that went wrong.  Stanley, R-Midwest City, expressed her thanks to supporters inside and outside the Capitol for helping move the bill all the way through the process.  Stanley noted that Certified Professional Midwives are already regulated in 34 other states.  She said getting SB 1823 signed into law is an important step for Oklahoma.

“Shepherd’s Law provides for licensure, oversight, accountability, informed consent, and preserves parental choice about who they want to use, whether it’s an obstetrician, a lay-midwife, or a licensed, certified midwife,” Stanley said.  “Ultimately, I believe this bill will help us better protect the health and safety of mothers and babies.”

State Senate approves bill providing for licensure of midwives

Senate approves Shepherd’s Law; provides for licensure of midwives

 
(March 4th, Oklahoma City) The Senate has given full approval to legislation that will provide for state licensure of midwives.  Senate Bill 1823 creates “Shepherd’s Law,” by Sen. Brenda Stanley.  The bill was approved by a wide margin and with bipartisan support on Wednesday, 41 to 5.

Stanley, a Midwest City Republican Senator and former teacher and principal, said she named the bill after the newborn son of a former student, Lecye Doolen, who lost her baby the day after a planned home delivery that went terribly wrong.

“Shepherd’s Law will provide for licensure, oversight, accountability and informed consent, but preserves parental choice about who they want to use, whether it’s an obstetrician, a lay-midwife, or a licensed, certified midwife,” Stanley said.  “Certified Professional Midwives are already regulated in 34 other states—getting this bill passed in both chambers and signed into law will be a tremendously important step for Oklahoma.”

Doolen watched from the Senate gallery as the bill was approved.

“This is actually the first time here at the Capitol that I completely broke down in tears—it was just such a historic day, and to have something bearing my son’s name that is going to be a lasting legacy…it’s moving and incredibly special,” Doolen said.

Under SB 1823, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) or Certified Midwife (CM) would be required to be licensed in Oklahoma.  All midwives would be required to disclose what credentials or licensure they may or may not have, their limitation of skills and whether they carry malpractice insurance.  A required informed consent document would also include information on the midwife’s plan for emergencies and complications and gives parents the ability to pre-select a hospital in case of an emergency.

Licensed midwives would also be required to advise clients to seek medical care for pregnancies outside their scope of practice and to call for emergency assistance in situations that fall outside their scope of practice.  The $1,000 license would be good for three years.

The legislation also places oversight of the midwifery profession under the State Commissioner of Health and creates an Advisory Committee on Midwifery to assist the commissioner in matters pertaining to licensure, discipline and related issues.  Rulemaking authority of the commissioner includes scope of practice, a formulary of prescription drugs for licensed midwives to administer, routine tests, and continuing education. The Health Department would also maintain a roster of licensed midwives.

Sarah Foster, CPM, MA, is President of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, Oklahoma Chapter.  She and several members of her organization were also in the Senate gallery for the vote on Shepherd’s Law.

“We are so excited about what this means for Oklahoma families…we know that families are safer when they have access to midwives who can practice in their full scope, so we could not be more elated about what happened today,” Foster said.

SB 1823 now moves to the House for consideration.  The House principal author is Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsey.

“After years of attempts in the legislature to create accountability and licensure for midwives, I believe Shepherd’s Law will finally make this a reality.  The informed consent requirements will ensure parents can determine the credentials and licensure status of midwives,” Stanley said.  “It’s a way forward that I believe can help us better safeguard the health and safety of mothers and babies.”

State Senate approves legislation to address workplace violence in hospitals/health care facilities

Full Senate approves legislation to address workplace violence in hospitals/health care facilities

 (March 5th, Oklahoma City) The full Senate voted in favor of legislation strengthening laws dealing with violence against people who work in hospitals and health care facilities.  Senate Bill 1290, the Medical Care Provider Protection Act, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, was approved on Thursday and now moves to the House of Representatives.

Weaver, R-Moore, said nearly 75 percent of all workplace assaults occur in health care with one in four nurses reporting they’d experienced some kind of workplace violence—that’s more than three times higher than all other occupations. He said the goal of SB 1290 is to better protect Oklahoma health care workers.

“In Oklahoma City hospitals alone, there are between five and 10 assaults reported every single day.  Attacks on health care workers can result in significant injuries, missed work, PTSD and lower productivity,” Weaver said.  “It can also be deadly.  Nationwide, at least 58 hospital workers died in 2014 as a result of reported violence in the workplace.  It’s clear we need to strengthen our laws to better protect health care workers, raise awareness and increase accountability.”

Provisions included in SB 1290 would:

• Raise awareness through uniformed signage in medical settings, which will read:  WARNING:  ASSAULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHO IS ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES IS A SERIOUS CRIME.
• Require the annual reporting of all assaults on health care workers to the State Health Department. The data would be nonidentifiable.
• Create an inclusive listing of specific health care workers that the bill covers.
• Increase the penalty for aggravated assault and battery on a medical care provider from the current range of up to one year to a minimum of two years and a maximum of five.

“SB 1290 will make sure all health care workers are covered by protections related to assaults, whether they’re an ER doctor or nurse, a physical therapist, or even a chaplain. The bill also corrects a disparity in current law to ensure appropriate penalties for these attacks,” Weaver said.  “I appreciate the Senate’s support on this measure and look forward to working with my House author, Representative Cynthia Roe, to get this bill all the way to the governor’s desk.”