OKLAHOMA CITY – Two southwest Oklahoma lawmakers have been tapped as the chairman and vice chair of the Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee.
Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, will serve as chairman and Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, will hold the vice chair position.
The new appointments are effective immediately.
The announcement was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat after outgoing committee chairman Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, said he would seek the Second Congressional District seat. Quinn will remain a member of the committee. Montgomery was serving as vice chair before Quinn’s departure.
“Sen. Montgomery’s experience as vice chair and knowledge of the subject matters will make him an effective committee chair, and Sen. Garvin is a bright, hard worker who brings great experience to the vice chair role,” Treat said. “I know both Sen. Montgomery and Sen. Garvin will do well, and I appreciate them taking on a leadership role in these new positions.”
The Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee handles legislative issues relating to the regulation of private insurance, and legislation related to the six public pensions in this state including: the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System and the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System.
Montgomery said the promotion to chairman is “certainly something I’m excited about.
“I can help craft better legislation and have better oversight,” he said. “It’s the scope of work I have to do that’s important.”
Two critical issues for Montgomery is enhancing retirement benefits for state employees and regulating pharmacy benefit managers.
“It’s certainly something I have an eye on,” he said of the benefit managers.
Montgomery said he’s been busy since the announcement reviewing the insurance and retirement bills approved by the House. Those measures must now be considered by the Senate committee, which oversees bills that affect almost every Oklahoman in some way.
Garvin, who is in her first term, said she is honored that Treat selected her to help lead the retirement and insurance committee.
“With my years of experience in the healthcare industry, I’m very familiar with the insurance industry and am looking forward to working to protect and strengthen the retirement systems of our hardworking public servants who have dedicated their careers to helping their fellow Oklahomans.”
Garvin will continue serving on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, along with the Business, Commerce and Tourism, Rules, and Transportation committees.