New law allows counties to develop health districts
The governor has given final approval to senate Bill 736, which will allow country health departments across the state to share resources in an efforts to improve public health in Oklahoma.
Authored by Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, the measure allows country health departments to form “health districts,” comprised of multiple member countries, with the goal to pool resources to enhance health outcomes for members countries.
“Currently, country health department operate independently, but I strongly believe our health outcomes will be better if we all work together’, Kidd said. “This change will allow our country health department to share resources to better serve their residents, a concept that is especial important in rural Oklahoma where resources may be lacking in some areas.”
Rep. Marcus McEntires, R-Duncan, carried the measure in the House.
“Giving our country health department the ability to pool resources with each other will help the better address the health care needs to the Oklahomans they serve as well as better plan for large scale projects,” McEntire said. “I’m grateful to Senator Kidd for bringing this necessary change and to the governor for signing it into law.”
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate and by a large bipartisan margin in the house. It will go into effect on Nov. 1, 2021.
Law enforcement commission to study consolidation
A commission of to state law enforcement and state officials will soon be convened following the signing of Senate Bill 371.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R- Porter, is the author of the measure creating the Unified State Law Enforcement Commission which will consider ways to unify the state’s three public safety agencies to increase efficiency and better serve the public.
“This is an idea we’ve been working on for several years now – somehow unifying our state’s public safety agencies to improve services through better collaboration and training,” David said. “ I also want to make sure our law enforcement personnel are protected and get the same high-level training across the boarded, so they can move easily from one area of law enforcement to another.”
The Commission will study, evaluate, make recommendations regarding combining the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations (OSBI), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control (OBNDDC), and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) into one public safety agency.
The 8-member committee will make recommendations regarding the best methods to ensure accountability within a unified state law enforcement agency and to address public corruption.
Member of the Commission will include the DPS Commission will include the DPS Commissioner, OSBI Director, OBNDDC Director, the Cabinet Secretary of Public Safety, the state Attorney General, one governor appointee who will serve as the Commission’s chair, and one member each from the Senate and House selected by the Senate Pro team and House Speaker.
The Commission’s findings must be submitted by December 1, 2021, to the Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, House Speaker, Senate and House Public Safety Committee chair as well as to their chamber’s minority leader.
SB 371 went into effect with the Governor’s signature.
High school Students can take Military ASVAB
Oklahoma’s high school students will soon be able to join thousands of others from around the country intaking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test under legislation signed into law earlier this week.
Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the author of Senate Bill 642 to provide youth further career guidance.
“So many young people have no clue what they want to do after high school, but the ASVAB is yet another free tool that schools can use to help the make important decisions about their future, “Pugh said.
Pugh, an Air Force veteran, noted that Oklahoma has one f the lowest ASVAB administration rates in the nation even though the state has one of the highest military populations and one of the highest rates of high school students entering the military.
SB 642 requires each Oklahoma public school district and public charter school to offer sophomores though seniors the opportunity to take the free U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) administered ASVAB test and consult with a military recruiter beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
The test is to be administered during normal school day hours at a time that does not conflict with extracurricular activities. Schools will be required to provide notice of the date, time, and location of the test to eligible students and their parents or legal guardians.
The ASVAB us a heavily researched and well respected aptitude test developed by the DOD. It is used for career exploration and measures a young adult’s strength and potential for success in military training or other fields.
SB 642 will go into effect on July 1, 2021.
Visiting teams score big with Senate Bill 302
Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, wanted to even the playing field for high school sports fans by ensuing access to broadcasting streams, and Governor Kevin Stitt made it happen April 26 by signing Senate Bill 302 into law.
The measure grants visiting teams in all regular high school athletics competitions the same rights to video stream as is already provided for radio and television broadcasts beginning in the upcoming school year.
“Oklahoma love their sports, but some schools aren’t playing fair when it comes to providing access to their video streams. For many parents and other fans, watching their favorite team or player online is something their only options, and I want to make sure they don’t miss a moment,” Coleman said. “This bill will make sure that all schools have equal access to game coverage, and I’m grateful for my legislative colleagues for helping me get it across the goal line.”
Under SB 302, visiting team must have either a valid agreement between a media organization and the school board of education or a student curricular program that provided streaming for home game. The measure applies to contracts for rights to video stream along with radio and television broadcastings entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2021. The Bill will go into effect July 1, 2021.
- Complied by Time Farley, Southwest Ledger