Disability Issues Report

February 27, 2004

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

3535 NW 58, Suite 500

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

405-951-3400 and 800-845-8476 Voice and TTY

Information: Jean Jones, DRS Public Information Office

405-951-3488 or jhjones@drs.state.ok.us

Status Report:

2004 State Legislation

Affecting Oklahomans with Disabilities

The following measures have potential to impact the lives of Oklahomans with disabilities in areas such as health care, education, transportation, community services, employment, rehabilitation, income, accessibility and disability programs.

February 19th was the deadline for bills to pass in the committees to which they were originally assigned. Many bills failed to meet that deadline and have been dropped from our list. However, some proposals that died in committee may resurface as amendments to other legislation. For pointers on tracking legislative issues of interest to you, contact Jean Jones, 405-951-3488.

March 11 is the deadline for bills to pass in their houses of origin.

View text of bills and find out their status in the legislative process by going to www.lsb.state.ok.us. This Oklahoma Legislature website also provides links to House and Senate home pages, the Oklahoma constitution and statutes, House and Senate member information, a text search feature to find bills of interest by keyword, and much more. You may also check the status of bills by calling Senate Records, 405-524-0126, or the Bill Status Clerk at the House, 405-521-2711. Have bill numbers handy. DRS employees can update bill status and get other pertinent information from the Legislative Information database on Lotus Notes (contact Beverly Childers for details).

Note: Appropriation bills are collected at end of list.

Listen to the House and Senate live:

Find audio links at the OETA home page: http://www.oeta.onenet.net/ or go directly to the Senate live at mms://164.58.250.26/senate

or House at mms://164.58.250.25/house

February Legislative Highlights

· HB-2197 is an assistive technology bill requiring state agency information technology systems to be accessible. Authored by Deutschendorf in the House and Capps in the Senate, it adds accessibility compliance as a component of state agencies' long-range electronic data processing plans. The bill has passed the House and will next be assigned to a Senate committee.

· Two bills call for a vote of the people on raising the state’s motor fuels tax to pay for road and bridge maintenance. Both measures would allocate a small portion of the increase to rural and urban public transportation systems, something Oklahomans with disabilities say is a major need. The bills are HB-2632 by Erwin and Milacek and HB-2559 by Nations and Milacek. The Nations bill has passed the House.

· Two bills would make it easier for individuals with disabilities to drive golf carts as a mode of transportation on city streets. The bills are HB-2367 (Jones; Brogdon), and SB-1461 (Williamson; Peters). Both measures retain some restrictions on use of golf carts on city streets and roadways.

· SB-1109 by Cain and Blackburn helps lay the groundwork for development of consumer-directed personal assistance services in the state. It exempts personal assistance providers and entities under the Health Care Authority’s Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Supports and Services (CD-PASS) waiver from provisions of the Home Care Act, to allow consumers more choice and flexibility in selection and management of their personal care resources. This bill has cleared committee and awaits a full Senate vote. Another measure, HB-2300 by Tibbs and Cain, directs DHS Aging Services Division to establish a pilot project for consumer-directed support services.

· HB-2194 by Deutschendorf and Williams updates the state’s law requiring certain textbook publishers to provide their books in electronic format when needed to produce textbooks in accessible formats for students with print disabilities. The House attached two controversial amendments dealing with the teaching of evolution and local committee selection of textbooks. These amendments could affect the bill’s chances of success.

· Proposals that did not pass committee included a bill to raise the minimum wage, several measures related to prescription drugs, a soft drink tax bill that could have affected vending facility managers, a bill creating an office of aging services, a proposal for a Railroad Transportation Act, and a bill directing the Department of Transportation to designate a portion of available toll credits to leverage federal highway funds for matching transit capital grants in Oklahoma.

2004 Disability-Related Bills

Senior nutrition programs:

HB 1818 Mass. Relating to appropriating funds to the Department of Commerce for a nutrition program. Provides funding for senior nutrition programs of independent senior centers. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Natural Resources. 2-19 reported from Appropriations Committee as a Substitute with title stricken.

Higher education costs; rehabilitation:

HB 1822 Sweeden; Shurden. Relating to requiring institutions in the higher ed system to submit proposed tuition and fee increases to the Regents by Feb. 1; regents shall report all proposed tuition increases to the Governor, Pro Tem, Speaker, minority leaders and education committees. Note: Higher education tuition and fee increases affect vocational rehabilitation clients and raise the cost of rehabilitation. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. 2-18 passed full House Appropriations Committee as a substitute with title stricken.

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Health care:

HB 1835 Lindley. Modifies goals of the Task Force to Eliminate Health Disparities; increases membership of the task force and modifies report requirements. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. Passed committee. 2-23 passed House 99-0.

Nursing homes:

HB 1854 Turner; Snyder. Allowing for criminal history check for new employees in long term care facilities; enacting the Oklahoma Long-Term Care Administrators Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Do Pass from Public Health 2-12. House passed 99-0 on 2-23.

Prescription drugs:

HB 1866 Gilbert; Cain. Expanding the scope of the Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Act pilot program to include pharmacies under contract with the county health department or the State Department of Health. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. Committee substitute passed 2-18.

Children; health care; Medicaid:

HB 1870 Gilbert; Lawler. Modifying the purpose of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program to include building a community-based system of family-centered, coordinated and culturally competent services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Human Services. 2-17 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Veterans; handicapped parking:

HB 1890 Ellis; Helton. Authorizing special parking privileges for vehicles displaying a disabled veterans license plate with the international accessibility symbol; authorizing issuance of such license plate. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Safety and Homeland Security. 2-10 committee passed and reported substitute bill.

Nursing homes:

HB 2093 Sweeden; Gumm. Recreating the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board until 2010. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Government Operations/Agency Oversight. 2-17 passed House 92-4.

Nursing homes:

HB 2108 Leist; Robinson. Prohibiting an increase in nursing facility quality of care fees unless authorized; deletes financial incentives for administration of Oklahoma Medicaid Program. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Health. 2-19 reported Do Pass from House Appropriations Committee. 2-24 passed House 92-1.

Retirement income exempt from income tax:

HB 2112 Kirby; Leftwich. Allowing up to $5,000 of retirement income of a person age 65 or older to be exempt from taxable income, regardless of the person’s income level. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-18 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Disabled veterans:

HB 2143 Wells; Wilkerson. Providing a motor vehicle excise tax exemption for veterans with a service-connected disability of 100%; providing an exemption for the spouse of a person killed during active duty. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-10 passed House with title stricken.

Medical liability:

HB 2154 Rice; Corn. Providing immunity from civil liability for medical care or treatment by use of automated external defibrillator for prescribing physicians, course directors land trainers who have completed the training required by the Department of Health. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Judiciary. 2-17 reported Do Pass from Judiciary.

Textbooks for students with print disabilities:

HB 2194 Deutschendorf; Williams. Updating state law requiring textbook publishers who contract with the State Textbook Committee to provide electronic files of their books when so requested, to allow production of Braille and other accessible versions of the instructional materials. The revision requires publishers to furnish their books in a standard electronic format established under federal law. The Department of Rehabilitation Services would prescribe a file format to be used in absence of a federally-adopted standard. The law would be broadened to refer to accessible formats in addition to Braille. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Common Education. Substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee. On 2-13 House adopted two floor amendments, one requiring certain state textbooks to carry disclaimers stating evolution is a controversial and unproven theory, and the other allowing schools to use state textbook funds to buy locally-selected books that have not gone through the state textbook adoption process. The bill passed the House 96-0.

Assistive technology; requiring state agency systems be accessible:

HB 2197 Deutschendorf; Capps. Adding accessibility compliance as a component of state agencies' long-range electronic data processing plans; creating an Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Council. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Science and Technology. 2-16 substitute bill reported from Committee. 2-23 House approved bill 98-0.

Trauma care:

HB 2250 Paulk; Robinson; Robinson. Increasing court fees for certain criminal offenses; dedicating funds to the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Public Safety. 2-19 substitute bill reported from House Appropriations Committee.

Nursing homes; nurse aides:

HB 2282 Mitchell; Wilkerson. Prohibiting nursing homes from using as nurse aides individuals who have not completed the nurse aide training and competency program within the required four-month period. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-12 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Housing:

HB 2291 Turner; Gumm. Enacting the Oklahoma Rural Housing Incentive Act of 2004; modifying the amount of money set aside for rural housing. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Economic Development. 2-11 reported Do Pass from Committee. 2-23 House passed 78-21.

Community support services; Medicaid recipients:

HB 2300 Tibbs; Cain. Creating an Oklahoma Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance and Support Services Act; providing for assistance for families with a Medicaid-eligible member who requires long-term support services, wants to live in the community and wants to choose their own care and supports. Directs the Aging Services Division of DHS to apply for a Medicaid waiver to pilot a program of consumer-directed support services. If funds are available and project evaluation is good, DHS would expand the waiver statewide. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Human Services. 2-19 reported Do Pass from House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Special education:

HB 2302 Dank; Wilcoxson. Requires a report on the cost of educating students with disabilities and their academic achievement records. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Common Education. 2-12 reported Do Pass from Common Education Committee.

Pain management:

HB 2305 Hamilton; Shurden. Creating a State Advisory Council on Pain Management; requiring pain assessments for nursing home residents. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-12 Committee passed and reported substitute bill. House passed bill on 2-19, 100-0.

Nursing homes; patient safety:

HB 2309 Hamilton; Shurden. Requiring physicians to view and examine the bodies of nursing facility residents prior to signing a death certificate; authorizing the use of electronic monitoring devices in nursing facilities. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Health. 2-19 substitute bill reported from House Appropriations Committee.

Nursing homes:

HB 2310 Hamilton; Shurden. Updating language relating to the Nursing Home Care Act; modifying resident's monthly income reserves. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Human Services. 2-17 substitute bill reported from House Human Services.

Prescription drugs; labeling requirements:

HB 2321 Wilson; Corn. Requiring the symptoms treated or purpose of a drug to be provided on the prescription label. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-18 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Education; instructional materials; reading:

HB 2332 Staggs; Lawler. Expanding definition of textbook to include equipment required to use technology-based materials; limiting students excluded from the reading goals and program of reading instruction required by the Reading Sufficiency Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Common Education. 2-19 substitute bill reported from Committee.

Transportation; golf carts on streets:

HB 2367 Jones; Brogdon. Authorizing operation by physically disabled persons of golf carts on city streets and roadways under limited conditions. A city or town would have to have an ordinance governing operation of golf carts on streets; only streets with speed limits of 25 miles or less could be used; daylight hour operation only would be permitted; and the driver would have to carry certification of disability. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Safety and Homeland Security. 2-16 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Trauma care:

HB 2382 Pettigrew; Robinson. Establishing components of the Oklahoma Trauma Care Services Act; creates Trauma Care System Advisory Council; requires reporting to the legislature; provides for membership and terms of office for the council. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-18 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee.

Insurance; high risk health insurance pool:

HB 2385 Cox; Robinson. Amending several areas of insurance law including eligibility under the Health Insurance High Risk Pool Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Insurance. 2-10 reported Do Pass from Committee. 2-25 one floor amendment adopted; House passed bill 99-0.

Workers compensation:

HB 2396 Harrison. Requiring confidentiality of an employer's first notice of injury in workers' compensation cases, unless the employee files an employee's first notice with claim for workers' compensation. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Rules. 2-19 reported Do Pass from House Rules.

Health care; medical savings accounts:

HB 2516 Blackwell; Wilcoxson. Creating the Health Savings Account Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Government Operations/Agency Oversight. 2-19 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Transportation:

HB 2546 Tyler; Fisher. Enacting the Oklahoma Transportation Act of 2004. (Shell bill as introduced and reported from Committee.) Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Transportation. 2-12 Reported from Committee.

Organ donation:

HB 2548 Sullivan; Aldridge. Creating the Oklahoma Anatomical Organ Donor Identification Act. Providing organ donor election shall be noted on both front and back of drivers’ license and state ID license. Making provision for a person to revoke the decision to be an organ donor. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-18 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee.

Health care; breast and cervical cancer:

HB 2552 Hilliard; Leftwich. Creating the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Revolving Fund. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Health. Passed Subcommittee. 2-18 reported Do Pass from House Appropriations and Budget. On 2-25 House passed bill 95-1.

Medicaid:

HB 2553 Eddins; Cain. Modifying the process of implementing the Oklahoma Medicaid Healthcare Options Systems; deleting obsolete language. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Health. 2-19 reported Do Pass from House Appropriations and Budget.

J.D. McCarty Center:

HB 2556 Nations; Nichols. Allowing the J.D. McCarty Center to sell surplus property and fixtures at fair market value; allowing the Cerebral Palsy Commission to enter into contracts with the Oklahoma Foundation for Persons with Disabilities. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Health. On 2-19 a substitute bill was reported Do Pass from House Appropriations and Budget.

Transportation:

HB 2559 Nations; Milacek. Ordering a legislative referendum to increase the tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Gasoline tax would go from 16 cents a gallon to 23 cents a gallon. Diesel fuel tax would go from 13 cents a gallon to 22 cents a gallon. Ten percent of the increase would be split among public transit, aeronautics and rail. The large part of the increase would go to highway, road and bridge construction and maintenance. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-11 Reported Do Pass from Committee. 2-26 title stricken, one floor amendment adopted, and bill passed House 53-42.

Long-term care; Medicaid:

HB 2565 Greenwood; Wilcoxson. Creating an Oklahoma Partnership for Long-Term Care Act, the purpose of the which is to provide tax incentives to individuals to purchase long-term care insurance, allowing individuals who exhaust their private long-term care benefits to protect an equivalent value of assets and still satisfy the financial eligibility requirements for Medicaid. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Human Services. 2-10 substitute bill reported from Committee. House passed bill 92-0 on 2-12.

Health insurance; small employers:

HB 2586 Roggow; Maddox. Modifying the percentage at which the premium rate may vary pursuant to the Small Employer Health Insurance Reform Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Insurance. 2-19 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Health insurance:

HB 2613 Sweeden; Monson. Requiring health insurance plans that provide medical and surgical benefits to provide coverage for routine annual obstetrical/gynecological exams. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Insurance. On 2-18 a substitute bill was reported Do Pass from committee.

Transportation:

HB 2632 Erwin; Milacek. Requires a vote of the people on a proposal to phase in a fuel tax increase, reaching a five cent increase in gasoline tax by 2008 and an eight cent increase in diesel tax by 2008. Five percent of the gasoline tax increase would go to the Public Transit Revolving Fund. The rest of the fuel tax increase would go largely to highway, road and bridge maintenance. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-11 Reported Do Pass from Committee.

Transportation; pedestrian safety:

HB 2637 Steele; Laster. Allowing cities and towns to adopt ordinances for use of motor bikes, scooters and motorized skateboards on the streets, sidewalks and in public areas. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House County & Municipal Government. 2-10 Reported Do Pass from Committee. On 2-25 title stricken and passed by House 98-0.

Poverty; sales tax relief:

HB 2656 Reynolds. Modifying the requirements relating to filing of claim for refund; sales tax relief. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Human Services. 2-9 substitute reported Do Pass from Committee.

Health care volunteers; immunity from liability:

HB 2661 Adair; Hobson. Immunity from civil liability for medical professionals who provide free services, under certain conditions. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Judiciary. 2-18 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Judiciary.

Medicare; Medicaid; hospitals:

HB 2667 Askins; Monson. Amending verification by hospitals of services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients; modifying fund for deposit of fees. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-12 reported Do Pass from Committee. On 2-24 House struck title and adopted 96-0.

Developmental disabilities:

HB 2710 Toure; Wilkerson. Prohibiting execution of persons with severe developmental disability; providing procedure to be followed by a jury; establishing procedures to be followed. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Criminal Justice. 2-18 reported Do Pass from House Criminal Justice.

Nursing homes:

HB 2723 Pettigrew; Coffee. Modifying the Long Term Care Certificate of Need Act. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-12 substitute reported Do Pass from House Public Health.

Health:

HCR-1044 Lindley; Leftwich. Recognizing the importance of properly treating phenylketonuria; urging health insurance coverage for certain medical foods and food products and directing distribution. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Public Health. 2-18 reported Do Pass from House Public Health.

Tax exemption; disability:

HJR-1044 McCarter; Helton. Constitutional amendment for homestead exemption amounts based upon disability determinations; providing for exemption based on amount of federal assistance. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-11 reported Do Pass from Revenue and Taxation.

Transportation:

HJR-1050 Pettigrew; Milacek. Calls for a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment to raise gasoline tax by three cents and diesel tax by three cents. The additional revenue provided by this tax would go exclusively to the Road and Bridge Maintenance Fund created in the proposal. The added tax would expire in nine years unless extended by another vote of the people. The proposal states that the added money this tax provides to transportation shall not be used by any entity to replace funds already being used for this purpose. The bill also would require that no less than 4.5 percent of the state's annual appropriated budget be allocated to transportation, not including the funds generated by the increased motor fuels tax. In addition, the bill provides that no less than 55 percent of the revenue generated under the Motor Fuels Tax Code must go into the Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on House Revenue and Taxation. 2-11 reported Do Pass from Revenue and Taxation. On 2-25 title stricken, a floor amendment adopted, and passed by House 90-8. (The amendment provides that notwithstanding other provisions of law allocating revenue from the state Vehicle License and Registration Act, beginning in 2005 the first $5 million of registration fee money each month will go to the Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund, with this monthly amount rising to a permanent $15 million monthly in 2007.)

Randolph-Sheppard Program; small businesses:

SB-841 Johnson. Modifying dates each month when state sales and use taxes are due. Referred Senate Finance Committee. 2-17 title stricken in Committee. 2-20 reported Do Pass as Amended from Committee.

Transportation; golf carts on streets:

SB 884 Laughlin; Maddux.. Clarifying that all-terrain vehicles and gold carts can be driven on city streets if a town has an ordinance that permits it. Previously all-terrain vehicles owned by a city were the only ones that could be operated on city streets. Bill History: 01-14-04 S Filed, referred to Senate Committee on Veterans, Military and Public Safety. 2-18 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee. (The substitute bill differs from the earlier bill, addresses only all-terrain vehicles and only permits them on city streets when it is necessary to cross a railroad track.)

Voting:

 SB 885 Laughlin; Tibbs. Providing for a Voter's Bill of Rights, to include a statement of the right to nondiscriminatory equal access to the election system for all voters, including elderly, disabled, minority, military and overseas citizens. Bill History: 01-14-04 S Filed; Senate General Government Committee. 2-11 reported Do Pass from Committee. 

Transportation; funds for local government:

SB 892 Rabon; Roan. Authorizing counties to hold a special election on an increase of the motor fuel tax; not to exceed 1 cent per gallon derived from all sales of gasoline and diesel fuel in the county. In the vote on whether to levy such a tax, the county must specify what the tax revenue will be used for. Bill History: 01-14-04 S Filed; referred Senate Finance. 22-18 reported Do Pass as Amended from Senate Finance.

Handicapped parking:

SB 899 Morgan; Rice. Allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners to certify that a person qualifies for issuance by the Department of Public Safety of a placard indicating physical disability (handicapped parking permit). Bill History: 01-15-04 S Filed, referred to Senate Human Resources. 2-19 reported Do Pass as Amended from Committee.

Organ donation:

SB-1093 Harrison; Wright. Providing special license plates for organ, eye and tissue donation. Referred to Senate Finance Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass as Amended (title stricken) from Senate Finance.

Home Care Act:

SB 1109 Cain; Blackburn. Exempts Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Supports and Services waiver entities from definition of "home care agency." Exempts persons and organizations that are supporting individuals who manage their own personal assistance providers from provisions of the Home Care Act, with exceptions. Exempts personal care providers hired by individuals through the Health Care Authority's CD-PASS waiver from being certified as home health aides. Bill History: 01-21-04 S Filed, referred Senate Human Resources. 2-17 reported Do Pass as Amended from Senate Human Resources.

State Use Act; disabled-owned businesses; workshops:

SB 1135 Corn; Rice. Amending state purchasing law to allow use of purchasing cards for any state contract purchases, regardless of amount. Retaining the $2,500 limit on other P-Card purchases. Adding a definition of “Qualified Organization” to the State Use Act. Clarifying that qualified organizations receiving state contracts will pay a one percent of contract fee into the State Use Committee Revolving Fund for paying salary and expenses of the Central Purchasing Division in promoting state contracts for businesses owned by persons with disabilities and organizations for the employment of persons with severe disabilities. Bill History: 01-22-04 S Filed; Do Pass from Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. 2-16 reported Do Pass as Amended (title stricken) from Senate Appropriations Committee.

State employees; disability:

SB 1145 Corn; Ferguson. Providing a definition for “in line of duty disability”; setting the amount of benefits. Bill History: 01-22-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Retirement and Group Health Committee. 2-10 title stricken. 2-11 reported Do Pass as Amended from Committee.

Education:

SB 1207 Crutchfield; Staggs. Providing bonus pay for school psychologists, speech-language pathologist and audiologists, contingent on funds available. Bill History: 01-23-04 S Filed; referred Senate Appropriations. 2-18 title stricken and bill passed by Appropriations Committee. Reported from Committee 2-19.

Injury prevention:

SB 1224 Robinson; Peters. Raising the age of a child requiring the use of child passenger restraint system to six years. Bill History: 01-23-04 S Filed; referred Senate Veterans, Military and Public Safety. 2-9 voted Do Pass as substituted from Committee. On 2-16 Senate Appropriations Committee reported the bill out as substituted.

Schools for the blind and deaf:

SB 1225 Robinson; Hilliard. Allowing annual irrevocable election for certain employees of the Department of Rehabilitation Services to receive certain salary computation; provides lump sum payment upon termination. (Allows school for the blind and deaf employees who work 10 months to have their salaries averaged over 12 months.) Bill History: 01-23-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations. 2-11 voted out of Subcommittee on Human Services, with title stricken. 2-18 Senate Appropriations Committee struck title and passed bill, reporting it out on 2-19.

Mental health:

SB 1246 Nichols; Smithson. Requiring the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to promulgate rules concerning the granting and structure of therapeutic visits; requiring Forensic Review Board approval for such visits. Bill History: 01-26-04 S Filed; Do Pass from Senate Judiciary Committee. 2-5 reported Do Pass from Senate Judiciary.

Physical therapy:

SB 1255 Robinson; Vaughn. Clarifies language in the Physical Therapy Practice Act; making physician assistants subject to refusal, suspension or revocation of certain licenses; allowing certain referrals by certain physician assistants. Bill History: 01-26-04 S Filed; in Senate Human Resources Committee. 2-16 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Speech-language pathology; audiology:

SB 1263 Robinson; Staggs. Relating to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act; clarifying certain intent; adding eligibility requirement for licensure as a speech-language pathologist; providing eligibility requirements for licensure as audiologist. Bill History: 01-26-04 S Filed. Referred Senate Human Resources Committee. 2-18 reported Do Pass as Amended from Committee.

Department of Rehabilitation Services:

SB 1280 Robinson. Establishing criteria and duties of the director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services; providing for a trust for the School for the Blind and School for the Deaf. Bill History: 01-26-04 S Filed; in Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-20 reported Do Pass with title stricken from Senate Appropriations. Set on Senate agenda for 3-1.

Telemedicine; telecommunications universal service program:

SB 1284 Robinson. Expanding eligibility to receive special universal services pursuant to the Oklahoma Telecommunications Act to include county health department, city-county health departments and federally funded health centers. Bill History: 01-26-04 S Filed; Senate Energy, Environment and Communication Committee. 2-9 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee.

Prescription drugs:

SB 1372 Monson; Nations. Requiring Health Care Authority rules controlling the prescribing of brand name drugs to also offer an option for the provider to certify that a brand name is medically necessary. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-23 reported Do Pass as substituted (title stricken) from Senate Appropriations.

Social services information:

SB 1405 Williams; Gilbert. Creating the 2-1-1 Helpline Act; making the Department of Human Services the coordinating agency for the program. Directing that contingent on funding, DHS will establish a pilot 2-1-1 helpline in a populous county where preliminary work has already begun on development of a social services helpline system. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass as substituted (title stricken) from Senate Appropriations.

Insurance; benefits; obtaining fraudulently:

SB 1430 Robinson; Dorman. Excluding from privileged information that which is communicated to a physician or other medical provider for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of a condition in an effort to unlawfully obtain insurance or benefits. 2-19 reported Do Pass from Senate Judiciary Committee.

Cancer:

SB 1448 Pruitt; Pope. Providing special license plate for Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry; creating a revolving fund. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; Senate Finance Committee. 2-18 reported from Committee with title stricken.

Learning disabilities:

SB 1456 Wilcoxson; Fred Morgan. Requiring State Board of Education to establish program that will test students for dyslexia; requiring school districts to provide treatment for students with dyslexia. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed. 2-19 reported Do Pass as substituted by Senate Appropriations. Set on Senate agenda 3-1.

Transportation; golf carts on streets:

SB 1461 Williamson; Peters. Authorizing operation of golf carts on city streets under certain conditions, for the purpose of going between home and work. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; in Senate Veterans, Military and Public Safety Committee. 2-18 reported Do Pass as Amended from Committee. (Bill specifies the person shall use a bike trail or any other trail with a paved or concrete surface, if available, that is adjacent to the city street for such operation. The Committee amended it to clarify that trails with paved surfaces do not mean sidewalks and walkways for pedestrian use.)

Children’s health:

SB 1490 Morgan; Roberts. Creating an Oklahoma Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Act; authorizing the secretary of the environment to make grants to certain public trusts; establishing procedures for relocation assistance. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-19 reported from Senate Appropriations with title stricken.

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Medicaid:

SB 1546 Robinson; Leist. Clarifying language relating to the Oklahoma Medicaid Program Reform Act of 2003. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed. 2-23 reported Do Pass as substituted from Senate Human Resources.

Medicaid; long-term care:

SB 1547 Wilcoxson. Creating an Oklahoma Long-Term Care Partnership Act; specifying powers and duties of the Health Care Authority and the Insurance Department; directing the Authority to amend the state Medicaid program to allow for asset disregard. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass as amended from Senate Appropriations.

Trauma care:

SB 1554 Robinson; Hilliard. Creating a Trauma Systems Improvement and Development Act; providing for rules by the State Board of Health; providing for a Trauma System Improvement and Development Advisory Council and Medicaid Audit Committee. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass with title stricken from Senate Appropriations.

State Use Act; sheltered workshops and disabled-owned businesses:

SB 1555 Aldridge; Steele. Modifying applicability of the competitive bidding law as it relates to qualified nonprofit agencies for the severely handicapped. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass with title stricken from Senate Appropriations. Set on Senate agenda 3-1.

Health care:

SB 1569 Monson. Creating the Uncompensated Care Equalization Committee whose purpose shall be to equalize the financial burden placed on hospitals by provision of uncompensated care; creating the Uncompensated Care Equalization Revolving Fund. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. 2-10 reported Do Pass as amended (title stricken) from Senate Appropriations.

Prescription drug labeling:

SB 1577 Reynolds; Dorman. Requiring inclusion of certain information on prescription label and certain dispensations; requiring the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate rules. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Human Resources Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass as Amended (title stricken) from Senate Human Resources.

Mental health:

SB 1578 Cain; Balkman. Clarifying type of two way communications systems under the Mental health Law; expanding powers and duties of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; conditioning transport of certain person to a facility. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Judiciary. 2-19 substitute bill passed and reported from Committee.

Children’s health:

SB 1591 Cain; Gilbert. Expanding duties of the Task Force on the Promotion of Children's Health. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Human Resources. 2-19 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Health care:

SB 1592 Monson; Toure. Creating the Legislative Task Force on Patient Safety. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. 2-19 reported Do Pass as Amended from Judiciary. 2-25 one floor amendment adopted; Senate passed bill 35-9.

Women’s health:

SB 1609 Monson; Winchester. Renaming the Oklahoma Breast Cancer Act and the Oklahoma Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Advisory Committee. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Human Resources. 2-19 substitute bill reported Do Pass from Committee. 2-25 amended and passed by Senate 44-0.

Nursing homes:

SB 1622 Laster; Nations. Relating to reimbursements from Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund; requiring new method for calculating of payments. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Appropriations. 2-19 reported Do Pass as Amended (title stricken) from Senate Appropriations.

Medical license for doctors and dentists who volunteer services:

SB 1626 Maddox; Armes. Relating to volunteer medical licensure for physicians and dentists; requiring specified list of medical services for which the volunteer medical license may be used. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Human Resources. 2-19 reported Do Pass from Senate Human Resources Committee, with title stricken.

Children’s health:

SB 1627 Cain. Creating a Healthy and Fit Kids Act of 2004; providing for inclusion of local community values in local schools; creating a Safe and Healthy School Advisory Committee at each public school site; expanding instruction requirements. Bill History: 01-28-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Education Committee. 2-10 reported Do Pass from Senate Education, with title stricken.

Hospice:

SB 1628 Lawler; Peters. Creating a Hospice Certificate of Need Act; requiring certificates of need for hospice facilities; authorizing a volunteer program for hospice facility creation. Bill History: 01-28-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Human Resources. 2-23 substitute bill reported from Senate Human Resources, with title stricken.

Injury prevention:

SJR 50 Lawler; Tyler. Designating May as Motorcycle Safety Month each year in the state. Bill History: 01-27-04 S Filed; referred to Senate Veterans, Military and Public Safety Committee. 2-18 reported Do Pass from Committee.

Appropriations Bills

Transportation; appropriation:

HB 1929 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Transportation. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Transportation; appropriation:

HB 1930 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Transportation. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Health Care Authority; appropriation:

HB 1933 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Health Care Authority; appropriation:

HB 1934 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

J.S. McCarty Center; appropriation:

HB 1935 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

J.D. McCarty Center; appropriation:

HB 1936 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

University Hospitals Authority; appropriation:

HB 1937 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the University Hospitals Authority. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Office of Handicapped Concerns:

HB 1941 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Office of Handicapped Concerns. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Office of Handicapped Concerns; appropriation:

HB 1942 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Office of Handicapped Concerns. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

State agencies; appropriations:

HB 2007 Mitchell; Morgan. Making general appropriations to state agencies. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

State agencies; appropriations:

HB 2008 Mitchell; Morgan. Making general appropriations to state agencies. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Health Department; appropriation:

HB 2042 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Health. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; appropriation:

HB 2044 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; appropriation:

HB 2045 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Department of Human Services; appropriation:

HB 2048 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Human Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Department of Human Services; appropriation:

HB 2049 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Human Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Department of Rehabilitation Services; appropriation:

HB 2052 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Department of Rehabilitation Services; appropriation:

HB 2053 Mitchell; Morgan. Appropriating to the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Direct to calendar.

Transportation; appropriation:

HB 2329 Tyler. Appropriating to the Department of Transportation. Bill History: 01-29-04 H Referred to Committee on H-Appropriations Sub on Gen Government.

Transportation; appropriation:

SB-968 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to Department of Transportation. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Transportation; budgetary limits:

SB-969 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budget limits for Department of Transportation. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Department; appropriation:

SB-972 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the State Health Department. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Department; budget limits:

SB-973 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for State Health Department. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; appropriation:

SB-974 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Senate appropriations Committee.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; budget limits:

SB-975 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Care Authority; appropriation:

SB-978 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Care Authority; budgetary limits:

SB-979 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for Health Care Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

J.D. McCarty Center; appropriation:

SB-980 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities.

University Hospitals; appropriation:

SB-981 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the University Hospitals Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

University Hospitals; budgetary limits:

SB-982 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for University Hospitals Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Department of Human Services; appropriation:

SB-983 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the Department of Human Services. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Department of Human Services; budgetary limits:

SB-984 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for DHS. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Department of Rehabilitation Services; budgetary limits:

SB-986 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for Department of Rehabilitation Services. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Department of Rehabilitation Services; appropriations:

SB-987 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the Department of Rehabilitation Services. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Office of Handicapped Concerns; appropriation:

SB-991 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to Office of handicapped Concerns. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Office of Handicapped Concerns; budgetary limits:

SB-992 Morgan; Mitchell. Setting budgetary limits for OHC. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Care Authority; appropriation:

SB-1070 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

Transportation; appropriation:

SB-1085 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to Department of Transportation. In Senate Appropriations Committee.

University Hospitals Authority; appropriation:

SB-1086 Morgan; Mitchell. Appropriating to University Hospitals Authority. In Senate Appropriations Committee.