The Oklahoma Legislature has passed multiple bills so far this session. Some of those bills are discussed here.
Where’s the Beef
The Oklahoma Meat Consumer Protection Act has been signed into law. The bill was written by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom of Adair and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck of Elgin. It mandates that the terms ‘beef’ or ‘pork’ may only be used on products made from cattle or swine and mimics definitions in federal law. The law further allows the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to enforce meat labeling.
Cost of Living Increases
A cost of living adjustment – or COLA – was granted to state retirees in the Oklahoma Firefighters or Police Pension and Retirement systems, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement system and the retirement systems for judges, justices, teachers and public employees. The increase is 4 % for anyone retired five years or more as of July 1 and 2 % for those retired less than five years. Retirees with less than two years in retirement will not receive an increase. The COLAs would go into effect July 1.
Department of Corrections Correction
Other employees will see a raise as well. A $2-per-hour raise for personnel at the Department of Corrections was accidentally not extended to several groups around the state last year. A new House bill will include those 453 employees in that raise.
Home Delivery Licenses
The state has created a system to license midwives. Called Shepherd’s Law for an infant who died a day after complications from a home delivery, it requires certified professional midwives or certified midwives be licensed, disclose credentials or licensure they have or do not have, limits on their skills and liability insurance. It also requires an informed consent form outlining a plan for emergencies and allows parents to pre-select a hospital for use in case of an emergency. The law also requires midwives to advise patients to seek medical care for cases outside their abilities. Licenses are $1,000 and good for up to three years.
You Can Do That Here
Another bill signed into law will protect state employees who are also nursing mothers. It ensures mothers are allowed break time and privacy to breastfeed or express and store milk. All buildings owned or leased by the state where employees work must have a place other than a bathroom where breastfeeding or expression of breast milk may take place.
To Pay for Medicaid Expansion
A plan to help pay for Medicaid expansion was adopted by the Senate and will go on to a vote of the people. That plan, put forward by Kim David of Porter, will place a state question on the ballot, allowing a bigger piece of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust pie to pay for the expansion. The TSET fund was created by voters in 2000 to safeguard payments from the settlement between states and the tobacco industry. Funds are invested and only the earnings from the investments can be used. They are designated for programs that improve the health of Oklahomans. Only changes voted on by the people are allowed.
The fund balance is more than $1.3 billion and voters will decide if 75% of new payments into the fund shall be used for Medicaid expansion. If passed, the 75% level will bring in matching federal dollars for Medicaid.
Rule Out Dyslexia
Early elementary students who are not reading on grade level will be checked for dyslexia under another bill signed by the governor. The bill, written by Mike Sanders of Kingfisher and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma City will call for screening of kindergarteners through third grade who miss the mark in reading as of the 2022-23 school year.
Image Sales Without Consent Now a Felony
The Legislature has moved to protect intimate images and images from long term care facilities in two separate bills. The first bill will allow for prosecution of anyone who sells or profits from release of intimate images without the subject’s consent. The bill came about after a victim brought her case to her representative. The attempt to gain anything of value from the sale of intimate images without the subject’s consent is now a felony. The first conviction carries up to four years in prison and repeat offenders can be sentenced to as much as 10 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender.
Assisted Living on Tape
The second bill allows residents or families of residents of assisted living or continuum of care facilities to install video surveillance equipment. A previously passed bill allowed the use of video monitoring at nursing homes in individuals’ rooms. This allows family to ensure proper treatment and levels of care.
Listen to The Victims
The part a victim’s impact panel plays in reducing DUIs statewide is now law. The bill was written by Sanders of Kingfisher, who had previously authored a bill moving all DUI cases to a court of record, meaning that prosecutors statewide would be able to access DUI records.
Not Until Age 21
Legislation was also passed raising the legal age for purchasing of tobacco to 21. This reflects the federal law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to those less than 21 years old.
Reuse, Recycle Produced Water
Another law dealing with produced wastewater from oil and gas exploration has been signed into law. The law designates who owns and is responsible for the produced water and waste products from oil and gas drilling operations. Hopes in the industry are with the responsibility clearly defined in statute, recycling and reuse of the material will become a higher priority and more commonly exercised, reducing the amount of fresh water needed to establish a well and limiting the need for wastewater injection wells or disposal sites.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com