"You should know, you should all know, that due in large part to the efforts of the 45th and the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron of the Air National Guard, the Afghan people are safer and the country will never again be used as a haven and training ground for terrorists who wish to attack the United States."

~Major General Myles Deering, Adjutant General of Oklahoma, April 10

 

The 45th Infantry Division and the Oklahoma National Guard were recognized during a joint legislative session in the state House of Representatives chamber. This annual event is conducted to pay tribute to sacrifices made by members of the 45th, especially during World War II and Korea and in recent years has been expanded to include those serving in the Oklahoma National Guard.

Uniformed women and men filled the gallery, as did families of the 19 Oklahomans who lost their lives in fighting in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, the adjutant general of Oklahoma, read the names, ranks and hometowns of the 19 soldiers who lost their lives and asked their survivors to stand. In the past few weeks, about 3,000 Guard members have returned from the war in Afghanistan.

The recognition was a small way that we as a state could give our collective “Thank you” to our service men and women and their families.

Legislatively, last week marked the deadline in which Senate bills had to pass out of House committees or become dormant for the remainder of the session. Bills that received committee approval must now be heard by the full House by April 26th.

            Governor Fallin signed legislation into law this week that will help disabled veterans get the treatment and help they need without going to a nursing home. Senate Bill 1210 creates the Oklahoma Medical Foster Home Act providing non-institutional community-based care for aging and/or chronically/terminally-ill veterans who are unable to live independently and do not have a caregiver who is able to manage their medical, emotional and/or psychosocial needs.

Headed for approval by the Governor is HB2970, which will set up an appeals process for students who fail to pass four of seven end-of-instruction exams and are denied a diploma as a result. Students would have 30 days after being denied a diploma to appeal the decision to the board. The board would then have 45 days to take action on the appeal. This is the first year graduating seniors must pass four of seven end-of-instruction exams to receive a diploma. The House approved a measure that would require nursing facilities and specialized facilities without emergency power generators to provide a written disclosure to any resident or resident’s caregiver upon admittance to the facility stating the facility does not have an emergency power generator.

House lawmakers approved legislation that would create the Oklahoma State Retirement Systems Revolving Fund, which would be used to pay for “cost of living adjustments” (COLAs) to state pension beneficiaries. Under reforms enacted last year, COLAs cannot be authorized without a funding source Senate Bill 1102 sets up a designated fund to provide COLAs in the future. Under the bill, any money in fund could only be used for COLAs or to reduce the unfunded liability of any state retirement system.

I enjoy representing you in Oklahoma’s House. If you have any questions or comments you may reach me by calling 1-800-522-8502; emailing chuck.hoskin@okhouse.gov; or writing Representative Chuck Hoskin, State Capitol Building, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 509, Oklahoma City, OK  73105.