The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (HR 1388.) Congressman Dan Boren, D, was the only member of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation to vote in favor of the bill that will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.

Oklahoma's two U.S. Senators, Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe on Thursday, March 26th  were among 19 Republicans to vote against the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

• The Serve America Act will expand opportunities for people to serve at every stage of life by employing service to meet specific national challenges. Specifically, the legislation will:
  • Grow AmeriCorps to 250,000 participants focused on current national needs
  • Increase opportunities for students, working adults and retirees to serve
  • Increase the role of social entrepreneurship in solving national problems
  • Expand short-term international service opportunities

• AARP supports provisions that will improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and engage more volunteers – including skilled volunteers – to help address people’s critical and growing service needs.

The U.S. House of Representatives on March 31st is schedule to take up the act as passed by the Senate eliminating the need for a conference committee.

On Thursday, March 26th, the Oklahoma State Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed House Bill 1736 which would expand the duties of a personal home health aide. The committee approved the measure by a vote of 5-3. AARP opposes this measure because it does not provide additional training for these new duties.

One bright spot is that the title was struck on the bill which means there is opportunity to work on the legislation before it is considered by the full Senate. The House author has indicated he wants to work with AARP, the state Health Department and the Department of Human Services.

HB 1893 which would authorize the Aging Services Division of DHS to establish the Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) initiative which would develop and implement a single point-of-entry concept for aging and disability groups in Oklahoma has been added to the agenda for Thursday’s (March 26^th) 9 a.m. meeting of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Visit our video section to see Associate State Director Sean Voskuhl give an update on legislative activities.

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy spoke to a group of AARP volunteers during a training session in advance of AARP's annual legislative breakfast. Click the link to watch Associate State Director Sean Voskuhl introduce Murphy and hear a portion of her remarks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1trb4WmGo

Long-term care, health care quality, creating a silver alert system for missing senior adults and opposing the financing of multi-billion dollar nuclear power plants are top priorities for AARP Oklahoma in the 2009 Legislative Session.

• HB 1065 (Faught/Crain) − develops a consumer guide on OSDH website to assist individuals and families understanding the services provided by assisted living centers and to compare and select a facility.
• HB 1736 (Peters/Ford) − would expand duties of home health aides.  We have concerns on this bill because it does not provide additional training for these new duties. (We are opposed to this bill in its current form.)
• HB 1627 (Pittman/Crain) − Protective Services for vulnerable adults
• HB 2030 (Steele/Coffee) − directs the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a state-wide silver alert system to be activated on behalf of a missing senior adult citizen in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Human Services, any local law enforcement agency, the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters and any other appropriate state or local agencies.
• SB 321 (Anderson)/HB 1893 (Peterson) − These companion bills would authorize the Aging Services Division of DHS to establish the Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) initiative which would develop and implement a single point-of-entry concept for aging and disability groups in the state.
• SB 387 (Ivester/Steele) − regarding application of Medicaid benefits under the Long-Term Care Partnership Program.
• SB 479 (Crain/Jackson) − would exempt certain long-term care administrators from licensure requirements. (We are opposed to this bill in its current form.)
• CS SB 741 (Jolley/Trebilcock) − the committee substitute eliminates all staffing ratios for nursing facilities and substitutes a flexible staffing schedule. (We are opposed to this bill in its current form.)
• SB 1042 (Jolley/Blackwell) − expands list of entities who are exempt to the Home Care Act. (We are opposed to this bill in its current form.)

• SB 434 (Eason McIntyre/Cox) − would direct the State Health Department of Health to provide a cancer patient navigation program.
• SJR 21 (Crain/Cox) − directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to study the feasibility of implementing the use of online health registries for Medicaid beneficiaries.

• HB 1320 (Reynolds)/HB 1750 (Martin, Scott)/SB 831 (Bingman) − We oppose these bills because they would raise electric rates to pay for the financing of multi-billion dollar nuclear power plants which is a bad idea in a bad economy.  (We are opposed to these bills in their current forms.)

• HB 2204 (Trebilcock) -- would increase the state's grocery tax credit.
• SB 883 (Laster/Jett)  − would prohibit telemarketers from making sales calls on Sunday, including any call to consumers with whom the caller has an established business relationship.
• SB 990 (Laster/Steele) − would prohibit social security and driver’s license numbers from being published online when documents are made available to the public electronically under the Open Records Act.