Published: May 05, 2008 04:13 pm            

Several senate bills become law

We’re now in the final month of the 2008 legislative session, the second of the 51st State Legislature.  I’m extremely pleased with the progress of many of the bills I authored during both the first and second session of this Legislature.  Many of my measures are just a step or two away from being sent to Gov. Brad Henry for his signature, and in fact, he has already signed several others.

One of those pieces of legislation that has now become law is Senate Bill 923, which we named the Zachary Eckles and Luke Davis Automated External Defibrillators in Schools Act.  The bill encourages school districts to make automated external defibrillators available in all schools for medical emergencies. 

An irregular heart beat is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death among otherwise healthy children during physical activities and athletic competitions.  Twelve-year-old Luke Davis collapsed and died when his heart stopped during a school basketball game in Dickson, and 17-year-old Zachary Eckles died after heart failure during a soccer practice in Edmond.  Having defibrillators available could have saved their lives.  This new law will encourage more businesses and other private donors to help meet this need, and hopefully, avoid other tragic outcomes in the future.

Another bill addresses the men and women who are often the first to help during a medical crisis—our emergency medical technicians (EMTs).  House Bill 2693 ensures death benefits for any EMT who dies in the line of duty in the amount of $5,000.  These benefits will be provided by the voluntary decision of EMTs to increase their licensing and renewal fees. Prior to the passage of this bill, EMTs were the only first responders without any death benefits.

I was also extremely pleased that the Governor signed Senate Bill 1410 into law.  This measure allows the Oklahoma Water Resource Board (OWRB) to conduct demonstration projects to determine how flood waters can be used to offset droughts through the creation of management strategies that will both mitigate floods and recharge aquifers.  Water management is a complex issue that impacts every aspect of our lives and the future of our state—our health, public safety, our infrastructure, the economy and our environment.  Fittingly, this legislation was signed into law on Earth Day, 2008.

As always if you have a question about a legislative matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (405) 521-5541 or by email at paddack@oksenate.gov.  Also, we are now able to send this column to you via e-mail.  If you would like to be added to our e-mail distribution list, please let us know. May God Bless you!

        

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