I’m proud to say a major reform I authored to improve police officers’ pensions advanced to the governor’s desk. The Senate recently gave final approval to Senate Bill 102 to increase the pension benefits an officer receives when they retire. To offset that increase in retirement benefits, police officers and the cities that employ them will be required to contribute more to their retirement accounts while they’re still working.
This measure will undoubtedly help cities recruit and retain talented police officers, which is something many of our localities have struggled with for years. And this reform is the least we can do to thank our police officers for their service. Oklahoma’s police pension system is the most financially solvent of all the state’s pension systems, so it’s time for us to give back to our officers in blue.
The Senate also recently approved my bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for rape when DNA evidence emerges or when a suspect confesses. I’m glad I could carry this important bill requested by Oklahoma’s attorney general. After adopting some amendments from the House, Senate Bill 1658 now also extends from 12 years to 20 years the statute of limitations for the sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult. Through a bipartisan amendment, the bill also increases the statute of limitations for the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, which is more commonly known as revenge porn.
The governor recently signed into law one of my bills to bring greater transparency to the prior authorization process implemented by health insurance companies. This bill will require insurers to publish their prior authorization procedures on their website and notify patients with chronic illnesses of any changes. The legislation establishes a timeline for insurers to respond to urgent and nonurgent prior authorization requests and requires licensed medical providers to review appeals. This bill passed both chambers unanimously. I hope this will make it easier for providers to get approval for the prescriptions and procedures they think are best for their patients.
The One Oklahoma Task Force, which I was appointed to serve on, has nearly concluded. The governor created this task force late last year to address issues related to law enforcement jurisdiction on tribal reservations following the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling. The governor asked the task force to compile a report on legislative and regulatory recommendations that could help the state clear up some of the jurisdictional challenges stemming from the McGirt ruling.
With that report due by June, members are trying to finalize recommendations for the governor. Because some of the issues have been too complex to address in a matter of months, I proposed holding an interim study to continue these discussions in the fall. I believe my House counterpart on the task force, Ponca City Rep. Ken Luttrell, is open to working together on an interim study that really digs into some of the issues facing state, local and tribal law enforcement officers.
Finally, congratulations to all the high school and college seniors who are graduating this month. Enjoy your graduation celebrations, and good luck on your next journey.
If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol by emailing me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate. gov, calling me at 405-521-5522 or writing to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
