Bill to upgrade 911 to be named the ‘Haiden Fleming Memorial Act”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate author and co-author of a bill to upgrade Oklahoma’s 911 services announced they planned to name the legislation for a 22-year-old Oklahoman who died after suffering a cardiac incident.  Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, is the Senate principal author of House Bill 1590, and Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, R-Tahlequah, is co-author.  Rep.  Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, is the House principal author.

“Our current 911 system is still using technology from 40 years ago.  This bill would move us to Next Generation 911 (NG911).  HB 1590 will give us the ability to create and maintain the infrastructure we need to move 911 from analog to digital technology, decreasing response times, better identifying caller locations and better coordinating which responders from which community or county should be dispatched on a particular call,” Murdock said.

Stephens, who worked for years as a school counselor, said those enhanced capabilities could have made a difference in a medical emergency involving a former student. 

“Haiden Fleming was a great kid, and a fine young man,” Stephens said.  “He’d just finished having lunch with his family when he suffered a cardiac incident. They lived very close to a county line, which caused some difficulties with 911 and emergency responders who were in different coverage areas.  His family asked that this bill be named for Haiden to help draw attention to the need for Next Generation 911.” 

The bill would adjust the fee for devices capable of calling 911 from 75 cents to $1.25 a month.  It would also require mandatory CPR training for 911 telecommunicators in the state to better assist callers until help arrives.  The legislation was approved last week by the Senate Appropriations Committee and the measure, along with the amendment naming it the “Haiden Fleming Memorial Act,” now await consideration by the full Senate.

"I held an interim study on this issue where we heard from several of my constituents who recounted how they called 911 during an emergency and had to wait to get the services they so desperately needed while 911 operators tried to locate them or find the right dispatch service to help,” Grego said.  “This legislation will help our 911 operations update mapping and equipment and engage in better communication to get people in our rural communities the help they need in a much more timely manner. This could save lives."

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For more information, contact:

Sen. Casey Murdock at 405-521-5626 or Casey.Murdock@oksenate.gov.

Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens at 405-521-5574 or Blake.Stephens@oksenate.gov

Rep. Jim Grego at 405-557-7381 or Jim.Grego@okhouse.gov

CUTLINE:  Bill to upgrade 911 emergency services to be named for Haiden Fleming, a former student of the bill’s co-author, Sen. Blake Stephens.