Sen. Rosino named Senator of the Year for work assisting Oklahomans with disabilities

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, has been named as the 2022 Senator of the Year by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).  The award will be presented on March 7 at the Oklahoma History Center as part the 2023 People with Disabilities Awareness Day, an event to celebrate the accomplishments of Oklahomans with disabilities.

Rosino is the chair of both the Health and Human Services Committee, which deals with proposed policy legislation, as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.  He was the Senate author of legislation to end the state’s 13-year waitlist for disability services, as well as legislation to enable registered Oklahoma voters who are blind to receive ballots electronically if they are unable to vote at their precinct polling locations on election day.

“Many people may not be aware that nearly 615,000 Oklahomans have some kind of disability—that’s almost 16 percent of our state’s population.  When we provide the resources for services to help individuals live their best lives and enact public policy that further supports those efforts, they are more able to participate as citizens in their communities and our state,” Rosino said.  “I am grateful for the opportunity to help move Oklahoma forward on behalf of those with disabilities, and I thank the Department of Rehabilitation Services for this honor.”

Rosino’s legislation assisting blind voters will take effect July 1 of this year. 

“We are very grateful to Senator Rosino for being the Senate principal author of House Bill 1711, which

ensures that eligible voters who are legally blind will have equal access to the ballot box,”  said Melinda Fruendt, DRS executive director. “Some people take voting for granted, but as a result of his bill, Senator Rosino is truly changing the lives of Oklahoma voters who are blind”

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is administering the processes necessary to help families and individuals come off the waitlist for disability services.  Officials from throughout the state have called Rosino’s legislation to appropriate the $32.5 million to end the waitlist and increase provider rates as game changing.

“Again, I am thankful to be honored, but also deeply grateful to be of service to my fellow Oklahomans, and I look forward to working with constituents, advocates and my fellow members in the Oklahoma Legislature to continue to build on these important achievements in the months and years to come,” Rosino said.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Paul Rosino at 405-521-5618 or email Paul.Rosino@oksenate.gov.