Sen. Simpson receives perfect voting score on aging issues

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP) recently released a report ranking state legislators on their votes on four key measures affecting older Oklahomans.  Sen. Frank Simpson was one of 20 Senators who received a perfect score for his support of those bills.  

“It’s imperative that we do all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our society, which are our children and seniors,” said Simpson, R-Ardmore.  “I was proud to support these important bills that will help better protect the health and safety of older Oklahomans.”

This session, the OAP endorsed four caregiving, safety and nursing home bills including SB 1455, SB 1536, HB 2387 and HB 3198.  The measures will: 

Amend the certificate of need application requirements for two not-for-profit life care communities;

Allow hospital patients to designate a caregiver that would be notified and consulted on how to care for the patient after discharge; 

Allow a valid and unexpired driver’s license to serve as both primary and secondary proofs of identification; and

Extend the sunset date for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

The OAP also successfully opposed and defeated Senate Bill 1854 that the organization felt would have negatively affected Oklahoma’s seniors.  

To learn more about these measures, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.oksenate.gov" www.oksenate.gov and select the “Legislation” tab or visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.aarp.org/ok" www.aarp.org/ok to download the OAP report. 

The Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP) is a non-partisan partnership of four member organizations which includes AARP Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging, the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association and the Oklahoma State Council on Aging.