Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City says trio of bipartisan measures await Governor Kevin Stitt’s Signature

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The Metropolis Sentinel, Workers Report

Oklahoma Metropolis – State Senator Kay Floyd mentioned she was very gratified that three bipartisan payments she’d launched this session are actually one step nearer to turning into regulation. Floyd, Senate Democratic Chief, mentioned Senate Payments 16, 21 and 22 have now been accepted by each chambers and are awaiting the governor’s signature.

Floyd, D-Oklahoma Metropolis, mentioned S.B. 16 is a request from the state’s Sexual Assault Forensic Proof (SAFE) process pressure, which Floyd has served on for a number of years. The group was fashioned to deal with the backlog of sexual assault forensic proof kits.

“Processing these kits is essential for victims, but it surely can be traumatic,” Floyd mentioned. “S.B. 16 will additional assist sexual assault victims by giving them entry to assets for counseling.”

Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, is Home principal creator of S.B. 16, which handed each chambers unanimously.“Sexual assault victims who’ve needed to endure the wait for his or her backlogged kits to be examined deserve our assist, and I’m grateful to my colleagues in each the Home and Senate for his or her understanding on this invoice,” Bush mentioned.

S.B. 21 requires college districts to supply suicide consciousness and prevention coaching to lecturers and employees each two years.“

Suicide is now the second main reason for loss of life for younger folks between the ages of 10 and 24,” Floyd mentioned. “The fabric can be supplied free to highschool districts by the Division of Psychological Well being and Substance Abuse Providers, and would solely take an hour to finish, however we all know from different states which can be already doing this that we will save lives.”

The suicide prevention measure additionally handed each chambers unanimously. The Home principal creator is Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan.“Having youngsters in highschool, I’m aware of the prevalence of speak of suicide amongst college students in our public faculties,” McEntire mentioned. “I’m grateful to Senator Floyd and the lawmakers who supported this laws to get our college students this obligatory assist.”

S.B. 22 is aimed toward serving to charities that lease vacant faculties from college districts.

“My district consists of Oklahoma Metropolis Public Faculties, and so they’ve had a handful of nonprofits lease closed college buildings and use the buildings to supply their providers. By improving these amenities, these nonprofits have helped guarantee surrounding neighborhoods aren’t left with a big, vacant constructing of their space,” Floyd mentioned. “This invoice merely offers nonprofits the correct of first refusal if a college district later decides to promote the constructing.”

Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma Metropolis, is principal Home creator of S.B. 22, which handed 44 to 2 within the Senate and unanimously within the Home. “I’m completely satisfied to assist our nonprofits on this method,” West mentioned. “Serving to them keep within the buildings they at present name residence will permit them to proceed to serve their purchasers and their missions with out disruption.”

Floyd thanked her Home authors for his or her work on the measures.“I’m grateful to Consultant Bush, Consultant McEntire and Consultant West for his or her laborious work and to all our members in each chambers who supported every of those payments,” Floyd mentioned. “Helping crime victims, stopping suicide and supporting charities are constructive efforts on behalf of our whole state, and I’m very gratified we had been capable of all come collectively to deal with these points.”

(L-R) Oklahoma Representatives Carol Bush, Marcus McEntire, and Tammy West. Official Legislative Images

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