Governor Fallin Signs Supplemental Funding Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed into law Senate Bill 1959, which provides $92.5 million in emergency supplemental funding for needs in education, public safety, natural disaster relief, and at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. The governor released the following statement:

“Today’s supplemental funding measures will help to ensure the state of Oklahoma is keeping its commitment to our teachers, protecting our citizens by putting more troopers on our state highways, and providing necessary assistance to communities hard-hit by natural disasters. It also provides necessary personnel and equipment upgrades at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, helping to put that agency back on a path to accreditation.

“All of these funding measures are both urgent and necessary. I applaud the Legislature for sending this supplemental bill to my desk quickly, and I am happy to be able to sign it into law.”

SB 1959, authored by Sen. Clark Jolley and Rep. Earl Sears, includes emergency funding provisions for natural disaster assistance to local communities, counties and other qualified entities ($34.1 million); insurance benefits for teachers and support staff ($37.6 million); a trooper academy for the Department of Public Safety ($5 million); personnel and equipment for the State Medical Examiner’s Office ($1 million); and funding for teacher National Board Certification bonuses ($14.8 million).

State Senate Approves Supplemental Funding Measure

The full Senate gave approval last week to a $92.5 million supplemental funding bill to meet specific needs in public safety and education. Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, is the Senate Appropriations Chairman and author of Senate Bill 1959, which was overwhelmingly approved on Thursday.

“This sends a clear message that promises made to Oklahoma teachers will be kept. Those who are qualified for National Board Certification bonuses will get them. Insurance benefits for educators that required funding have been addressed as well,” Jolley said. “We know the state needs more Highway Patrol Troopers on the road—it’s an important public safety issue, and so we’ve included money for a new trooper academy. Resources for Medical Examiner’s office will assist in their efforts to gain national accreditation. We also were very aware of the need to include emergency funds for our communities and counties throughout Oklahoma in the wake of wildfires and storm damage over the past year.”

SB 1959 includes:

• $14.8 million for NBC bonuses
• $37.6 million for insurance benefits for teachers and support staff
• $34.1 million for the State Emergency Fund to reimburse local communities and counties for disaster assistance
• $5 million for the Department of Public Safety for a Trooper Academy 
• $1 million for the State Medical Examiner for personnel and equipment required for national accreditation

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said passage of the supplemental funding bill would help individuals and communities in every part of the state.

“I want to commend Senator Jolley for his work on this legislation,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “I also want to thank our members for their support. The needs were clear, and I’m pleased we were able to come to an agreement allowing us to address them early in the legislative session.”

SB 1959 now moves to the House of Representatives for approval.

Grau Praises New Medical Examiner Appointment

Rep. Randy Grau
R-Edmond

State Rep. Randy Grau today praised the appointment of Dr. Eric Pfeifer as Oklahoma’s new chief medical examiner.

“Dr. Pfeifer’s qualifications are impeccable and make clear that the Office of Medical Examiner is undertaking the steps necessary to re-establish a reputation for experience and professionalism at the agency,” said Grau, R-Edmond. “I applaud Dr. Pfeifer’s hiring and expect he will be instrumental in giving the ME’s office a fresh start in Edmond.”

Pfeifer previously worked at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and as the Olmsted County coroner in Minnesota.

Grau and state Sen. Clark Jolley (R-Edmond) have authored legislation, Senate Bill 671, to reform the Office of the Medical Examiner.

The legislation renames the agency’s governing board as the Board of Forensic Pathology, allowing for new board members to be named and authorizing the hiring of the new executive director.

“Our legislation will be crucial in giving the ME’s office a new start by giving it a new name, new board, and a new administrative structure,” Grau said. “I believe it is time to give this agency the tools it needs to serve the citizens of Oklahoma.”

Legislation Moving Medical Examiner’s Office to UCO Forensic Science Institute Passes House Committe

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 29, 2010) — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner would receive a new facility near the world-class University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute if legislation passed by House committee today becomes law.

Senate Bill 1337, by Rep. Randy Terrill, would require that the ME’s office be located in "close proximity" to the Forensic Science Institute in Edmond. The title is off the bill, meaning it is still a work in progress and will go to conference for further work.

"We have been working to restore public confidence in the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, and I believe relocation to the newly-opened Forensic Science Institute, which is training sought-after pathologists, is a perfect fit for the office," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "The University of Central Oklahoma has built a nationally-renowned forensic science program with a new state-of-the-art facility, which will help bring the medical examiner’s office into the 21st century."

The bill passed the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary and Public Safety today with a vote of 9-1. It will next been considered by the full House.

"We have been working on this issue for the better part of a year so this isn’t something we decided lightly. There were a multitude of options and the consensus seems to be that UCO will be the best place for the new office because it will create a unique, one of a kind forensic science synergy unlike anything else in the country. If this bill becomes law, it will be something Oklahomans can be truly proud of," said Terrill, R-Moore and chairman of the committee.

NOTE: For accompanying video, go to http://www.okhouse.tv/ViewVideo.aspx?VideoID=265

Gov. Henry releases review of ME Office

Oklahoma City — Gov. Brad Henry today released an independent review of the State Medical Examiner’s Office, saying the report’s recommendations will assist the agency as it attempts to regain national accreditation and get back on track.

Last month, the governor tasked Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Terry Cline to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the agency after a series of controversies culminated with the dismissal of the chief medical examiner after less than a year on the job.

Among other things, Cline has recommended additional resources and improved facilities for the ME’s office along with structural changes to strengthen the agency’s governing board and empower a full-time administrator to run the agency’s day-to-day business while the chief medical officer focuses on the office’s medical and clinical work.