Latest news with #SB1017
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is SB 1017 really dead? What to know about Oklahoma's legislative process, Deever's bill
The reaction was quick. Just days after Oklahoma state Sen. Dusty Deevers introduced legislation that could have ended school-based Individualized Education Program (IEP) services like speech and physical therapy when deemed not "educationally necessary," the Elgin Republican said he would pull the bill from consideration. Parents, health care providers and educators from across the state spoke up, pressuring Deevers to announce it would not be heard. The legislature, however, is a complex machine with arcane rules driven by politics. Could the bill be resurrected? Senate Bill 1017 would ban the use of Medicaid, also known in Oklahoma as Soonercare, in IEPs to pay for health exams, immunizations, flu vaccines, eye exams, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy,social work services or psychological and counseling services. Deevers's bill makes a distinction between medically necessary and educationally necessary – it would only prioritize elements needed to make sure the state provides "Free and Appropriate Public Education." Many opposed to the bill criticized the potential impact on medically necessary special education services. The bill states that when not educationally necessary, these services "are not the responsibility of the Oklahoma K-12 public schools and shall be the responsibility of the parents or guardians to provide for their children off campus and after school hours." Those opposing his bill emphasized the difficulties in getting IEPs approved, and that those receiving these services need them to obtain an education. In a press release, the senator claimed that the bill's wording may not have matched his goals. 'It has become evident that the language of SB 1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent—protecting the necessary services for our special needs students while ensuring that parental rights remain intact," Deevers said. He elaborated, saying that he was worried that schools would use Soonercare funds to provide birth control, gender-affirming care and STD testing, especially without parental consent or notification. Deevers said he has withdrawn SB 1017, but under Senate rules, it may not be completely off the table. When the legislature begins meeting every February, bills are assigned to a committee that focuses on specific policy areas. SB 1017 was assigned to two committees and would have needed to pass both: the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee. Lawmakers have four weeks to convince committee leadership that their bill should be heard. In this case, it appears that Deevers will not ask for a committee hearing. Under the Senate's rules, however, the bill is not dead. Even if it's not heard in committee this year, it could still come up during the 2026 legislative session in its current form. SB 1017 could also be resurrected this year after the March 6 committee deadline if two-thirds of the Oklahoma Senate agree. All of this is unlikely, assuming Deevers retains control of the bill and keeps his word. Deevers also has time to rewrite the bill and offer a committee substitute, which is a term used when changes are made to a bill before its committee hearing. The changes can be small or significant. When it comes to strictly limiting Medicaid funding for school-based services, however, Deevers said he will now call for an audit to ensure "every dollar intended for student services is being used appropriately." Bills are typically given a number in the order they're filed and generally don't mean anything. While it probably wasn't intentional, an education policy bill numbered "1017" invokes historical memory. In 1990, Oklahoma lawmakers approved landmark legislation known as House Bill 1017. The reform increased corporate and personal income taxes by 1 percent and sales tax by 0.5 percent, pumping an additional $250 million into public schools. The legislation also set new standards in class size, student performance and teacher evaluations. Within a few years after passage of HB 1017, teachers began to notice smaller class sizes, a salary increase moved Oklahoma's average teacher pay more in line with neighboring states and some areas of student performance also improved. The 35-year-old bill is still referenced in education policy circles. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Sen. Deevers 'pulled' SB1017. Could the bill be resurrected?
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmaker pulls controversial bill concerning students on IEPs
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – State Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) received backlash after introducing a controversial bill targeting students on IEPS. Oklahoma bill takes aim at resources available to students on IEPs Deevers (R-Elgin) on Wednesday said he has heard from parents, speech therapists, and education advocates and he has decided to pull Oklahoma Senate Bill 1017 while requesting an audit ensuring school-based services are serving kids with disabilities advantageously. Oklahoma Senate Bill 1017 faced pushback from local communities on the bill interpretation and practicality in improving children with disabilities and parents responsibilities. Oklahoma lawmaker bill seeks to strip Medicaid coverage for school-based IEP assistance Sen. Deevers released the following statement: 'Over the past several days, I have given extensive thought to SB1017 and engaged in discussions with countless loving and amazing teachers, therapists, parents, and concerned citizens. One thing remains clear: these students' essential educational services must be protected. I have also heard, unequivocally, from parents who do not want to lose oversight of their children's medical decisions as well as therapists and teachers who see the problems in the system that this bill was trying to address. 'In states such as Maryland and California, school-based health centers have put students on hormonal birth control, IUD's, abortion pills, gender affirming care and chest-binders, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatments all without parental consent or even notification. The purpose of SB1017 was to protect parental rights and prevent the potential for these sorts of things from ever coming to Oklahoma by tying our state definitions to IDEA, the federal law dealing with school-based services. 'It has become evident that the language of SB1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent—protecting the necessary services for our special needs students while ensuring that parental rights remain intact. I regret any confusion or concern this has caused and sincerely apologize for the turmoil it has created. My goal from the outset has been to safeguard our children, our schools, and our medical and educational professionals while also preventing the unchecked expansion of school-based health programs that we are seeing in other states that could undermine parental authority through blanket consent forms and questionable medical ethics. 'I appreciate the attention this issue has received and am grateful for the engagement of parents, teachers, and therapists across Oklahoma who have sought to provide clarity and support. However, I recognize that not everyone is convinced of the reasons underlying the introduction of this bill, which is why I am officially withdrawing SB1017 from consideration. It will not be heard. 'Additionally, I have secured a commitment from the State Department of Education to compile and take a closer look at their audits to ensure the system is working as it should. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma State Sen. Dusty Deevers withdraws Senate Bill 1017 after widespread dissent
An Oklahoma state senator withdrew a controversial bill targeting special education services in schools after an outcry from parents, therapists and special education advocates, a news release said. Oklahoma State Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, proposed Senate Bill 1017, which could have removed school-based services like speech and physical therapy for some students for whom it was not deemed "educationally necessary." Those opposing the bill emphasized the extensive process of getting a student approved for an Individualized Education Plan, or an IEP, and that those receiving these services need them to obtain an education. While Deevers has pulled the bill, the news release said he is requesting an audit "to ensure that school-based services are serving kids with disabilities efficiently and effectively." Deevers Pulls SB1017, Moves Forward with Plans to Improve Student Care, Transparency, and Parental RightsOKLAHOMA... Posted by Senator Dusty Deevers on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 He also said in a statement that the reason he proposed the bill was to safeguard Oklahoma schools from the onset of "school-based health centers" that he claims in states like Maryland and California have prescribed students birth control and abortion pills without parental consent or notification. Deevers said the bill was intended to prevent something like this from happening in Oklahoma by aligning Oklahoma law with the definitions from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. "It has become evident that the language of SB1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent—protecting the necessary services for our special needs students while ensuring that parental rights remain intact," Deevers said in the statement. "I regret any confusion or concern this has caused and sincerely apologize for the turmoil it has created." Deevers vowed to wait to take legislative action on the issue until after seeing the results of a "long-overdue" audit of the school Medicaid program, the funds from which pay for students to receive educationally necessary healthcare at school. "Oklahoma families and all Oklahomans deserve full transparency and have a right to know that every dollar intended for student services is being used appropriately," Deevers said in the statement. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma SB 1017: Sen. Dusty Deevers pulls bill after opposition
