Latest news with #SenateBill1017
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma senator pulls school-based medical services bill after backlash
Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, talks to Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, during the announcement of the newly established Oklahoma Freedom Caucus outside the Oklahoma State Capitol, Sept. 3. To their left, Sen. Dana Prieto, R-Tulsa, stands attentively. (Photo by Lionel Ramos/KOSU) Following heat from educators, parents and advocates, a bill regarding school-based medical services in schools is being pulled. Senate Bill 1017 by Elgin Republican Dusty Deevers would have disallowed medical services like occupational therapy and speech therapy from being written into students' Individualized Education Programs, which are federally backed documents that prescribe goals and methods of attainment for students with disabilities. It also would have pulled Medicaid coverage of those kinds of therapies, as well as services like eye and health exams. Opponents say the bill conflicted with federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, and would have forced some parents to pay out-of-pocket for services. A petition to reject the bill has gathered more than 3,000 signatures in three days. Deevers issued a news release Wednesday afternoon announcing he was canning the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX '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. 'I regret any confusion or concern this has caused and sincerely apologize for the turmoil it has created.' He said the intent of the bill was to prevent Oklahoma from providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, such as in California, where students can access birth control without parental consent. Deevers said he still wants an audit of school-based Medicaid funds, and has 'secured a commitment' from OSDE to 'take a closer look' at its audits. This article was originally published by StateImpact Oklahoma. StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma's public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond.
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
