Latest news with #SenateBill595
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers working to move bills forward as deadline approaches
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma lawmakers have a deadline this week to have bills heard on each floor. So far, several key pieces of legislation on both the House and Senate have yet to be heard including a bill by Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Enid that would ban teenagers from having social media without permission from a parent. Another bill by Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, would ban more than 20 food dyes from foods. Legislation has until Thursday to be heard or it will not move forward to the opposite floor. On Monday, a bill passed through the Senate that would require state jails and detention centers to go through at least one inspection a year. Senate Bill 595, authored by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, comes on the heals of jail sites in the metro failing inspections in recent months, including Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties. The reports found unclean conditions and many health concerns. Sen. Weaver, a long-time member of law enforcement, said the bill was a request from the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association and the Department of Health. Bill aimed at tackling Oklahoma's childcare crisis moves forward 'We're a huge state, 77 counties,' said Weaver. 'What this will do, put a blueprint for success, I think, to be able to show what's demanded of the counties and they can go forth and do that.' He also said the bill was an effort to prevent further problems within the state's struggling jail system.'I think there's a good chance this will do that. You know, so many of our sheriffs and our detention facilities are doing such a great job. But it's a high-risk situation,' said Weaver. The bill passed through the Senate with unanimous support but not without some pushback from lawmakers. 'I think the standards you're outlining seem strong,' said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. The bill will now advance to the House for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Measure creating minimum standards for county jails clears Oklahoma Senate
Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, listens as Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, presents a bill in the Oklahoma Senate on Monday. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Senators on Monday passed legislation that they said will clearly outline the minimum standards for which all county jails should operate. Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, said Senate Bill 595, which creates the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act, was developed as part of an agreement between the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association and the state Department of Health. The over-40-page bill requires that detention facilities operated by counties, cities and towns be inspected at least once a year to ensure compliance and requires those facilities to have staff available to perform sensitive functions during the inspections. It also requires that the state's commissioner of health set rules to implement the provisions. Under the measure, detention facilities can require a temporary emergency waiver after natural or man-made disasters if an inspection would cause an undue hardship, but any entity must include justification of why they qualify and a plan for caring for impacted inmates. It also requires the Health Department to review plans for new detention facilities or substantial remodels. Weaver said the bill gives the state's 77 counties 'some level of standards' within their jails. The measure cleared the Senate 46-0. The measure heads to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
