Health Care, Lawsuit Reform Effective Nov. 1
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House Bill 1003 would remove regulatory barriers
Oklahoma City, OK (CompNewsNetwork) - House Republican leadership touted today several priority bills set to become law Nov. 1, including health care and lawsuit reform legislation.
"In spite of a national recession, we had several huge accomplishments for the people of Oklahoma this year that will work to improve our state for years to come," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "Some of the issues we tackled—including health care reform, alternative energy legislation and lawsuit reform—have stalled at the national level, so we are thrilled to be able to point to true local accomplishments this year."
In all, more than 190 bills will go into effect Nov. 1.
Some of the bills set to go into effect over the weekend are:
* House Bill 2026 builds on the successful public-private partnership health insurance program Insure Oklahoma and creates a core benefits package for young, healthy Oklahomans to purchase cheaper insurance policies free of the cost increases created by the state’s 36 mandates. The bill also creates an insurance hub to help match Oklahomans to private insurance plans that fit their needs.
* House Bill 1603 puts in place landmark lawsuit reform, which will help reduce health care costs for all Oklahomans, reverse a doctor and nurse shortage trend and attract business and economic development to our state. The bill caps noneconomic damages except in cases of gross negligence, which will bring added certainty to the system and help cut down on frivolous lawsuits.
* House Bill 1114 bans human cloning in Oklahoma.
* Senate Bill 135 enacts a plan to increase the number of therapists serving children with autism. The bill creates a licensing process for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts and trains more doctors to treat autism while allowing the free market to adjust coverage based on the demand of services.
* House Bill 1003 would remove regulatory barriers by allowing family businesses with five or fewer employees who are all related to be exempted from workers’ compensation insurance requirements.
* House Bill 1953 will make companies that support, repair and maintain service activities for wind industry energy companies eligible for the state’s Quality Jobs Act. This legislation will help attract companies to Oklahoma involved in all aspects of the wind energy industry.
* House Bill 394 eliminates barriers to alternative teacher certification
* Senate Bill 833 encourages state agencies to develop and implement an energy efficiency and conservation plan and calls for the designation of a current employee at each agency to help develop an energy plan.
"We plan to build on these accomplishments as we get ready to head into legislative session next February," said Benge. "Though we will have some tough budget decisions to make, that doesn’t mean we will stop pushing conservative, pro-growth policies the people of Oklahoma have come to expect from Republican leadership in the House."
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