August 23 Senate Review by Sen. George Burns

Tuesday, 23 August 2022 17:37

August 23 Senate Review by Sen. George Burns Featured

Written by Sen. George Burns
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Kia Horste, Keith Lickly, Sammy Lowrance, Jan West, Rep. Rick West, Cora Horste, Houston Horste, Sen. George Burns, Patty Burns, Glenn Lowrance, and Peggy Sue Lowrance pose with Gov. Kevin Stitt as he ceremonially signs Senate Bill 1123. Kia Horste, Keith Lickly, Sammy Lowrance, Jan West, Rep. Rick West, Cora Horste, Houston Horste, Sen. George Burns, Patty Burns, Glenn Lowrance, and Peggy Sue Lowrance pose with Gov. Kevin Stitt as he ceremonially signs Senate Bill 1123.

 

Recently, Governor Stitt had ceremonial signings for several important bills. Among those was one I’m very proud to have authored, Senate Bill 1123. This measure allows a responding law enforcement officer to authorize the removal of a body when it is determined to be in the public interest. This change is significant in rural Oklahoma, where fatalities have shut down roads and highways, causing substantial traffic issues for hours while waiting for a medical investigator to arrive. Cases like these have traumatizing effects on the families of fatality victims and first responders working the scene. SB 1123 allows law enforcement to work a fatality while protecting the public and preserving the dignity of the victim and their families.

I want to thank Mr. Glenn Lowrance for bringing this issue to my attention and advocating for change. Mr. Lowrance brought his family to the Capitol for the occasion. I was honored to celebrate his dedication to community and advocacy for the safety and dignity of all Oklahomans. I also want to thank Representative Rick West for being the House author on such an important bill, LeFlore County EMS Executive Director Keith Lickly for representing the voice of emergency services in Southeast Oklahoma and working with me on this piece of legislation, and, of course, Governor Stitt for his support and signing SB 1123 into law. I’m incredibly proud of the work done on this bill and glad to see others celebrating it.

We'll soon begin holding the 2022 interim studies at the Capitol. We'll be dealing with a variety of complex issues that require more time for in-depth hearings than we have during the regular session. You can find a list of all the upcoming studies at https://oksenate.gov/publications/senate-interim-studies. You can also view those studies live on our website. Schedules will be posted soon.

I have continued attending events throughout the district this summer, such as rodeos, ball games, and other community events, and have enjoyed visiting with so many of you. I’m always happy to speak with constituents and will continue to make myself available to you at these events, so if you see me out and about, please feel free to stop and say "Hello" and let me know how I can help.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you at our state Capitol. If you have any questions about legislation or need assistance with an issue, don't hesitate to contact me by email at George.Burns@oksenate.gov or by phone at 405-521-5614.

 

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