Jefferson Highway bill heading to Senate floor, 100th Anniversary of Oklahoma ratifying 19th Amendment

Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Senate District 1

3/7/2020

Capitol Considerations by Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Recognizing the historic Jefferson Highway route

I passed Senate Bill 1884 out of the Senate Transportation Committee a couple weeks ago, which would designate a route that generally follows State Highway 69 in Oklahoma from the Kansas to Texas borders as the historic Jefferson Highway route.

While many people think Route 66 is the oldest highway to pass through our state, it is actually the Jefferson Highway, which runs north and south through Oklahoma and pre-dates Route 66 by nearly a decade.

The historic Jefferson Highway was one of the earliest automobile highways in the country and originally ran from Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans, spanning more than 2,300 miles.

Oklahoma is the only state to have the Jefferson Highway and Route 66 spanning it.

Under SB 1884, funding for highway signage would be provided by private sources, and the Department of Transportation would install available signage as designated. The cool thing about the Jefferson Highway is that it actually runs through many of our communities, often small towns, by turning down main thoroughfares including historic downtown districts. By promoting this iconic route, we hope to increase tourism and economic development in our communities. Rep. Avery Frix from Muskogee is the House author for this measure and I’m enjoying working with him to promote this highway.

The bill heads to the floor this week.

The Senate recognized a major milestone in our state’s history last week. February 28^th marked the 100^th anniversary of Oklahoma becoming the 33^rd state to ratify the 19^th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Interestingly enough, Oklahoma actually gave women the right to vote two years before suffrage was approved nationally.

My colleagues and I adopted Senate Resolution 13 to celebrate this event, which was authored by Senator Kim David of Porter and Senator Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City. Both of these ladies made history when they became the first women since statehood to hold the posts of Majority and Minority Leaders.

The next two weeks will be busy on the Senate floor as we vote on legislation. If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to reach out to me. You can contact my office at 405-521-5561 or email me at Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

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Tort Claims Act Amendment will help Grand Gateway & Pelivan

Immediate Release: March 4, 2020

Senate approves amendment to Governmental Tort Claims Act

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved Senate Bill 1110 on Tuesday, which would amend the Governmental Tort Claims Act to include substate planning districts, regional councils of government and other entities created under the Interlocal Cooperation Act. Bill author Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, said the measure adds clarification that these entities are political subdivisions of the state.

“These organizations are listed elsewhere in Oklahoma statutes as acting governmental units,” Bergstrom said. “Adding them to the Governmental Tort Claims Act will hopefully reduce unnecessary legal expenses these entities may accrue, which would save taxpayer dollars on costly and unneeded lawsuits and legal fees.”

The Governmental Tort Claims Act allows ordinary people to sue the State of Oklahoma and its entities, with exceptions that protect the state. Expanding coverage to substate planning districts, regional councils of government and other entities under the Interlocal Cooperation Act would give them legal protection.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives where Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, will present the measure.

For more information, contact:

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561, or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov.

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MAKE IT COUNT OKLAHOMA! Census Day is April 1 and Oklahoma needs a full count. An undercount in the census of just 2 percent can cost the state $1.8billion in lost federal money over the next 10 years. Fill out your census form, Oklahoma. Learn more at: www.2020census.gov.

Advancing healthcare in Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Senate District 1

March 9, 2020

Capitol Considerations by Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Advancing health care

The Senate was busy this past week. We debated and voted on 175 pieces of legislation ahead of our March 12 deadline to hear the bills that originated in this chamber, and we still have 245 bills that we could consider by the deadline.

I had several bills pass off the floor this past week, including Senate Bill 1208, which would allow an individual to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional via telemedicine if an officer is dispatched to a mental health related call. In my opinion, top priorities in these circumstances include public safety in general, officer safety, and finding the best way reduce any tension. The expanded use of telemedicine, perhaps by handing the individual who is having the mental health issue a tablet so they can immediately communicate with a professional counselor, is a way to make these situations better. If Senate Bill 1208 is signed into law, it should help with patient diagnosis and treatment time and decrease the need for costly transports.

We also passed the Medical Care Provider Protection Act, which would strengthen our laws dealing with violence against health care workers. Nearly 75 percent of all workplace assaults happen in the medical field. One in four nurses have reported that they’ve experienced some sort of workplace violence. The measure would strengthen the penalty for assault and battery on a health care worker and expand protections for all employees in the health care field, including doctors, nurses, janitors, volunteers and even chaplains. I’m proud to co-author this bill that would take the first steps in addressing this violent issue.

Thank you for allowing me to be your voice in the State Senate. If you have any questions or concerns about upcoming legislation, please feel free to reach out to me. You can contact my office at 405-521-5561 or email me at Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov.

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MAKE IT COUNT OKLAHOMA! Census Day is April 1 and Oklahoma needs a full count. An undercount in the census of just 2 percent can cost the state $1.8 billion in lost federal money over the next 10 years. Fill out your census form, Oklahoma. Learn more at: www.2020census.gov.

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom meets with medical professionals to discuss health care workplace legislation

Immediate Release: March 5, 2020

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom meets with medical professionals to 

discuss health care workplace legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, met with health care team members from Integris Miami and Integris Grove at the Capitol to discuss Senate Bill 1290, also known as the Medical Care Provider Protection Act.

The measure, co-authored by Bergstrom, would strengthen laws dealing with violence against health care workers on the job by creating an inclusive list of specific health care workers the law covers and increasing the penalty for attacking any health care worker; raising awareness through uniformed signage in hospitals, clinics and ambulances; and requiring an annual report of all assaults on health care workers to the State Department of Health.

“Health care professionals work tirelessly to keep our families healthy,” Bergstrom said. “The amount of violence our health care workers endure in order to do their jobs is astounding. We must do more to keep them safe, and that’s why I’m proud to co-author a measure will take steps to address workplace violence in the medical field.”

Senate Bill 1290 passed off the Senate floor Thursday. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

For more information, contact:

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561, or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov.

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CUTLINE: Sen. Micheal Bergstrom met with health care administrators from the Integris Miami and Integris Grove hospitals. From left to right: Angie Conrad RN, emergency department supervisor; Skyler Humble RN, BSN, IV therapy team manager; Brandi Stewart RN, BSN, MBA, vice president/chief nursing officer; Sen. Micheal Bergstrom; Sarah Shockley RN, women’s health supervisor; Carrie Turner RN, BSN, progressive care/OB/ED clinical director; Logan Thronebury RN, MSN, quality consultant; James Sharp RN, BSN, MBA, surgery/wound care clinical director.

MAKE IT COUNT OKLAHOMA! Census Day is April 1 and Oklahoma needs a full count. An undercount in the census of just 2 percent can cost the state $1.8billion in lost federal money over the next 10 years. Fill out your census form, Oklahoma. Learn more at: www.2020census.gov.