OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REGULAR MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
12:30 – 2:30 PM
ZOOM MEETING
MEETING ID: 934 9481 0688
http://zoom.us/j/93494810688
TELEPHONE +1 312 626 6799
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
Jewell Dietsche Via Zoom Teleconference/Videoconference
Walker Davis “
Erma-Willis Alford “
Trish Emig “
Roberta Dake “
Carolyn McGhay “
Cathy Howard “
Bo Fallon “
John Kusel “
Gloria Stearns “
Bonnie Lucas “
Tom Lucas “
Ruth Tatyrek “
3. Approve Nov. 9, 2020 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes by Trish Emig
4. Introduce Miranda Kieffer who will replace Shirley Cox’s support role upon Shirley’s retirement
5. Discuss and Take Possible Action on the OSHLAA Annual Meeting Preparations (09/15/21) - Trish
6. Appointment of OSHLAA Nominating Committee – Rowena Scott-Johnson - accepted, INCOG & Areawide Aging -?, Judith Kulchinski - ? – Trish
7. Utility Assistance – Ruth Tatyrek
8. Aging Services Update Discussion with Possible Action – Trish Emig
- Rebranding to Community Living ~ Aging and Protective Services
- Community brick and mortar Hope Centers
- CARES ACT Increased Funding (Adult Protective Services and Ombudsman Program)
9. Treasurer’s Report with Possible Action by Cathy Howard
- OSHLAA Bank Account Balance
- OSHLAA Membership Dues/OSHL Filing Fees Collection Status
- Approve any outstanding invoices/statements – Senior Day at the Capitol
- Discuss and Take Possible Action on the 2020 OSHL State Income Tax Form Check Off
- Status of Registered Agent Change to Jeromy Buchanan, Director of Aging
- Other, and possible action
10. Legislative Update, Discussion and Possible Action by Esther Houser/Ruth Tatyrek/Trish Emig
- Update on Bills Impacting Older Oklahoman – See OAP First Legislative Letter
- Senior Day at the Capitol Update with Possible Action
- Federal – House-passed COVID-19 Relief Bill which will benefit Older Americans
11. Status on proof reading & amending the revised September 25, 2020 OSHLAA Policy Manual
- Must be in the hands of the OSHLAA Membership 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting
12. Public Comment limited to 2 minutes per person
13. Adjourn – Next Meeting Scheduled for Friday, June 11th
OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020
12:30 PM
ZOOM TELECONFERENCE & VIDEOCONFERENCE MEETING
14. Meeting Called to Order: By Trish Emig, President at 12:30pm.
15. Roll Call: Members Present by Zoom Videoconference or Teleconference
Erma-Willis Alford “
Trish Emig “
Roberta Dake “
Carolyn McGhay “
Cathy Howard “
Bo Fallon “
John Kusel “
Ruth Tatyrek “
Bill Hickson “
“Quorum Declared”
Also, Present: Shirley Cox and Esther Houser
Members Absent: Jewel Dietsche, Walker Davis, Gloria Sterns, Bonnie Lucas and Tom Lucas
16. Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the May 29, 2020 Executive Committee Meeting approved by motion from Cathy Howard and second from Bo Fallon.
17. Filling Vacant OSHLAA Position of Secretary: Trish Emig nominated Carolyn McGhay. Motion to Approve was made by Ruth Tatyrek and seconded by Cathy Howard. Motion passed and Carolyn McGhay was sworn in as Secretary by Trish Emig.
18. Corrections to the OSHL/OSHLAA Member Directory by Trish Emig: Contact Roberta Dake for all corrections or changes to the directory.
19. Treasurer’s Report by Cathy Howard:
- OSHLAA Bank Account Balance - $4,788.44
- OSHLAA Membership Dues/OSHL Filing Fees Collection Status: A $15 filing fee is due from all appointed OSHL Legislators (Senators, Representatives and Alternates) every two years (OSHLAA fiscal year runs from October 1st and ends September, 30th of each year). Treasurer Cathy Howard will contact OSHL Appointees for payment status for those Appointees who have not paid filing fees for the OSHL 2021-2022 legislative years. Treasurer Howard also will contact any OSHLAA Members who have not paid their $15 annual membership dues for the OSHLAA fiscal year, 2020 or 2021. Most OSHLAA members are lifetime members.
- Approved: Appropriate OSHLAA Expenditures to include $500 contribution to the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging’s legislative tracking system for 2021: Approved by a motion from Ruth Tatyrek and a second from Bo Fallon. Cathy received the statement and will submit the OSHLAA check to the Alliance.
- Approved: OSHLAA 2021 Executive Committee Meeting Dates: The OSHLAA is mandated to conduct “in person” meetings after the Open Meetings Act Waiver expires on 11-15-20. Until the Legislature passes a bill to change the language of the Open Meetings Act, the SHL has no option but to set our meeting schedule and update as necessary. The meeting dates were approved by a motion from Bo Fallon and a second from Roberta Dake.
- Trish Emig and Esther Houser agreed to write a letter to the Legislature Leadership, on behalf of the OSHLAA executive committee, requesting a Legislative Special Session to extend the November 15th exemption. Motion made by Ruth Tatyrek and second from Trish Emig. Motion Passed.
- Preparations for 2020 OSHL State Income Tax Form Contribution Check Off
- Other, and possible action: Decision not to take further action until SHLAA and Jenean Arnold’s questions, provided for in Jenean’s June 23, 2020, email to DHS, Damian Lin - fiscal person, are answered. Source for research is Jenean Arnold, Programs Administrator, DHS Aging Services, Finance & Operations Unit. Phone number 405-626-3514. Cathy Howard will be in contact with Jenean. Trish Emig said she would send an article to the AAA Directors to consider printing in their AAA Newsletters about the OSHL/OSHLAA checkoff on the Oklahoma State Income Tax form.
20. Legislative Update by Bo Fallon and Esther Houser:
- Discuss and take possible action on the OSHL Proposed 2021/2022 bill matters: Bo Fallon sent out an email to members requesting a 1-5 ranking for 7 proposed SHL bills and 2 SHL amendments. Bills 1-6 passed. Bill #7 did not pass. The 2 amendments both passed.
- Bill Ranking as follows:
o Ranked #1 is the “backup generator for LTCF’s” bill from last year.
o Ranked #2 is “tax credit for caregivers 62 yrs. old or older”.
o Ranked #3 is “To fill a vacancy in Oklahoma Congressional delegation should a vacancy occur”.
o Ranked #4 is for “tax exemption on groceries for persons 60 yrs. old and older”.
o Ranked #5 is “exemption on hearing aid sales tax for seniors”.
- Amendment Ranking as follows:
o Ranked #1 is “to amend the adult abuse registry statewide to a quarterly update” (Roberta Dake’s bill).
o Ranked #2 is “to amend bill 3242 regarding Medicare Supplemental Insurance premium increase” (Haljean Gillispie’s bill).
- Next steps to take: Esther Houser will seek State Legislative Bill Authors during the month of November since the Bill Request deadline is December 11th. Bills must be put into bill format by Bill Introduction Deadline, January 21, 2021 at 4 PM. Many of the bills have predecessor bill text that can be used. Esther Houser and Shirley Cox, with support from Bo Fallon, will support this effort.
Bo will provide an email to Trish to be distributed to all OSHLAA members and OSHL appointees regarding the 2021-22 OSHL legislative agenda for the State Legislative 2021-22 Sessions.
- 2021 State Legislative Session Update to date: Esther Houser & Trish Emig stated issues were:
o Find authors for bills.
o No physical office for DHS Aging Services as of 11-19-20, for the Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP) weekly strategy meetings that occur during the State Legislative Session.
o The $2500 E-Capitol Tracking System $2500 fee was, again, reduced to $1500 once again for the OAP.
o Questions about conducting the Senior Day at the Capital event due to Covid 19 Vaccination timeline, and the availability of the Capitol to the public.
o Interest in legislative process to explore the legislative website so that OSHL appointees can remain current on bills that impact Older Oklahomans. We need a stronger presence this year, since the Legislative emphasis will be on COVID, the state fiscal situation, and funding Medicaid expansion. It will be difficult to pass any legislation that will reduce the general revenue fund (ie – sales tax exemptions on specified items). The 2021-2022 OSHL bills have a two-year window to pass the State Legislature.
21. Approval of Notification of new OSHLAA Registered Agent – Jeromy Buchanan, Director of Aging Services: The cost is $25.00. Cathy Howard will find the correct form and work with Trish Emig to get appropriate signatures. A motion was made by Trish to Approve Jeromy Buchanan as the OSHLAA Registered Agent, with a second by John Kusel. The motion passed.
22. Amend and approve revised September 25, 2020 OSHLAA Policy Manual: Trish Emig and Esther Houser will work on the changes. A motion was made to approve the amendments with an * included in the Policy Manual that states the changes are in effect once the By-laws are updated. Motion to approve *addition and changes made by Trish Emig with a second by Roberta Dake. The motion passed.
23. Adjourn: Motion to adjourn passed and meeting adjourned at 2:26pm by Trish Emig, with a second by Ruth Tatyrek. The motion passed.
Respectfully submitted by Carolyn McGhay, Secretary
OSHLAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ROLL CALL VOTE FOR 11/09/2020
ROLL CALL TOPICS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ERMA-WILLIS ALFORD P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
TRISH EMIG P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
ROBERTA DAKE P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
CAROLYN MCGHAY P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
CATHY HOWARD P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
BO FALLON P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
JOHN KUSEL Y “ “ “ “ “
RUTH TATYREK P A Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “
BILL HICKSON P Y “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “
ALSO, PRESENT: Shirley Cox, Legal Adviser and Esther Houser, OSHL Legislative Liaison – Non Voting
ABSENT: Walker Davis, Jewell Dietsche, Tom and Bonnie Lucas
ROLL CALL VOTE TOPICS
1. DETERMINE QUORUM
2. APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MAY 29, 2020 BY TRISH EMIG
3. FILLING THE OSHLAA SECRETARY POSITION
4. APPROVAL OF THE TREASURER’S REPORT
5. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATE OSHLAA EXPENDATURES TO INCLUDE $500 CONTRIBUTION TO THE
OKLAHOMA ALLIANCE ON AGING’S LEGISLATIVE TRACKING SYSTEM FOR 2021.
6. APPROVAL OF THE OSHLAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2021 MEETING DATES.
7. APPROVAL OF LETTER TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO EXTEND WAIVER
FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS UNDER THE “OPEN MEETINGS ACT”.
8. APPROVAL OF THE NEW OSHLAA REGISTERED AGENT.9. APPROVAL OF OSHLAA POLICY MANUAL CHANGES
10. ADJOURNMENT.
OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Friday, March 19, 2021 - 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Friday, June 11, 2021 – 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 – Noon – 4:00 PM – Annual Meeting
Friday, November 19, 2021 – 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Oklahoma Aging Partnership
Oklahoma Alliance on Aging
Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association
Oklahoma State Council on Aging
2021 Letter to Legislators
March 03, 2021
Dear Legislator,
The Oklahoma Aging Partnership (OAP) is a non-partisan coalition comprised of the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging, the Oklahoma Silver-Haired Legislature Alumni Association and the Oklahoma State Council on Aging. Collectively, the OAP has identified key pieces of proposed legislation that will positively or negatively impact older Oklahomans. The collective decision to support or oppose legislation was made based on the current version of the bills as of March 2, 2021. We will appreciate your support of the Aging Partnership’s positions and welcome your questions.
OAP SUPPORTS:
House Bill 1019 (Rep. Rande Worthen) – Requires insurance carriers to cap copayments for a 30-day supply of any type of insulin at an amount not to exceed $100, regardless of the amount or type of insulin needed. The bill also authorizes insurance carriers to reduce copayment amounts below the cap. The measure requires the Insurance Commissioner to enforce compliance of the cap on copayments and authorizes the Commissioner to promulgate rules, as necessary.
House Bill 1794 (Rep. Nicole Miller and Sen. Adam Pugh) – Directs that any long-term care provider or retirement community that advertises care or treatment of people with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of Dementia to disclose the nature of that care on a Disclosure Form required by the State Department of Health. The bill’s current language is widely supported by aging advocates and is a priority bill for the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and the OAP.
House Bill 1845 (Rep. Andy Fugate and Sen. J.A. Dossett) – Requires a vehicle’s headlamps to be on at all times during inclement weather, This bill continues to be a priority issue of the Oklahoma Silver-Haired Legislature Alumni Association and is strongly supported by the OAP. Older Oklahomans need this extra safety measure.
House Bill 1877 (Rep. Tammy West and Sen. Bill Coleman) – Modifies the criteria for use of an anti-psychotic drug for a resident of an Assisted Living facility.
House Bill 2544 (Rep. Preston Stinson) – Modifies the crimes for which persons shall be required to serve not less than 85% of their sentence to include abuse of any vulnerable adult, not just those who are nursing home facility residents.
House Bill 2649 (Rep. Jon Echols and Sen. Tom Dugger) – Creates the OK Durable Medical Equipment Licensing Act which requires providers of durable medical equipment to be licensed.
HB 2644 (Rep. Jon Echols) – Would allow Virtual meetings of public bodies until March 31, 2024. This bill is supportive of Older Oklahomans who serve on public bodies, even when there is not a public health emergency.
Senate Bill 58 (Sen. Dave Rader and Rep. Jon Echols) – Exempts practitioners from the electronic prescription requirements when ordering a controlled, dangerous substance to be administered through the hospice program.
Senate Bill 198 (Rep. Paul Rosino and Rep. Mark Lawson) – Relates to determining the “least restrictive alternative” in the OK Guardianship and Conservatorship Act, in order that fewer rights of the ward are restricted than would be restricted if a guardian or conservator were appointed to the person.
Senate Bill 388 (Sen. Paul Rosino and Rep. Josh West) – Adds Advanced Practice Registered Nurse to the practitioners who can administer care in home settings.
OAP OPPOSES:
Senate Bill 42 (Sen. Dave Rader and Rep. Sheila Dills) – This bill expands exemptions in the Home Care Act to allow more home care agency staff to work without Oklahoma certification/licensure. Such an exemption would place more frail, vulnerable Older Oklahomans at risk of neglect and other harm from loosely supervised personnel sent to their homes to provide “care”. Training and certification of staff who work in elders’ homes is vital for the protection of these vulnerable Oklahomans.
Senate Bill 689 (Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Marcus McEntire) – Modifies membership of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care for Public Assistance Recipients (MAC) at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. This bill deletes Consumer representation from organizations for the Elderly, Children, persons with Developmental Disabilities, specific others, and one of the two Nursing Home associations (profit or non-profit?) from membership. The OAP strongly opposes this bill.
Senate Bill 820 (Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Marcus McEntire) – This bill “declassifies” multiple State Department of Health positions, including those personnel who are categorized as “Investigators”. The Oklahoma Aging Partnership organizations oppose the removal from Classified (protected) service of ANY State employee who investigates complaints or crimes, inspects facilities, agencies or businesses that are licensed by the State, or advocates for the rights of vulnerable Oklahomans of any type. Such positions in any State Agency should not be subject to removal of an incumbent for political reasons, or due to political pressure, or for any reason other than Cause. The Merit System provides protections for State Employees whose jobs involve protection of Oklahoma Citizens. Those Employee Protections should not be removed. OAP also opposes similar bills, including Senate Bills 232 and 876. Those of us who lived under a “patronage” system in the past know we should not return to those times.
Senate Bill 913 (Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Tom Gann) – Provides for the Legislature to repeal an agency rule by joint resolutions and removes the Governor’s authority to repeal agency rules by declaration. The measure also directs the President Pro Tempore and Speaker of the House to establish a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The Joint Committee shall consider proposed rules, amending rules, and repeal requests submitted by an agency. Those rules approved by the Committee shall be presented to the Legislature for final approval for repeal. Emergency rules must be sent to the Chairs of the Joint Committee in addition to the other recipients outlined in current law. The measure creates a new section of law in the Act by providing for the expedited repeal of rules beginning September 1, 2021.
BILLS OF CONCERN:
House Bill 1677 (Rep. Marilyn Stark and Sen. Darrell Weaver) and
House Bill 2566 (Rep. Chad Caldwell and Sen. Greg McCortney)
These bills both attempt to address the important issue of social isolation that many residents of Long-Term Care Facilities have experienced during the past year, due to COVID-19 restrictions on visitation. They both attempt to address access issues for family and friends of residents and contract services hired to support residents in such facilities. But each bill raises concerns related to “assigning” care-giving responsibilities to “compassionate caregivers” without reaffirming the facility’s responsibility to provide staff adequate in training and numbers to meet the needs of ALL the residents. In addition, both bills allow a Resident’s designated representative to prohibit the Resident to receive a visitor even though such a restriction of visitation can only be made by the Resident, herself, or by a Judge in a guardianship, under Oklahoma law. Restriction of visitors by family members can lead to extreme emotional suffering for residents, including in situations involving stepfamilies and family feuds. Please do not permit that language to remain in these bills.
Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Application
Information and Application Form
Make a difference - Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves!
Please complete the application and mail with your $15 Filing Fee to Roberta Dake at 10114 E 22nd St in Tulsa, OK 74129 E-Mail: dcheeryuhuh@cox.net, or call, 918-664-5210 should you have questions. Or, provide the completed application and $15 Filing Fee to the respective Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Director.
Membership Application: (To qualify for an OSHL Representative, Senator, Alternate or Senior Associate, must be 60 years of age. To qualify for Junior Associate, must be 30-59 years of age.)
Name_______________________________________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip_______________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone (Land Line) No. ________________________ Cell or I-Phone No._______________________
Email Address___________________________________________________________________
List your relevant work experience: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
List any relevant advocacy experience: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
List your interests – voluntary - civic, social or other activities with which you have been involved:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Why do you wish to join the OSHL? _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
OSHLAA 2nd V. President Signature _________________________________________________________________
OSHLAA 2nd V. President ~ Please check the appropriate membership category for the OSHL applicant.
( ) Senator ( ) Alternate ( ) Representative ( ) Alternate ( ) Jr. Associate ( ) Sr. Associate
Revised 10/19/2020
OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE
WE WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
- ~ providing training and experience in the Oklahoma legislative process to older Oklahomans, and
~ providing essential advocacy by older Oklahomans for older Oklahomans on local and state issues.
A FEW OF THE
OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. Implementation of a state-wide Silver Alert System.
2. If requested by a Resident, cameras are permitted in the rooms of Nursing Home Residents.
3. Nursing Homes are prohibited from hiring Nurse Aides until after Nurse Aides have completed the training and become state certified.
4. Creation of the Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Report,
accessible to the Public and supported in the Oklahoma Attorney General’s
Office. The Report provides the names of persons convicted of such crimes.
5. Providers of Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans with 5000 or more enrollees, are prohibited from increasing plan premium rates other than during the Medicare Open-Enrollment Period.
6. Funding for an additional five (5) Long-Term Care Ombudsman supervisors.
WE ARE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY
Filing Fees - $15.00 Every Two Years
The Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association
Donations by Generous Contributors
The Area Agencies on Aging
DHS, Aging Services
BE AN ENGAGED CITIZEN IN LAW MAKING!
BE A POSITIVE VOICE FOR VULNERABLE, OLDER OKLAHOMANS!
JOIN US TODAY!
