1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 HOUSE BILL 3747 By: Grego
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to soldiers and sailors; amending 72
7 O.S. 2021, Section 225, which relates to the Oklahoma
8 Veterans Commission; adding Commission powers and
8 duties; creating alternative to State Veterans Home
9 care under certain conditions; requiring the Oklahoma
9 Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for stays at
10 private nursing facilities under certain conditions;
10 and providing an effective date.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 72 O.S. 2021, Section 225, is
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15 amended to read as follows:
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16 Section 225. The Oklahoma Veterans Commission, in addition to
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17 its other powers and duties as herein provided, shall have the
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18 following specific powers and duties which shall, however, not be
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19 deemed to be exclusive: (a) To make necessary rules and regulations
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20 not inconsistent with Section 221 et seq. of this title for the
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21 operation of the institutions. (b) To rule upon eligibility of
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22 applicant and requirements for admission to the institution. (c) To
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23 appoint all administrative personnel and provide for the employment
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24 of all such other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the
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 1 provisions of Section 221 et seq. of this title and any other duties
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2 as may be prescribed by law. The salaries and tenure of office of
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3 all personnel shall be determined by the Commission. (d) To approve
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4 or disapprove all claims or expenditures from such appropriations as
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5 may be made to the Commission prior to the payment thereof, except
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6 as may be otherwise provided by law. (e) To enter into agreement or
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7 contract with the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
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8 Services, or other departments of the State of Oklahoma, to provide
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9 necessary services to carry out the provisions of Section 221 et
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10 seq. of this title. (f) To enter into agreement or contract with
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11 the Veterans Administration, or other appropriate federal agency now
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12 in existence or hereafter created, to provide necessary services to
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13 carry out the provisions of this act; including but not limited to,
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14 agreements by which the federal government contributes funds for the
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15 construction of buildings in whole or in part. (g) To contract, as
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16 herein provided or as otherwise provided by law, to remodel,
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17 construct, repair, build additions, modernize or add improvements
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18 necessary for hospitalization and domiciliary care of veteran
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19 patients, members, or employee housing, using funds available by
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20 law. (h) To expend necessary sums from funds provided by law, to
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21 provide architectural plans, specifications, costs or other
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22 information required by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs, or
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23 other appropriate federal agency, as basis of application for
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24 approval to receive federal grant of funds to remodel, repair,
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 1 construct, build additions, modernize, or added improvements of
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2 domiciliary or hospital buildings necessary for the care of
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3 veterans, including tuberculosis, mentally ill, and neuro-
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4 psychiatric, but not excluding others. (i) To enter into agreements
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5 or contracts with private nursing facilities to provide necessary
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6 services to eligible Oklahoma Veterans who reside more than fifty
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7 (50) miles from a State Veterans Home in accordance with the
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8 provisions of this act.
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9 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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10 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 240.1 of Title 72, unless there
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11 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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12 If an eligible Oklahoma Veteran, at the time of his or her
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13 application for admission to a State Veterans Home, resides more
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14 than fifty (50) miles from a State Veterans Home, the Oklahoma
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15 Department of Veterans Affairs shall pay for a bed at a long-term,
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16 skilled nursing care facility located within fifty (50) miles of the
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17 eligible Oklahoma Veteran's residence.
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18 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
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20 59-2-8443 SW 01/10/24
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