Senate adds ambulance districts to county commissioners' assistance authority

The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 405, which adds ambulance service districts to the duties and powers for which county commissioners may provide assistance.

Senator Alvord explained SB 405, saying the bill simply adds ambulance districts to the list of entities county commissioners can help establish and support under the Oklahoma Constitution. The author told senators the change makes ambulance districts explicitly enumerated among public entities counties may assist.

Lawmakers questioned scope and limits. Minority Leader Kurt asked whether counties already had this authority; Alvord replied counties were not explicitly listed and this bill adds ambulance districts to the list. Senator Kirk asked whether the language on page 8, line 7 restricts the assistance to cost minimization; Alvord said the provision is intended to allow assistance only to minimize costs and to maintain ambulance district facilities. Senator Boren asked about an apparent expansion of benefits language ("Live Healthy prescription" and health and dental discount programs); Alvord said that wording reflects a name change for an existing program and does not create new benefits.

Senators advanced and passed the bill on third reading; the roll call recorded 45 ayes and 0 nays.