Oklahoma § 56-3121 - Compassionate Care Task Force

§ 56-3121. Compassionate Care Task Force

A. There is hereby created until July 1, 2010, the

“Compassionate Care Task Force”. The Compassionate Care Task Force

shall be composed of the following members:

1. The Attorney General, or a designee;

2. The Commissioner of the State Department of Health, or a

designee;

3. The Director of the Department of Human Services, or a

designee;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

4. The Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Services, or a designee;

5. The Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community

Initiatives, as created under the direction of the Secretary of

Health and Human Services in July 2000, or a designee;

6. Two bipartisan members of the Oklahoma House of

Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of

Representatives;

7. Two bipartisan members of the Oklahoma State Senate

appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate;

8. One member of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department;

and

9. One member of the Tulsa City-County Health Department.

B. 1. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing

authorities. A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled by the

original appointing authority.

2. A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute

a quorum. A majority of the members present at a meeting may act

for the Task Force.

3. The chair shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma

House of Representatives on or before August 1, 2008. The vicechair shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the

Oklahoma State Senate on or before August 1, 2008.

4. The chair shall convene the first meeting of the Task Force

on or before September 1, 2008. The Task Force shall meet as often

as necessary.

5. Task Force members employed by the state shall be reimbursed

for travel expenses related to their service on the Task Force by

their respective agencies pursuant to the provisions of the State

Travel Reimbursement Act. Legislative members of the Task Force

shall be reimbursed for their necessary travel expenses incurred in

the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 456 of

Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. Staff of the State Department of Health shall serve as

primary staff for the Task Force. The Task Force may use the

expertise and services of the staffs of the Oklahoma House of

Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate and may, if necessary,

seek the advice and services of experts in the field as well as

other necessary professional and clerical staff.

D. All departments, officers, agencies and employees of this

state shall cooperate with the Task Force in fulfilling its duties

and responsibilities including, but not limited to, providing any

information, records, or reports requested by the Task Force.

E. The meetings of the Task Force shall be subject to the

Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

F. The Compassionate Care Task Force shall determine and make

recommendations regarding:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

1. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based

organizations in the Oklahoma health care system;

2. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based

organizations in community-based health education, advocacy and

direct care for the uninsured;

3. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based

organizations in improving access to health care and ensuring

affordable and stable health care coverage;

4. The level of collaboration between charitable, voluntary,

and faith-based organizations and public health agencies in the

state;

5. The utilization of health-related services currently being

provided by charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations in

the state; and

6. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based

organizations and the pandemic influenza preparedness plan for

Oklahoma.

G. The Compassionate Care Task Force shall provide a progress

report in electronic form to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore

of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House

of Representatives on or before March 1 of each year.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 153, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008.