Deevers pulls SB1017, moves forward with plans to improve student care, transparency, and parental rights

Deevers Pulls SB1017, Moves Forward with Plans to Improve Student Care, Transparency, and Parental Rights

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, remains unwavering in his commitment to ensuring Oklahoma's special education resources serve the students who need them. After hearing from parents, speech therapists, and education advocates, Deevers has pulled SB1017 while requesting an audit to ensure that school-based services are serving kids with disabilities efficiently and effectively. He also released the following statement.

“Over the past several days, I have given extensive thought to SB1017 and engaged in discussions with countless loving and amazing teachers, therapists, parents, and concerned citizens. One thing remains clear: these students’ essential educational services must be protected. I have also heard, unequivocally, from parents who do not want to lose oversight of their children’s medical decisions as well as therapists and teachers who see the problems in the system that this bill was trying to address.

“In states such as Maryland and California, school-based health centers have put students on hormonal birth control, IUD’s, abortion pills, gender affirming care and chest-binders, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatments all without parental consent or even notification. The purpose of SB1017 was to protect parental rights and prevent the potential for these sorts of things from ever coming to Oklahoma by tying our state definitions to IDEA, the federal law dealing with school-based services.

“It has become evident that the language of SB1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent—protecting the necessary services for our special needs students while ensuring that parental rights remain intact. I regret any confusion or concern this has caused and sincerely apologize for the turmoil it has created. My goal from the outset has been to safeguard our children, our schools, and our medical and educational professionals while also preventing the unchecked expansion of school-based health programs that we are seeing in other states that could undermine parental authority through blanket consent forms and questionable medical ethics.

“I appreciate the attention this issue has received and am grateful for the engagement of parents, teachers, and therapists across Oklahoma who have sought to provide clarity and support. However, I recognize that not everyone is convinced of the reasons underlying the introduction of this bill, which is why I am officially withdrawing SB1017 from consideration. It will not be heard.

“In the meantime, I will be working with Oklahoma agencies and the Trump administration to try to initiate a long-overdue audit of school-based Medicaid—a review that has not been conducted in over 20 years. The last audit in 2003 revealed substantial issues in the administration of school-based Medicaid funds. Oklahoma families and all Oklahomans deserve full transparency and have a right to know that every dollar intended for student services is being used appropriately. It is time for another thorough review, and I am happy to wait for the results before pursuing legislative action.

“Additionally, I have secured a commitment from the State Department of Education to compile and take a closer look at their audits to ensure the system is working as it should.

"This is about protecting kids. I will always fight to ensure every child with a disability gets the services they need, without interference from government waste or special interest agendas. As we move forward, I will continue working alongside education leaders, parents, and lawmakers to ensure that we are delivering the strongest possible protections for Oklahoma students.”