The Metropolitan Environmental Trust in cooperation with RTR Environmental and Tulsa Community College will host, “Tireless Tulsa”, a FREE tire recycling event along with E-Waste Collection on Saturday, March 12th from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The event takes place at the North East Campus of TCC located at 3727 East Apache Street.

“Unattended tires are consistently a problem in Oklahoma for many reasons. They are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and with the recent outbreak of the Zika Virus, it is critical that we are proactive and remove the opportunity for this disease to spread in and around Tulsa,” says Graham Brannin, Executive Director for the M.e.t.

Residents of Bixby, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Claremore, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Tulsa County, Owasso, Sand Springs and Tulsa can bring their tires to this event to be recycled. Tires must not have rims and no commercial tires are allowed. Drop-offs are limited to ten tires per person. During this event, the public is also encouraged to bring e-waste which includes: computer towers, printers, cameras, flat screen monitors, VCR/DVD players, radios, office machines, and small appliances. NO refrigerators or AC units please. These items are FREE to recycle. However, CRT computer monitors, the large box types and TV’s DO require a processing fee. Computer monitors are $10 and TV’s are $21. Citizens are encouraged to go to the M.e.t.’s website and pre-pay for these items prior to the event. (www.metrecycle.com and click on the green “E-Waste” button)

Brannin also wants citizens to do the responsible thing with their E-waste, “With all of the technological upgrades, we want the public to recognize that their out- dated items should never go to the trash. The M.e.t. will properly recycle these items and keep them out of the landfills.”

Meg Sutherland
The Metropolitan Environmental Trust
M.e.t. Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator
WTI, One West Third St., Suite 110
Tulsa, OK 74103
meg@metrecycle.com
Phone: 918.584.0584

Senate Review by Senator J.J. Dossett

After four weeks of focusing mostly on bills being heard in committee, the focus shifted this past week to the full chamber where bills that made it out of those committees are being debated and voted on.

As you know, one of my priorities for education has been to do whatever I could to help get rid of the End of Instruction Exams. A bill to do that was approved by the Senate Education Committee last week, and this week, the measure was approved unanimously by the full Senate.

It was originally hoped these exams would help make sure students were better prepared for whatever path they took after graduating high school. I would tell those critics of the bill that EOIs haven’t reduced college remediation or made kids any smarter. They cost millions and millions of dollars, reduce instruction time, and cause unnecessary frustration and stress for teachers, students and parents. I hope the House moves quickly to approve this bill.

We’re still awaiting a floor vote on a bill to delay the income tax cut that went into effect in January, but that vote must happen next week as March 10 is the deadline for the full Senate to vote on bills introduced on this side. Most people are only going to see literally a few pennies a day if that, but when total up the amount state wide, it’s taking millions and millions of dollars away from education, public safety and other critical services just as we’re are facing a $1.3 billion shortfall. I hope when it does come to the floor, the majority of members do the right thing for our schools and our communities and approve this bill.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do want to let you know that I was not at the Capitol on the final session day of week four. While I assure you I take my responsibilities in the Senate with the greatest seriousness, I thought it was important that I be with my wife for the birth of our third son. However, I also want to assure all the citizens of District 34 that I was back in the Senate and voting on legislation when the session convened on Monday.

I was recognized to announce the latest addition to our family to the full Senate, and I want to point out that as all the members in the chamber broke into applause at the news, the well-wishes and congratulations came from both sides of the aisle. Republicans and Democrats alike offered warm handshakes and empathized with the sleep deprivation new parents know all too well.

There are philosophical differences that may put members on different sides of the issues based on things like political parties or whether you’re from a rural area or an urban district. But shared life experiences, like the birth of a child or grandchild, can help people look beyond differences, and hopefully find some common ground on key issues. I believe that’s going to be incredibly important as we work to find solutions to the formidable problems facing our state this session.

I welcome your comments on state government and the issues before us. Please feel free to contact me by writing to Senator J.J. Dossett at the State Capitol, Room 521-A, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105; call me at (405) 521-5566.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, one in four adults has one or more diagnosable mental disorders. While many of these conditions are common and treatable, it is estimated that nearly half of those diagnosed are not getting the help they need.

But there is hope. The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) stands ready to educate you on your mental health insurance coverage. We’re also partnering with Cathy Costello to spread the word about this important issue. Cathy is the widow of former Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. They dealt with their son’s mental illness for more than eight years before he was accused of killing Mark Costello and arrested last August.

Cathy is featured in a new series of public service announcements encouraging Oklahomans to call OID if they need help clarifying mental health insurance coverage. The PSAs will air on TV stations throughout Oklahoma starting this month.

Here are a few tips for navigating mental healthcare.

How Do I Find Help?

If you are employed, check with your human resources department to see if they offer an employee assistance program (EAP). These services generally include short-term counseling for employees and household members. EAPs provide support for a number of issues including substance abuse, emotional distress, major life events, personal relationship issues and more.

There are also many nationally available hotlines if you need to speak with someone immediately. For general mental health questions, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a good place to start. You can reach them at 877-726-4727.

Finding Help if You Have Health Insurance

All insurance plans are required by law to cover mental health and substance abuse services. This includes behavioral health treatment such as psychotherapy and counseling. The plans also include mental and behavioral health inpatient services and substance abuse disorder treatment.

Your insurance company can provide a list of providers in your plan. Your primary care doctor may also be able to refer you to a mental health specialist.

If you have more questions about mental health insurance coverage, call the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 800-522-0071.

Finding Help When Uninsured

Start with your community health center. SAMHSA provides a behavior treatment services locator to help you find one in your area. Other places to look include university clinics and group therapy.

You can also call 211. The free 24-hour phone line can help Oklahomans in every county with information and referrals to community services. Its available seven days a week, 365 days a year.

If you have more questions about mental health insurance coverage, call the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 800-522-0071.

About the Oklahoma Insurance Department

The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

For more information, contact:
Kelly Dexter
405-522-0683
Kelly.Dexter@oid.ok.gov

"On Friday, responding to an appeal of a denial of benefits based on a pre-existing condition by an employer providing benefits in accordance with the Oklahoma Employee Injury Benefit Act, the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission concluded that a part of the Act is unconstitutional. I appreciate the difficult work the Commission has performed during its first two challenging years and their dedication to our collective goal of protecting Oklahoma’s workers. The Commission Order anticipates an appeal and stays its referral until appeals are decided, and I look forward to a complete and careful review of these issues by the judicial branch. My department will continue to perform its statutory responsibilities while this consideration occurs, and we will support our legislators as they continue to develop Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system this session. I believe that addressing these issues head-on will enable our state to provide the best care possible for Oklahomans at a price employers can afford."

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For more information, contact:
Kelly Dexter
405-522-0683
Kelly.Dexter@oid.ok.gov