Lawmaker Wants Generators in Senior Centers

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A state lawmaker whose district lost electric power during a winter storm said he wants backup generators and an approved emergency plan in all assisted living centers.

State Rep. Joe Dorman held an interim study on the issue Tuesday before the House Human Services Committee.

A Health Department official testified that of the 139 continuum of care and assisted living centers in the state, nearly 70 percent reported having a generator.

Penny Ridenour is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association.

"Back up power in assisted living is a great idea but the question is should we be able to tell private business what to do with private money?" Ridenour said.

She also has concerns that many business owners would not be able to afford the mandate.

"It could be anywhere from 30,000 to six figures from what I was told on the phone depending on the size of the assisted living," she added.

Dorman said he wants all facilities to have backup power but is open to the idea of offering waivers to facilities who can prove they can't afford it or have less than 50 residents, but he said he would like to see a requirement for facilities with more than 50 residents.

A similar proposal by Dorman last year died after resistance from several Republican members who argued it was an unnecessary state mandate on private business.

Dorman's efforts were spurred by Craig McClennen who called the Representative after his father and his in-laws lost power last winter. McClennen's father lives at a nursing home while his in-laws live at an assisted living facility.

"We were not only frightened Dad would get sick, we were frightened for Dad's life," McClennen said.

McClenne said he wants a mandate for both nursing homes and assisted living centers but said the move to get assisted living centers on board is a good first step.

Dorman said he would like to see nursing homes be required to have generators too but stepped back from it after being told including nursing homes would mean his bill would never make it to the floor.