[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6634595,"mediaKeyId","2663739-cabf1c5358c48771e74297c505a3bb4b","parentId",2663739,"title","Senate committee forwards Brenda Hafer for director of Office of Disability Concerns","audioSeconds",285,"startMs",1463000,"endMs",1748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663739-cabf1c5358c48771e74297c505a3bb4b&start=1463&end=1748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663739-cabf1c5358c48771e74297c505a3bb4b/thumbnail_1463000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634595/Oklahoma/Senate-committee-forwards-Brenda-Hafer-for-director-of-Office-of-Disability-Concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634595-b5f1b02a21ef5c8629c48438a6bbc5f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775255399&Signature=gtclxftw~Zzs-nyHhxBQ9DtW83lSBJ9~tVq9obWU0dqiGrch4upDQ3ITNNihsxZ-juF5egUoA9eifBB2VZy-ds6DCNmGorlB~Fy6VRNjejVgeJTAfesd7Fzt~ddfZ2rIRkZeRE5IUVSuPDZn0yrBljewXfygX21XsHFM3IFp6aJCmEu5dWFumAou0ns4MTtp3ZE41meMSuk~7phgjso5KvVBixhq5Vk5z2Zl7ToCkQWJSgAcvp2BOe9SgQdwByejHwVVWGNCsGnv7b2aasxOy83f2Ojp5UN1SCuJf5EAks8HXk0QqDSAfeTshshAJRRW5tSZUuX96doi1cotKdjEdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","OK State Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","An Oklahoma Senate committee voted 10-0 to forward the nomination of Brenda Penner Hafer to serve as director of the Office of Disability Concerns, sending the nomination to the full Senate.

Senator Hicks introduced Hafer’s nomination and said Hafer had been serving in an interim capacity for three years following the previous director’s death. Members asked Hafer to describe the office’s functions and her priorities before the committee voted.

Brenda Penner Hafer told the committee the Office of Disability Concerns advocates and educates on behalf of Oklahomans with disabilities. She said the office works directly with callers and community partners to connect people to resources, help with job applications and provide referrals to food banks or other supports. Hafer said her staff aims to answer every call and to connect callers to appropriate services when they cannot resolve issues directly.

Members praised Hafer’s work leading the office through a difficult transition and noted she moved the office under the Department of Human Services for financial support. Senator Hicks said Hafer requested a flat budget and has managed the office within existing resources; Hafer confirmed she has sought only modest additional help while in the interim role.

The committee recorded a unanimous favorable recommendation. The clerk reported \"10 ayes and 0 nays,\" and the chair declared the nomination passed and forwarded to the full Senate for consideration.

The nomination advances to the full Senate for final confirmation; no date for that vote was specified in the committee transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health and Human Services Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An Oklahoma Senate committee voted unanimously to forward Brenda Penner Hafer’s nomination to serve as director of the Office of Disability Concerns after members heard about her three years as interim director and her office’s advocacy work.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature OK, Oklahoma","taxId",78380,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6634600,"Senate committee forwards Dr. Abdul Khan’s reappointment to Health Care Workforce Training Commission",497,947000,1444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663739-cabf1c5358c48771e74297c505a3bb4b&start=947&end=1444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663739-cabf1c5358c48771e74297c505a3bb4b/thumbnail_947000.jpg","/articles/6634600/Oklahoma/Senate-committee-forwards-Dr-Abdul-Khans-reappointment-to-Health-Care-Workforce-Training-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634600-636814573b7f44bb8bca208a6f57d93a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775255399&Signature=Rs5T5n0yz7AW9GmnayjUNtnvh7-5PyPYdSZ7YpQVcbvuWNGdUOBy21Ux~noOyQNpW56ZzZvBPU3zk60vQeRGqqcW7eTDGyqF~xuYk9OOmGVSLVTSYlkYmwkrCoW4DqICc04XzDk6KjCykNtw5a7O2hBL2ny2x4RysJFcZbKFiOmPBDRtSHzIbsehZjsjrC3rAnx~HTdE-qQPb08W6N8FlQ3f6qDElO-vHbbhc9f9e49RU-Qrd7X3qHJ-zQLkcC~bge3LsB7T5QypfH5V-z5A90LVwZi~11~X44xfn20VIQSPZpjTDAjSninwWDjyrOLDnsZwx71mG~4sBWblicof4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An Oklahoma Senate committee voted 10-0 to forward the reappointment of Dr. Abdul Khan Sahibzada of Ardmore to the Health Care Workforce Training Commission, recommending the nomination to the full Senate.

The commission advises on efforts to recruit and retain health-care providers in underserved areas. Senator Albert introduced Khan’s nomination and said the five-year appointment would succeed Khan’s current term; the committee then heard remarks and questions from members before voting to forward the nomination.

Dr. Abdul Khan, introduced by Senator Albert as an Ardmore-based physician, described his work in rural communities and his role in expanding nephrology and urgent-care services. Khan said he founded Southern Oklahoma Kidney Center, operates Absolute Urgent Care in Gainesville, Texas, and serves as medical director for Ardmore Dialysis Ranch, FMC Dialysis in Ada and a dialysis facility in Gainesville, Texas. He said those experiences informed his approach to increasing access to care in underserved areas.

During questions, Senator Hayes asked what Khan sees as the greatest challenge for the commission. Khan said recruiting physicians and allied health professionals to rural communities remains the primary issue and highlighted telemedicine as a way to provide specialist support remotely. Khan also said the commission has offered stipends to physicians who commit to work in rural areas for a set period.

Senator Hicks asked which initiatives Khan viewed as successful during his previous five-year service. Khan identified American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding as having aided communities by supporting technology and build-outs to expand access; he and members noted ARPA is one-time funding and discussed the challenge of sustaining those projects without recurring dollars. Members asked whether the new medical school in Tahlequah was producing a measurable increase in rural providers; Khan said he had not yet seen a clear impact.

Senators also asked about incentives, including a proposed tax credit for physicians who practice in rural Oklahoma. Khan said any incentive for physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants would have positive value in attracting providers.

The committee record shows a 10-0 favorable recommendation; the clerk reported “10 ayes and 0 nays,” and the chair declared the nomination passed and forwarded to the full Senate.

The nomination now moves to the full Senate for final confirmation; no date for that vote was specified in the committee transcript.","An Oklahoma Senate committee voted unanimously to forward the reappointment of Dr. Abdul Khan of Ardmore to the Health Care Workforce Training Commission after a question-and-answer period about rural workforce challenges and telemedicine.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee forwards Brenda Hafer for director of Office of Disability Concerns

Senate committee forwards Dr. Abdul Khan’s reappointment to Health Care Workforce Training Commission