Senate committee advances Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act to consolidate end‑of‑life law
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Summary
The committee approved House Bill 16‑87, the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act, which replaces two older state laws with a single statutory framework modeled on the Uniform Law Commission to clarify surrogate authority, court oversight and protections for life‑sustaining care.
Senator Rosino presented House Bill 16‑87, the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act, telling the committee the measure replaces two older, inconsistent Oklahoma laws with a single framework modeled on the Uniform Law Commission template. The bill clarifies surrogate‑certification requirements, limits on surrogate authority, protections for life‑sustaining care during disputes and defines "imminent death" as within two weeks.
The sponsor said the committee sub strengthened safeguards requested by end‑of‑life advocates, including a presumption regarding artificial nutrition and hydration and expanded court oversight to appoint new surrogates when disputes arise. Senator Hynes, who presented a different bill earlier in the hearing, reiterated that early identification and treatment of certain conditions saves lives when discussing the broader public‑health rationale for clearer medical decision rules.
The committee recorded a 9–0 vote to advance the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act.
The bill will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process; supporters urged timely consideration given competing legislative deadlines.
