Oklahoma's "separate but equal" registrant nursing home is about to get even less equal

I want to oppose the idea that this is a prison. It’s not. It’s a LTC facility that is providing what I refer to as ‘appropriate resident care for a specific population.’ This population has needs that are not being met in our traditional LTC facilities. What we have uncovered is that these people are much younger, predominately male, so there are some obvious differences with traditional residents. Are therapy and activities being provided to these offenders to keep them engaged to deal with their psycho-social needs? Oftentimes what we find is that these sex offenders end up in that so called ‘secure lock down unit.’ But what this is supposed to be is a special, secure LTC facility. -- Wes Bledsoe of "A Perfect Cause," an organization pushing segregation of sex offenders in nursing homes across the US, in response to the question, "Is there the potential for this facility to resemble a prison with people being segregated from each other and, figuratively, on 'lock down'?"

Oklahoma has created already created a disgusting and disturbing precedent when it became the first state in the US to create a law for a "separate but equal" nursing home facility for elderly and disabled registrants. Oklahoma is about to take this innovative idea to new depths. 

There is a reason I added the quote from Wes Bledsoe. This clown is the reason for the Oklahoma segregation law in the first place. He does not want us to think this segregation facility is a prison. Well, it will be hard for Bledsoe to continue to say such asinine things once Oklahoma passes SB 578, because the Oklahoma legislature seeks to turn over the responsibility for running the segregationist nursing home to the Department of Corrections. 

There is no way even a moron like Bledsoe can read this bill and NOT conclude this facility will be a prison. What else could you call a facility run by the DOC and includes prison inmates? It makes me wonder if Oklahoma will hire the same people that built the Minnesota facility with doors that lock during fire alarms?

AS INTRODUCED 

An Act relating to sex offenders; amending 63 O.S. 2011, Section 1-849, which relates to long-term care facility for sex offenders; allowing the Department of Corrections to initiate certain proposals; providing definitions; and providing an effective date. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 

SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2011, Section 1-849, is amended to read as follows: 

Section 1-849. A. The State Department of Health Department of Corrections shall initiate a request for proposal for the operation of a stand-alone long-term care facility for: 

1. sex Sex offenders who are assigned a numeric risk level of II or III as provided in the Sex Offenders Registration Act; or 

2. Any incarcerated offender deemed by the Department of Corrections to be either critically or terminally ill.

The request for proposal shall set forth surveillance and security specifications providing for heightened security of residents to protect the public and residents of the facility. 

B. The State Board of Health Department of Corrections shall promulgate rules and establish procedures necessary to implement the request for proposal and the operation of the stand-alone long-term care facility for: 

1. Level II and III sex offenders; or 

2. Any offender deemed by the Department of Corrections to be either critically or terminally ill. 

C. For the purpose of this section: 

1. Critically ill means: 

a. being unable to perform at least two (2) activities of daily living, such as eating, toileting, moving from one place to another, bathing, dressing or being able to self-medicate; 

b. requiring substantial supervision for protection from threats to health and safety because of a severe cognitive impairment. 

2. Terminally ill means having a condition that reasonably may be expected to result in death within twenty-four (24) months. 

3. Long-term care facility means a health care facility, other than a general acute or specialty hospital, constructed, licensed, and operated to provide patient living accommodations, twenty-four (24) hour staff availability, and at least two of the following patient services: 

a) selection of patient care services, under the  direction and supervision of a registered nurse, ranging from continuous medical, skilled nursing, psychological, or other professional therapies to intermittent health-related or paraprofessional care services; and 

b) a structured supportive living environment that provides support or assistance with individual activities of daily living. 

SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2015.