OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation 83-6 Tuesday to help Oklahoma catch up with other states when it comes to addressing traumatic brain injuries.

House Bill 1010, authored by Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, creates the Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury to provide guidelines and advice to agencies and other entities. The TBI Advisory Council would work with the Oklahoma Department of Health to collect data, identify needs, clarify deficiencies in care, research causes and promote prevention.

“This week, my colleagues and I took a step toward protecting Oklahomans,” Ranson said. “This advisory council is an opportunity to catch up with the science so our citizens can make better-informed decisions. Additionally, the creation of this advisory council makes Oklahoma eligible for both federal and private research grants.”

HB1010 has now passed the House in consecutive legislative sessions. In 2020, it stalled due to COVID-19.

“A TBI survivor/advocate, Alicia Murie, first showed me the need for this legislation,” Ranson said. “Her story and also hard work on this issue inspired me to keep pushing for this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the hall to see that this bill is passed and signed into law.”

CDC data has shown more than 58,000 people dying a year from TBI and more than 2.8 million emergency traumatic brain incidents in the United States. 837,000 of those happening among children, while Americans over 75 have the highest rate of hospitalizations and deaths.

“By investing in the best science available, we can make better policy that protects two of our most vulnerable populations, children and the elderly,” Ranson said. “I’m proud of the members for standing up for Alicia and the millions of Americans who have been affected by traumatic brain injury.”

Ranson’s office can be reached at (405)557-7411 or [email protected].