Journalist: Sydni Callaway (OSU)
Sen. Avens (OU) presented OU-001, which was an act related to the “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACE) Test, a ten question screening tool for pediatric patients to be assessed for risk on different health problems.
Avens stated that this test should be a mandated screening, as it is a test for health and can show the negative effects of trauma on children. This bill did not easily make its way through the Senate chamber, failing 1-15 during vote.
A lot of senators had issues with some of the wording, specifically in Section 3, Sub-Section 4, which originally was worded “female nurse”. Sen. Harcrow (TU) submitted an amendment striking female and adding secondary physician after nurse. In the amendatory explanation, Harcrow stated that the strike was needed, that it would be less of a risk for sexual abuse and less bodies in the room during the screening. This amendment passed.
Speaking with Sen. Chloe Dent (OBU), she described why she decided to initially vote against the bill as a whole with the amendment. “I looked up the ACE test that she had listed, and there’s a bunch of different versions of it. There is not one solid standardized test,” said Dent.
Dent emphasized how the bill was vague, and how herself and other senators could see the intention was there. “It just wasn’t clear and there was no way of knowing what kind of test was going to be taken,” said Dent as she furthered her explanation on her vote.
Dent also explained that the original wording of the legislation felt targeted towards males. “They didn’t have the equal questions for the male alternative” said Dent in explanation of how the test was centered towards only females rather than males. Because of this, she voted yes on the amendment and no on the legislation as a whole.
While this bill failed the honorable Senate, the senators continued to help the author and encouraged her to bring it back in the future.