Full Senate Approves Emergency Contact Bill

A bill to ensure law enforcement can contact next of kin in case of an accident or emergency has been approved by the Oklahoma State Senate. Sen. Sean Burrage is the principal author of Senate Bill 1779, which was approved unanimously on Tuesday.

“Under this legislation, anyone applying for a driver license or identification card or renewing their license or ID would have the option of providing an emergency contact person. The Department of Public Safety would maintain that database,” said Burrage, D-Claremore. “I want to stress participation would be strictly optional.”

Burrage decided to file the legislation after a friend contacted him after the death of a relative in a car accident.

“The victim died in the middle of the night, but police could not find an emergency contact name or number. They literally had to break into his apartment to get the name and number of someone to call. By then it was 12 hours after the victim had died,” Burrage said. “This legislation would simply give people who want to participate in this program the opportunity to provide contact information to be used in the case of a true emergency.”

Burrage’s bill will now move to the House of Representatives for committee assignment and consideration.