OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday ceremonially signed a bill that updates the state's 911 system in hopes of saving more lives.

Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, is the principal author of House Bill 1590, which was a request by the state's 911 Commission.

"Working off of outdated technology, 911 dispatchers are challenged to find the right addresses in emergencies when every second counts," Grego said. "This upgrade will ensure pinpoint accuracy so no matter where someone lives, 911 will know exactly where that person is and get them the assistance they need in a timelier manner."

Grego previously held an interim study on this issue asking constituents to share stories of when they or a loved one faced life-threatening situations while 911 calls were rerouted through different dispatch centers, and ambulance drivers struggled with navigating using outdated maps.

Grego said the issue is a particular concern in rural areas or where someone who lives too close to a county line may face time delays while 911 calls are sent to different call centers while the system tries to locate their address.

That was the case for Haiden Fleming for whom the bill is named. The 22-year-old Oklahoman died after suffering a cardiac incident. He was the former student of Sen. Blake "Cowboy" Stephens, R-Tahlequah, who is a co-author of the bill. Stephens also is a close family friend of the Flemings.

“Haiden’s death was a heartbreaking tragedy that could have possibly been avoided if our state had a more updated and efficient 911 system. Time is of the essence in emergency situations, and hopefully by modernizing our system, no more families will have to face the horror my dear friends did when they lost their precious son Haiden,” Stephens said.

Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, is the Senate principal author of the bill.

“This new law and the upgrades that will be made to our state’s 911 system will save more lives,” Murdock said. “Oklahomans deserve to have the best emergency services, and the Next Generation 911 System will ensure faster response times through more precise caller location and improved response coordination between counties and communities.”

In addition to infrastructure and computer upgrades, the bill also requires mandatory CPR training for emergency telecommunicators and will equalize fees charged for the service so it is uniform across the state. Grego said he's hopeful the updated fee structure will allow some communities to hire more dispatchers to help with emergency calls. He pointed out that the state's 911 system was last updated in 1975.

The legislation takes effect Nov. 1.

HB 1590 was formally signed into law in May. The governor frequently holds ceremonial bill signings to allow people outside the Legislature who were involved in the drafting of the bill to participate in the process.