Representative Steve Bashore

R

District 7

Hi, I'm Steve Bashore and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 7th District.


representative

Leadership

Deputy Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Sep 20, 2024
Recent Posts

Bashore Requests AG Opinion on out-of-State Prescribers

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, has requested an opinion from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond concerning Oklahoma residents' ability to fill prescriptions at an Oklahoma pharmacy when prescribed by an out-of-state medical provider. Bashore said the problem affects Oklahomans statewide. He meets with members of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board in Miami on Monday to discuss the issue and potential next steps to get Oklahomans access to the prescriptions they need. "This issue impacts constituents not only in my House district but any Oklahoman that seeks medical care outside of our state," Bashore said. "Rural areas disproportionately suffer from a lack of health care specialists, forcing residents to seek care where they can find it, including across state lines. My goal is to ensure Oklahomans can obtain needed health care and medications at places that are optimal for them."  Bashore said the problem was brought to his attention by a local pharmacist, who shared a letter from the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners explaining that a recent Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) audit of the Prescription Monitoring Program returned prescriptions for controlled substances written by a doctor in Joplin. The letter stated the doctor holds no valid Oklahoma license to practice medicine – a violation of state law, according to the board. The letter directed the physician to cease practice in Oklahoma immediately. Failure to comply could result in legal action, including a complaint being filed with his state medical board, the letter advised. After reviewing the letter and receiving additional information from the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association, Bashore sought the opinion of the attorney general. He asks the answer to four questions: Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license to practice health care in the state by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient (an Oklahoma resident) travels to another state for care? Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a non-controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma? Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma?  Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma and is not licensed by an Oklahoma professional licensing board required to obtain a registration from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma?  Bashore said he feels the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners is being overly broad in its interpretation of state statute, the reason he's seeking clarification. "I want to keep people safe, but we must allow rural residents the freedom to find health care that meets their needs, even if that is from an out-of-state provider." Bashore said he'll run legislation if necessary to clarify the law, depending on the response from the attorney general. 

Feb 21, 2024
Recent Posts

Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today earned passage of a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 2946 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve in 1999. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Pitcher mine pit. Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire. Lauria Bible's mother, Lorene Bible; her cousin, Lisa Bible-Brodrick; and Melissa Dixon, another family member, watched from the House gallery as the bill passed on the House floor on a vote of 85-13. The act addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick was sentenced in 2020 to 10 years prison sentence with five years' probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He's now back in the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live. It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They still have not been found.  "While I can't rewind the clock and re-prosecute this horrible crime, I can do the only thing I know to do to try to bring some measure of peace to this family that has suffered so much," Bashore said. "I've authored legislation to ensure going forward that anyone connected with a felony murder such as this will not be released prematurely from prison and will not receive any type of credits for time served." For more than 24 years, the family members of Lauria and Ashley have lived with the unimaginable pain of not knowing the full details of the crime or where their loved ones' bodies are located. They've endured the long, arduous process of court cases and agonizing searches for the bodies of the missing girls fore more than two decades. "For twenty-four years we've searched and searched and searched for the girls, always asking what do we do next. What haven't we done," Lorene Bible said. "We were never told that accessory to felony murder was not an 85% crime. We would never have agreed to that had we known." Bible said when the family found out Busick would be released after just three years in prison, they were furious, but they soon realized there was nothing they could do. "Busick basically has more rights than we do at this point," she said. "And while we cannot help Lauria and Ashley, if this law helps another family so they don't have to be in the same place we are, then we want that. "We also want criminals who go along with these crimes to know that if they get caught they will do as much time as the person who pulls the trigger." If enacted, Lauria and Ashley's Law would go into effect Nov. 1, 2024. 

Feb 8, 2024
Recent Posts

Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today secured passage of a bill in committee that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 2946 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed in 1999. The measure passed out of the House Judiciary-Civil Committee and is now eligible for consideration by the full House. Bashore said his legislation was a response to the shockingly low number of years to which the person accused of accessory to felony murder in this case was sentenced and his early release from prison last year. "Family members of the young women killed in this case came to me imploring my help when they realized the person guilty of accessory to murder was to be released after serving so little time in prison for this horrific crime," Bashore said. "They also are concerned that he's now free to move about their community in close proximity to their family. I'm hoping that no other family going forward will have to go through such a shock after suffering such a devastating loss." Ronnie Busick was convicted of accessory to felony murder in the case that also involved the shooting deaths of Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman. Their remains were discovered in their mobile home that had been set on fire. The bodies of the teens have never been found, but court records indicate they were thrown into a Picher area mine pit. Busick was sentenced in 2020 to 10 years in prison and five years' probation for his involvement in the murders, which happened Dec. 31, 1999. It is reported he was offered a lower sentence in exchange for information to help investigators locate the bodies of the teens. Even though Busick was allowed to plea down to the lesser crime, he was unable to provide information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They have not been recovered. According to the Department of Corrections, Busick was credited with three years of time served in a county jail and subsequent good-days earned while incarcerated, leading to his release date of May 19, 2023. He is on supervised probation for one year. "While these girls are dead and missing after being tortured, raped and murdered, this individual is living back in district because he only got five years," Bashore said. "He got credit for brushing his teeth, for taking a shower, for personal hygiene, while this family is out here trying to find their kids. This perpetrator did not pay his debt to society and there's no guarantee a new or similar crime will not be committed. "At the very least, this bill would ensure criminals like him would have to serve more of their actual time and would not earn credits toward their release." Bashore said he learned of Busick's release from Lisa Bible Brodrick, a cousin of Lauria Bible, who is a constituent in his House District 7. After meeting with the family, he first wrote a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond asking him to review the prosecution and sentencing of Busick. He then decided to file legislation. If enacted, Lauria and Ashley's Law would go into effect Nov. 1, 2024.