A. The Agent Orange Outreach Committee is hereby created under the direction of the Department. The Committee shall be composed of at least seven (7) members, two of whom shall be Vietnam veterans and one a Vietnam era veteran. The other members shall be health care professionals with demonstrated skills in those areas related to toxic chemical contamination. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Commissioner for a term of two (2) years. Members may be removed for cause and vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointments. The members shall receive no compensation except for reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

B. The Committee shall have the following duties:

1. To advise the Commissioner in developing and conducting an outreach program to identify and inform veterans of the possible detrimental effects of exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange;

2. To obtain and disseminate medical, scientific, epidemiological and any other data on the effects of exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange, by veterans;

3. To determine medical, administrative and social services available to veterans exposed to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange, and provide all necessary referral services;

4. To refer veterans to the appropriate health care professionals or medical institution for diagnosis of signs and symptoms related to exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange;

5. To recommend to the Commissioner procedures for the design and implementation of an epidemiological study related to exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange;

6. To coordinate activities with other states providing veterans with similar programs related to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange;

7. To determine the availability of federal and private funds to offset state expenses in assisting veterans in an outreach program; and

8. To determine the costs of travel and medical or epidemiological tests or diagnostic procedures incurred by veterans pursuant to the provisions of this act and to recommend financial compensation for any affected veteran to be provided by the Department.

The Committee may request and shall receive any necessary data or assistance of any state or local entity to carry out the duties of the Committee.

The Attorney General, at the request of the Committee, shall obtain through the Freedom of Information Act the location of veterans in Oklahoma for purposes of identifying veterans who may have been exposed to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 50, § 9, emerg. eff. March 29, 1982.