Representative Daniel Pae

R

District 62

Hi, I’m Daniel Pae and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 62nd District.


representative

News & Announcements

May 2, 2024
Recent Posts

House Recognizes AAPI Heritage Month

The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a concurrent resolution Thursday recognizing May as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which was carried in the House by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, recognizes the economic and cultural impact of the nearly 3% of Oklahomans have Asian or Pacific Islander heritage. "As the child of Korean immigrants, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month resonates deeply as an opportunity to honor our shared heritage and the challenges Asian people continue to face," Pae said. "In recognizing AAPI Heritage Month, we honor the histories, resilience, and contributions of Asian Americans that have enriched our state and nation." "As the first Asian American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, I am proud to be a co-author of this resolution celebrating AAPI-owned businesses, history, and culture all throughout the month of May," said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. "As a little girl growing up in Oklahoma, I needed to see someone like me doing what I am doing, so it is important to me that we acknowledge and elevate the impact the Asian American community has on Oklahoma and across the United States. I am grateful to my legislative colleagues who join us in honoring our heritage and culture." "I’m honored to work with my AAPI Caucus colleagues on this resolution recognizing the importance of AAPI individuals,” said Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City. “It emphasizes the need to have diverse voices at the table and promotes better understanding of cultures and their impact on Oklahoma. I encourage those who can, to take advantage of events that take place this month to further appreciation, understanding, and celebration of AAPI people.” AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843. SCR23 was authored in the Senate by Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.  “The immigrants who have created Asian/Pacific American communities here in Oklahoma City and throughout the state, some of whom arrived generations ago, others more recently, have made Oklahoma a more culturally interesting and economically vibrant place for all our citizens,” Floyd said. “We’re grateful for their presence, engagement and contributions to Oklahoma.” Having been adopted by both the House and Senate, SCR23 will be filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State.

Mar 11, 2024
Recent Posts

House Approves Pae Bill for Free Cancer Screenings for Firefighters

The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday approved legislation that would offer free cancer screenings to all Oklahoma firefighters.  House Bill 3573, authored by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, would cover screenings for lung, prostate, testicular, skin, colon and breast cancers for all firefighters, including volunteer firefighters.  "We owe a debt of gratitude to these firefighters who risked their lives to serve their communities," Pae said. "The very nature of the job comes with risks, and while we may not be able to protect our firefighters while they're in a blaze, we can help ensure free early detection of cancer after their exposure to carcinogenic materials in the line of duty."  Cancer is the number one cause of death for active-duty firefighters. The International Agency for Research on Cancer now classifies the firefighter occupation as carcinogenic to humans, which put the firefighter occupation in the same risk category as formaldehyde, cigarette smoke and asbestos.  According to the American Cancer Society, a patient is up to ten times more likely to survive if cancer is detected early.  Pae said HB3573 presents a comprehensive approach to ensure all firefighters, whether they're professional or volunteer or retired, would have this opportunity. HB3573 encourages cancer centers to offer free screenings for firefighters and adds firefighters to existing Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) plans that offer cancer screenings. It also establishes a tax credit for those on private plans.  The bill passed the floor 92-0 and is now available to be heard in the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah.

Feb 20, 2024
Recent Posts

House Committee Passes Numerous AI Regulation Bills

The Oklahoma House Government Modernization and Technology Committee passed numerous artificial intelligence (AI) regulation bills on Tuesday.  House Bill 3453, authored by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, would establish the Oklahoma Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, which defines "artificial intelligence" and "real person." The bill also outlines eight ways Oklahomans are entitled to information about the use of AI, such as the right to know when they're interacting with an AI engine rather than a real person and the right to opt out of their data being used in an AI model.  "In the age of AI, transparency is paramount," said Boatman, who chairs the committee. "The Oklahoma Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights empowers Oklahomans and ensures citizens have the right to understand AI interactions and protect their privacy and data."  House Bill 3577, authored by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, establishes the Artificial Intelligence Utilization Review Act. The measure would require healthcare insurance companies to disclose any use of artificial intelligence-based algorithms in their utilization review process to healthcare providers, covered persons and the general public. The disclosure must be made on the insurer's website, and the company is required to submit the algorithms and training data sets to the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Additionally, specialists participating in utilization reviews using AI algorithms must document individual clinical records before making denial decisions.  "AI is still new and it's no doubt still flawed to some degree," Pae said. "By mandating disclosure and documentation, we can better safeguard against potential biases within AI systems in healthcare decisions."  In October, Pae and Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, led an interim study on the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI implementation, including privacy, bias and algorithmic transparency.  During Tuesday's meeting, Alonso-Sandoval passed legislation prohibiting the use of deepfakes during elections. House Bill 3825 prohibits the dissemination of deceptive deepfake media within 90 days of an election, except when a clear disclosure is provided. The measure provides definitions of synthetic media and deceptive and fraudulent deepfake. Violators may face penalties, but exceptions exist for news broadcasts, publications and satire. Alonso-Sandoval also passed House Bill 3828, which requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and the Administrative Office of the Courts to inventory all systems that use AI by Dec. 31, 2024 and each following year. State agencies that do not use OMES must inventory their own systems and post the inventory list on their website. The bill also would require assessments of agencies' AI systems to ensure the systems do not discriminate. "Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, touching everything from our personal routines to our statewide systems," Alonso-Sandoval said. "Recognizing the advantages and acknowledging the challenges that AI presents, I remain committed to bipartisan collaboration to position Oklahoma as a leader in this field. Our state has made great strides in integrating AI responsibly, always with the welfare of our citizens as the guiding principle. HB3828 and HB3825 reflect our dedication to transparency in AI adoption, granting Oklahomans the clear right to know when they are interacting with AI-driven platforms or viewing AI-generated content while also ensuring they are properly vetted for potential bias and discrimination." All four bills passed the committee unanimously and are now available to be considered on the House floor. Earlier this month, the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee approved House Bill 3073 by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, which criminalizes publishing or distributing digitized representations of another individual's name, image, voice or likeness without their written consent and with the intent to harm. HB3073 is also eligible to be heard on the House floor.