Dustin Roberts and Josh Brecheen addressed public legislative concerns at a town hoall meeting held in the Donald W Reynolds Community Center and Library Friday morning.

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State Senator Josh Brecheen and State Representative Dustin Roberts led a town hall meeting in Durant Friday morning.

Senator Brecheen began the event with a few words on the condition of the state.

Brecheen said that Oklahoma has the lowest cost of living, fourth lowest cost of business and one of the lowest unemployment rates.

Brecheen said one thing Oklahoma has to work on is the workers comp reforms. he said that Oklahoma has approximately 25,000 workers comp cases open at the moment.

He compared this to Arkansas and Texas which both have an approximate 4,000 cases open.

Discussion was then open to the attendees. The meeting covered subjects such as funding cuts to education, the new A-F grading for schools and humane disposal of equine in the country.

Brecheen and Roberts both answered questions on each topic. One topic of discussion was Oklahoma Senate Bill 618.

This bill would require people arrested for misdemeanors and felonies to give a DNA sample (hair) which would be held but not released until charged or released.

As the law stands DNA samples may only be taken after a person is convicted of a crime. Concerns such as the constitutionality, morality and possible risks of the bill were discussed.

John Wyatt also inquired about where the responsibility to obtain the DNA sample would lie and the cost of such a bill.

This was followed by discussion on the coveted marriage bill which would give the option upon marriage to have a traditional marriage license or coveted marriage license.

With the coveted marriage, divorce on the grounds of incompatibility would only be granted after six hours of counseling and a one-year wait to try to salvage the marriage.

Brecheen emphasized that this bill would not force couples to have this type of marriage but would give them the option and enforce the option chosen.

The hour wrapped up with an update on the Pointe Vista project. This project to renovate a large area on Lake Texoma was set to be complete in 2014.

Brecheen said that the governor has made contact with developers to get an update and Brecheen will be giving a public update on March 15.