The Governmental Tort Claims Act; definitions; ambulance districts; effective date.

HB 1340 amends definitions within Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act (51 O.S. 2021, Section 152). It adds specific definitions for "charitable health care provider" (providing uncompensated care to medically indigent patients) and "community health care provider" (working at federally qualified health centers or similar entities). The bill also clarifies who qualifies as an "employee" for tort claims purposes, explicitly including certain contracted medical professionals (e.g., physicians under state contracts, mental health providers) while excluding others. These changes directly affect medical providers, claimants filing injury claims against state entities, and state agencies handling tort claims.