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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is eliminating the equivalent of 200 positions, cutting reimbursement for developmental disabilities and aging Medicaid waiver program providers, and eliminating state funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among other cuts to make up for a $45.2 million funding shortfall. At the same time as other parts of DHS are being slashed, they will add 300 positions in the child welfare system to meet a federal court-ordered mandate to meet the needs of abused and neglected children [Tulsa World].
State Auditor Gary Jones said he might circulate a petition for the 2016 general election to eliminate the Oklahoma House or Senate and have a unicameral Legislature [Journal Record]. The Libertarian and Green parties announced plans to launch a joint signature drive to get their parties and candidates on the ballot in Oklahoma [Tahlequah Daily Press]. On the OK Policy Blog, we looked at what happened with the key education and criminal justice bills we followed this session [OK Policy Blog].
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has approved allowing municipal water treatment waste to be injected into oil and gas disposal wells [Journal Record]. A report from the Kansas City Federal Reserve examines how the decline in the energy industry is spilling into other parts of the state’s economy [OK Energy Today]. You can read the full report here.
Under a state law passed in 2014, utilities can request a higher tariff for customers with personal solar panels or wind turbines, if they prove the renewable power producers are a financial drag on the system. However, utilities said that they are still unsure of how these customers create infrastructure costs or provide benefits [Journal Record]. When signing the bill, Governor Fallin stressed that it does not mandate the Corporation Commission to allow a tariff or other increases for personal solar and wind power producers [OK Policy Blog].
Governor Fallin has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant public assistance for 14 additional counties hit hard by tornadoes and flooding that began May 5 [Public Radio Tulsa]. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said he isn’t immediately sold on a plan passed by the Legislature to complete the American Indian Cultural Center. The plan calls for $9 million in funding from OKC and requires agreement by the Oklahoma City Council [KOCO].
The Number of the Day is -22.76% – how much the average salary for Oklahoma state employees is below comparable jobs in other states and the private sector. In today’s Policy Note, a report by the International Centre for Prison Studies finds that the U.S. spends billions to keep about 480,000 unconvicted people behind bars while they await a trial [Washington Post].
In The News
DHS making deep cuts to meet reduced budget while bolstering increased child-welfare demands
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced major shifts in its structure Tuesday, saying it is cutting the equivalent of 200 positions and offering employee buyouts to make up for a $45.2 million shortfall. Only the Child Welfare Division is spared. That division, in fact, will receive 300 new workers to meet the needs of the high numbers of abused and neglected children in state custody.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
See also: FY 2016 Budget Highlights from Oklahoma Policy Institute
State Auditor wants to eliminate House or Senate
Oklahoma could save up to $20 million per year by eliminating half the Legislature, State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones said. By creating a unicameral system, the process at the Capitol would be more transparent, he said. Jones said he is opening a dialogue about the possibility of disbanding the House or Senate – he’s not sure which yet – and might circulate a petition for the 2016 general election. The cuts would come by eliminating staff positions and legislator pay.
Read more from The Journal Record.
Where are they now? Bills we followed this session (Part 1)
This year’s Legislative session began with promising ideas for reforms in the areas of criminal justice, elections, and tax credits, as well as a continuation of the debate over modifying past years’ education reforms. Here we provide a run-down of many of the key bills we followed and how they fared. As the first of a two-part series, this post examines this year’s most important education and criminal justice bills.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Libertarians, Green Party seeks access to Oklahoma ballot
The Libertarian and Green parties announced plans Monday to launch signature drives to have their parties and candidates officially recognized in Oklahoma. Representatives of the two groups held a news conference in the rotunda at the state Capitol to announce that despite their political differences, the two parties planned to work together on the signature effort.
Read more from the Tahlequah Daily Press.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality approves using injection wells for municipal wastewater
Consultant Shawn Lepard has a new tool to dramatically reduce water treatment costs. His clients are central Oklahoma municipalities looking underground at briny water as a potential resource. Making briny water safe to drink would create waste, however. Tuesday, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s board approved rules that allow water treatment waste to be injected into oil and gas disposal wells.
Read more from The Journal Record.
Decline in oil and gas prices affecting other Oklahoma industries
It’s well documented that the lower oil prices have impacted the Oklahoma economy, specifically oil and gas jobs. Kansas City Federal Reserve Vice President and Oklahoma City Branch Executive Chad Wilkerson said those impacts have spilled over into other parts of the state’s economy. However, the severity of the impacts could be lessening according to Wilkerson.
Read more from OK Energy Today.
See also: How much is the oil downturn hurting the overall Oklahoma economy? from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Utilities unsure how much renewable power producers cost
A 2014 state law allows utilities to request a higher tariff for customers who produce their own power. If a utility wants to charge someone with solar panels more than other customers, however, it must prove that renewable power producers are a financial drag on the system. Utilities said that they are still studying how customers with solar panels generate infrastructure costs or provide benefits from renewable power.
Read more from The Journal Record.
See also: Shedding some sunlight on Oklahoma’s new solar and wind energy law from the OK Policy Blog
Fallin to seek additional flood help from federal government
Governor Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management have requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant public assistance for 14 additional counties hit hard by tornadoes and flooding that began May 5. If approved, the designation would deliver federal funding to assist municipalities, counties and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storms.
Read more from Public Radio Tulsa.
Mayor Cornett not sold on plan for American Indian Cultural Center
Longstanding plans for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma are still in the balance. It’s been called expensive, promising, hopefully profitable and for the first time in years, the Oklahoma Legislature said it has the funds needed to finish it. As for its counterpart in the venture, the city of Oklahoma City, the answer isn’t so simple.
Quote of the Day
“We sure didn’t choose to make so many and such large reductions all at once this year. But we have faced our financial reality, made the difficult decisions, and I’m confident DHS will survive these unsettling times.”
-Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Ed Lake, speaking about how the agency is dealing with a $45.2 million funding shortfall. DHS is eliminating the equivalent of 200 positions, cutting reimbursement for developmental disabilities and aging Medicaid waiver program providers, and eliminating state funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among other cuts (Source)
Number of the Day
-22.76%
How much the average salary for Oklahoma state employees is below comparable jobs in other states and the private sector.
Source: Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Why we spend billions to keep half a million unconvicted people behind bars
At any given time, roughly 480,000 people sit in America’s local jails awaiting their day in court, according an estimate by the International Centre for Prison Studies, a research group based in England. These are people who have been charged with a crime, but not convicted. They remain innocent in the eyes of the law.
Read more from the Washington Post.
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