Capitol Considerations by Senator Micheal Bergstrom
DHS,
Sexual Predators & Finding Cuts
DHS
CUTS
The
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) director, Ed Lake, is
proposing some significant cuts in services despite the state Senate
having sent him a clear message when it passed Senate Bill 848 by a
42-3 vote telling him to make reductions in administrative areas if
there was a revenue shortfall.
For
the record, DHS received a budget increase, not a cut, from the
legislature, and there has not been a revenue failure.
Still,
the director contends he is going to have to make about $30 million
in reductions. Even if that is the case, he has opted to cut in some
areas that he should not. He does have some flexibility in other
areas of his budget.
Director
Lake is proposing cuts in senior nutrition that will eliminate
277,000 meals and close 30 nutrition centers, and he plans to reduce
the funding for developmental disabilities services which helps keep
those with disabilities in their homes. An example of a program that
will be hurt by this is the Home of Hope in Vinita.
Such
reductions in funding seem short-sighted.
It
is my hope that Director Lake will reconsider these cuts.
(After finishing this column, news reports came out that some funds are being returned to agencies because a projected revenue failure did not occur. OKDHS is receiving $4.2 million, almost enough to fully fund the cuts cited above, if the Director chooses to do so. I suggest my readers contact OKDHS and urge him to use the funds in that way, and restore the funding to senior nutrition and developmental disability services.)
SEXUAL
PREDATORS
Senator
James Leewright and Representative Kyle Hilbert have authored an
update to House Bill 1124 to include the residency of the victim of a
sex crime to the list of places that are protected by a “zone of
safety”. Currently the “zone of safety” is defined as a 500 ft.
area around locations that sex offenders are not allowed to loiter.
However, if the bill passes, the zone around a victim’s residence
could be extended to 1000 ft.
Existing
statutes are intended to protect potential victims from sexual
predators, but this bill’s intent is to protect those who have
already been victimized. As the bill is written, it would require
the predator remain, or perhaps even live, at least 1,000 feet from
the victim. I hope that buffer zone is extended even further as the
bill moves forward. For some people, it would be better if the buffer
was 1,000 miles and not just a few minutes’ walk.
FINDING
CUTS
In
my last column, I asked my constituents to offer specific suggestions
on where waste exists in the state's agencies' budgets. I received
two responses. One recommended I speak with State Auditor Gary Jones.
I have done this, several times. The second response from a gentleman
from Vinita provided solid, specific suggestions that I plan to look
into. Thanks. I'm always open to good ideas.
I
welcome your questions and concerns, so please feel free to contact
my office at the State Capitol if you would like to discuss a
particular issue or problem. Our office can be reached by phone at
405-521-5561 or by email at bergstrom@oksenate.gov.
If you visit the Capitol, we are located in Room 527A.
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