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Oklahoma
State Senate
President Pro Tempore
Senator Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa
State Capitol Room 422
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
(405) 521-5565
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2011
Sen. Brian Bingman
First Joint Committee on Appropriations Bill Passes Senate; Marks
the Beginning of a New Era of Transparency
Leaders Agree to Use Existing Resources for Department of
Corrections Funding
Senate Bill 970 passed the full Senate today, a bill from the
newly created Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget. The
committee was created upon the enactment of joint rules within the
legislature, something Oklahoma has not had since 1999.
The funding agreement will not affect next year’s budget. Senate
Bill 970 will allow the Department of Corrections to use up to an
additional $4 million from within the Correctional Industries’ fund
to reduce planned furlough days of corrections officers. The DOC is
currently authorized to access $1.25 million.
Legislative leaders expressed their support for the bill today,
which was approved as an emergency by a vote of 37-7 in the Senate.
“Transparency and fiscal accountability make good government. Our
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget not only worked openly
and transparently, but they were able to agree on legislation that
puts public safety first using existing resources that will not
deepen our budget hole next year. This bill is a victory for the
taxpayer,” said President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
“The legislation passed today keeps public safety a priority and
provides greater flexibility for the Department of Corrections to
effectively utilize existing dollars in the most efficient manner. I
commend the joint committee on appropriations for addressing this
important issue. This solution will enable DOC to maintain current
correction’s employee work schedules for the remainder of the fiscal
year,” said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee.
The Pro Tem and Speaker agree that the joint committee will result
in more openness throughout the budget making process. Major reforms
include:
• Joint Committee meetings will be open to the public
• Votes on legislation will take place in public
• Bills will be scrutinized within the committee, eliminating the
opportunity for last minute changes to legislation without oversight
• Bills approved out of committee will be placed on a joint budget
calendar and distributed to all members of the legislature on a
legislative day prior to being considered on the floor
For more information contact:
Sen. Bingman: (405) 521-5605
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