For Immediate Release: March 15, 2012
Sen. Earl Garrison
Public housing legislation heads to House
A measure that would help the state’s 107
housing authorities recoup millions in unpaid rent and property
damages each year was approved in the Senate. Senate Bill 1019,
by Sen. Earl
Garrison, would allow public housing authorities to file claims
with the Oklahoma Tax Commission to garnish former tenants’
personal income tax refunds for any monies owed for rent or property
damage.
“This bill provides housing authorities an avenue to recoup
financial losses caused by irresponsible tenants,” said
Garrison, D-Muskogee. “Rent in public housing is based on
one’s income so there’s no reason why these individuals
can’t afford to pay their bill each month. By skipping out
on their bills, they’re simply abusing the system and this
bill will hold them more accountable.”
|State agencies, municipal courts and district courts currently
collect debts, unpaid fines and costs of final judgments of at
least $50 from personal income tax refunds through the Warrant
Intercept Program.
The Tulsa Housing Authority (THA) currently has just over $5.5
million in outstanding debt due to unpaid rent and property damage,
while the Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) accrued a combined
outstanding debt of $575,000 during 2010 and 2011.
The THA was allowed to participate in the Warrant Intercept Program
in 2007 for eleven months and was able to recover $470,000. THA
and OCHA officials believe that by participating in the Warrant
Intercept program, they’ll be able to recoup most of their
losses.
SB 1019 will next be heard in the House.
