Second week in, and the pace is rapid – hearing bills and presenting bills in committees. This is the part the public rarely sees as bills are maneuvered and amended as they wind their way through the committee process. My House Bill 1411, which would establish the True Grit trail, was heard and passed out of the Appropriations & Budget Transportation Subcommittee and now is headed to the full A&B Committee. With our new two-tier structure for committees, every bill now has to process through a second committee to be considered by the floor leader team. This week, I also will present House Bill 1126, about beef labeling, and House Bill 1408, which would give schools better notice of transfers. I am still waiting on my other bills to be assigned to committee so I can begin the process of getting them heard and passed to their next step. Very few bills are being heard on the floor at this time as they are still winding their way through the proper committees. This should change next week.
As we proceed with the formation of the state budget, many uncontrollable variables always seem to surface. This year is no different. We heard a presentation from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services about a consent decree they are facing. We have many people in county jails that have been deemed incompetent to stand trial, but the department – under former leadership – did little to help these individuals achieve competency. So, the department got sued. Now we have to decide whether to sign the consent decree, ceding legislative power to an outside party to administrate these cases, or face potentially worse consequences by not signing. House members are currently discussing our best options.
Another budget variable is pending from Washington, D.C., concerning the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rates. When the people of Oklahoma voted this proposal into our state Constitution, the federal reimbursement rate was a 90/10 match with the state. Now, talk is that Washington will lower their portion and shift this burden to the states. If this change happens, we will be forced to adjust our budget to cover this additional cost. Later this week, we will get our best estimate of revenue from the Board of Equalization, and we will build from there.
As always, thank You for allowing me to serve you. I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.
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