Oklahoma bill would abolish mental health/substance use agency and replace it with corrections

Abstract

A bill proposed by Oklahoma state representative Justin Humphrey, a Republican, would transfer all money and power from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to the state's Department of Corrections. Sources tell ADAW that this bill has no prospects of moving forward. According to the bill text, the move is “immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. Last month, Humphrey also proposed a bill to rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption.