Morrissette Wants DHS Investigation

Rep. Richard Morrissette today called on House leaders to appoint a bipartisan committee with subpoena power to investigate allegations of mismanagement at the Department of Human Services.

He said the committee must compel testimony if lawmakers want to receive a "true picture" of agency operations.

"I have been contacted by many citizens and even state employees who have identified major problems at the Department of Human Services," said Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City. "However, these individuals fear reprisal for their testimony if they voluntarily appear before a standing committee. The only way we can receive a full accounting of DHS management is to give people the legal cover provided by a subpoena."

Because several children have recently died in state custody, Morrissette has called for a major investigation of DHS and complete reform of the agency.

Morrissette filed legislation this year that would have divided DHS into three separate agencies. However, his House Bill 2890 did not receive a hearing.

Recently, Morrissette hosted a public forum for citizens and agency officials to air their concerns about DHS. Since that hearing, he said, "I have received calls and e-mail from many people who are employed by DHS who can't go public unless legally compelled to do so. They are afraid of losing their jobs."

He said some citizens are also reluctant to publicly discuss their concerns about DHS unless the House makes clear that a true investigation is being conducted.

Morrissette said a recent lawsuit should motive legislators to thoroughly investigate DHS. The New York-based child advocacy organization Children's Rights has sued the Department of Human Services on behalf of nine children who were allegedly physically and psychologically damaged by Oklahoma's foster care system. The lawsuit alleges that abused children are often re-traumatized while in state custody because of numerous flaws in DHS oversight and management of the foster care system.

The group is seeking class-action status so they can represent more than 10,000 children in DHS custody. Children's Rights has successfully used similar class-action lawsuits to force changes in child-welfare systems in around a dozen states.

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House Approves DHS Performance Audit

The House voted 91-8 today to order a thorough review of the Human Services Division of the Department of Human Services via an independent performance audit.

The bill by Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, now goes to the Senate for action.

The Human Services Division of DHS includes family support services, children and family services and field operations.

Winchester says she's concerned about allegations in a federal lawsuit that says the DHS work force is overburdened and mismanaged and children in its custody are in danger.

Opponents, including Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, say lawmakers should correct the problems and not wait for auditors to tell them what to do.

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Peters: DHS Audit Needed Before Any Other Action

An independent audit of the Department of Human Services is needed before other efforts to reorganize such a vital agency are considered, Rep. Ron Peters said today.

"Completely reorganizing the Department of Human Services, as Representative (Richard) Morrissette proposes is a very huge undertaking. To assume in advance, without any study of the matter, that we know the best course of action is naïve at best, and foolhardy at worst," said Peters, chairman of the House Human Services Committee. "This is a very serious issue, and we need to move cautiously to make sure we don't take steps that could make matters worse."

Legislation calling for an audit of the human services division of the department passed out of Peters' committee last month and will be heard on the House floor this week.

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Health Insurance Premium Deduct Bill Approved

Legislation to help Oklahomans afford health insurance passed out of a state House subcommittee today. House Bill 2897, by Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, would create the "Oklahoma Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care Act." The bill would allow Oklahomans to deduct the cost of health insurance premiums from state income tax.

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Bill Grants College Tuition Waivers To Vets, Families

Oklahoma's military combat veterans and their families would receive full college tuition waivers under legislation approved by a House subcommittee today.

House Bill 2896, by Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, would provide full resident tuition-and-fee waivers to members of the military who have served at least one tour of active duty in a combat zone with any military branch as part of the Global War on Terror. Spouses and children of those veterans would also be covered by the bill, which also provides for reimbursement for housing costs and textbooks.

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Morrissette Seeks Division Of DHS

Rep. Richard Morrissette of Oklahoma City today urged legislators to break up the state Department of Human Services,warning that federal officials may step in if the Legislature fails to act.

House Bill 2890, by Morrissette, would require the Department of Human Services to develop a plan to divide the agency into three separate entities: the Children and Family Services Division, the Aging Services Division and the Developmental Disabilities Services Division.

"This transition is long overdue," said Morrissette. "During my years of practicing law, I have represented hundreds of clients dealing with this gargantuan behemoth of an agency. DHS needs to be broken up. My bill was filed last year before the recent class-action lawsuit was initiated. The longer we wait, the more we imperil those people who need to be protected. Let us remake DHS today before the federal courts tell us how to do it."

Last week, New York-based child advocacy organization Children's Rights sued DHS on behalf of nine children who were allegedly physically and psychologically damaged by Oklahoma's foster care system. The lawsuit alleges that abused children are often re-traumatized while in state custody because of numerous flaws in DHS oversight and management of the foster care system.

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Two Legislators Rush To Pay Late Property Taxes

By Mick Hinton and Curtis Killman In The Tulsa World ~ Two state legislators rushed to county treasurer's offices Thursday to pay their property taxes after being asked why they were delinquent on their 2007 assessments.

Rep. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, missed a Dec. 31 deadline to pay at least half of the $397 in property taxes due on her home, records show. She described the missed payment as an "honest oversight."

"I'm stunned," McIntyre said Thursday afternoon in a telephone interview from her home. "I could have sworn I paid that."

Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, said he had paid taxes on his home and a rental property on time but conceded that he has been late four years in a row on a second rental property.

Read the World's article at www.tulsaworld.com, state news section.

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The Oklahoman: Morrissette Late Paying Taxes

The Oklahoman reports that Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, traveled Thursday to the Oklahoma County courthouse to personally pay his late 2007 property tax on a rental house.

Morrissette paid $518.46, including $7.66 in interest for being late.

"It was an oversight and it has been taken care of," Morrissette said. "The taxes have been paid. I'm even with the county."

Records show it was the fourth year in a row that Morrissette was late in paying property taxes on the rental house in northwest Oklahoma City. Previous payments have been anywhere from five months to nearly a year and a half late. The tardiness has cost him $271.01 in penalties and interest.

"I can assure you this: It won't happen again," he said.

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Political Science Association Conference This Week

The 2007 Oklahoma Political Science Association Conference will meet at the state Capitol on Thursday and Friday, House Speaker Lance Cargill announced today.

"The Oklahoma Political Science Association Conference will give lawmakers access to some of the state's top policy experts while also giving us the chance to discuss the conservative reforms we've championed in recent sessions," said Cargill, R-Harrah.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is sponsoring the event and several lawmakers from that chamber will participate in panels throughout the two-day event.

In addition, former Rep. Larry Ferguson (R-Cleveland) will be the featured speaker at a Thursday evening awards banquet in the History Center.

A series of roundtable presentations will cover topics such as gaming, immigration, higher education, elections, the politics of race, legislative internships, and public policy decision-making.

The event also includes an immigration debate pitting Rep. Randy Terrill (R-Moore and author of the new sweeping immigration reform law) against Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-Oklahoma City).

A Friday luncheon will include a panel of "political junkies" who will handicap upcoming Oklahoma campaigns.

Members of the public are invited to attend.

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Anti-Gang Measure Signed Into Law

Governor Brad Henry signed a measure aimed at determining effective ways to reduce gang violence in Oklahoma. Authored by Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-Oklahoma City) and Senator Roger Ballenger (D-Okmulgee), House Bill 1895 creates the Oklahoma Youth and Gang Violence Coordinating Council. The panel will be charged with reviewing current anti-gang efforts in Oklahoma and recommending strategies to reduce gang violence.

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