Several issues divide medical marijuana advocates and regulators (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol.

I attended the first meeting of the marijuana working group last Wednesday and found it interesting. First, there was standing room only consisting mainly of proponents of medical marijuana. These folks worked hard for their victory and have no intention of allowing the political process to rob them of their success. They made it clear that their litmus test for regulating the industry is whether any proposed regulation limits access to the plant for medicinal purposes.

Unacceptable limitations could include such things as laws or regulations naming specific medical conditions or diseases that would justify a medical license for a user. The proponents indicated they had given a lot of thought to this and opted to go with leaving the medical need decision to the judgment of a licensed physician, not to lawmakers or regulators. Their argument is that, not only is a person trained in medicine best qualified to make the decision, but that as science and knowledge moves forward laws are difficult to change once enacted. They say they have seen this problem develop in some of the other 30 states that have medical marijuana. They also object to setting specific limitations on percentage of THC for the same reasons.

Another flashpoint for the proponents is requiring in-home inspections for user licensees without a search warrant. Their point is that use of no other prescription drug, including opioids, for example, gives rise to allowing the state to inspect a person's home without probable cause to believe the law is being violated. They also expressed strong resistance to placing limitations on commercial growers. Such limitations could include minimum size requirements, such as a 10,000 square foot building, a minimum amount of on-hand capital or an overall limitation on commercial growers in the state. They favor the small entrepreneur approach or "mom and pop" operations. They also fear a testing regime that would make growing medical marijuana economically unfeasible.

These are all, in the proponents' minds, red flags for the coming legislative session. There were three proponent organizations who testified that seemed to be made up of what you might call indigenous advocates. They seemed to be pretty much on the same page. The fourth was made up of organizations felt by many in the first three groups to represent the views of out-of-state growers. This fourth organization apparently came on the scene after the petition signatures were obtained. The other three groups worry the "big operations" will advance restrictions that freeze out the small local growers or distributors.

It appears to me this fight is far from over, and it won't be simple. First, reasonable people can differ as to what is good public policy. And science is complicated. Beyond that, there is a whole cacophony of interest groups such as law enforcement, prosecutors, pharmacists, physicians and others yet to weigh in, many of whom opposed SQ 788 in the first place. The campaign appeared to be a contest between the grass roots proponents and the establishment. The grass roots do well to remember the establishment is still there, alive and well.

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The Weekly Wonk: New mental health policy fellowship; paid Fall internship with OK Policy; No job? No doctor…

What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know.

This Week from OK Policy

It was another exciting week for the OK Policy team with the launch of a new fellowship program and preparations for our annual Summer Policy Institute. For followers of our daily news brief,  In The Know will go on hiatus next week while we host our annual Summer Policy Institute, but you can follow what's happening on Twitter with the hashtag #okspi. In The Know will return Thursday, August 2nd.

In response to the critical needs in Oklahoma’s mental health care and addiction services, OK Policy announced a new fellowship program to prepare early-career professionals to become highly competent advocates for impactful policy reform. In addition to the Mental Health Policy Fellowship, OK Policy will add a new Mental Health Policy Analyst and Fellowship Coordinator position. The deadline to apply for both positions is August 13. 

This week we also began accepting applications for paid, part-time internships in our Tulsa office during the Fall 2018 semester. In Episode 34 of the OK PolicyCast, Strategy and Communications Director Gene Perry spoke with Policy Director Carly Putnam and Hannah Katch from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about the plan to take SoonerCare away from patients who are unable to work or report enough hours a week. 

Executive Director David Blatt's Journal Record column explored the shifting landscape in Oklahoma politics and asked if Oklahoma was still a conservative state. In his Capitol Update, Seve Lewis lamented the loss of an experienced lawmaker with the resignation of AJ Griffin.

OK Policy in the News

Blatt spoke to the Tulsa World about Oklahoma's historic deposit in the Rainy Day Fund. 

Upcoming Opportunities

In Three Days: Join us and Magic City Books to host award-winning scholar Kendra Field. Kendra will be in conversation with local author and attorney, Hannibal Johnson, Wednesday, August 1 at 7 PM. Following the lead of her own ancestors, Kendra Field’s epic family history chronicles the westward migration of freedom’s first generation in the fifty years after emancipation. Drawing on decades of archival research and family lore within and beyond the United States, Field traces their journey out of the South to Indian Territory, where they participated in the development of black and black Indian towns and settlements. Find all the details on the Facebook event page. 

In Five Days: August 3rd is the deadline to apply for Open Justice Oklahoma's justice data analyst position. OJO seeks to open the black box of our justice system, providing a broad, data-based perspective never before possible. Visit OJO’s website to read the full job announcement.

Also in Five Days: August 3rd is also the deadline to register to vote in the August runoffs. For a full list of deadlines and additional voting resources, visit our Oklahoma 2018 State Questions and Elections page.

Weekly What’s That

Rainy Day Fund, What's That?

The Rainy Day Fund (formally known as the Constitutional Reserve Fund) was created in 1985 in response to a dramatic revenue downturn. It is designed to collect extra funds when times are good and to spend those funds when revenues cannot support ongoing state operations.

Money flows in to the Rainy Day Fund when revenue is more than estimated. Any General Revenue Fund collections beyond 100 percent of the estimated amount must be deposited into the Rainy Day Fund, until the Fund reaches its cap of 15 percent of the current revenue estimate for the General Revenue Fund. Click here to read more.

Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here.

Quote of the Week

“How do you put Medicaid recipients to work? The first thing you do is remove the obstacles that prevent them from working. Raising new obstacles by taking away their health care coverage doesn’t help. That only makes them poorer and sicker … less likely to work … and more likely to show up at Tulsa emergency rooms for uncompensated treatment when their illnesses reaches a crisis.”

-Tulsa World Editor Wayne Greene, writing about Oklahoma’s push to deny health care to parents who don’t complete strict work and reporting requirements [Tulsa World].

Editorial of the Week

Arnold Hamilton: Health care, policymakers and lousy governing principle

"The fact is, Oklahoma can’t afford not to accept Medicaid expansion. Improved overall health helps create a larger, more productive workforce and more taxpayers. Sadly, too many lawmakers and candidates still think we’re better off kicking as many as possible off SoonerCare. That’s nonsense. Access to health care gives us a fighting chance to create a healthier state and limits taxpayer exposure to the ever-climbing cost of uncompensated care...Think about it: Nearly one in five Oklahomans are uninsured – about 668,000, according to the Urban Institute. That problem is particularly acute in rural areas where, the Center for Rural Affairs’ Jordan Rasmussen notes, 'the limited availability of health care providers and facilities, greater travel distances, and limited financial resources make access to care challenging'" [Journal Record].

Numbers of the Day

• 79.4 - Percentage of Oklahoma households receiving SNAP benefits that included at least one worker in the previous 12 months (FY 2016)
• 15.2% - Share of all state income taken home by the wealthiest 1% of households in Oklahoma, 2015
• 19% - Decline in Tulsa County’s teen births from 2016 to 2017, significantly more than the overall statewide decrease (11 percent)
• 1,238 - Number of emergency teaching certifications granted by the State Department of Education for the 2018-2019 school year. At this time last year, 874 emergency certifications had been granted for the 2017-2018 school year
• 38 - Number of federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, more than any other state except California

See previous Numbers of the Day and sources here.

What We’re Reading

• Expanding skimpy health plans is the wrong solution for uninsured farmers and farm workers [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
• “Free college” Here to stay? [The Century Foundation]
• The big warning in the Kentucky Medicaid decision [Axios]
• Who lives in education deserts? More people than you think [The Chronicle of Higher Education]
• Medicaid expansion leads to higher employment [US News]

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[The Weekly Wonk] New mental health policy fellowship; paid Fall internship with OK Policy; No job? No doctor...

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. This Week from OK Policy It was another exciting week for the OK Policy team with the launch of a new fellowship program and preparations for our annual Summer Policy Institute. For followers of our daily news brief,  In The Know will go on hiatus next week while we host our annual Summer Policy Institute, but you can follow what's happening on Twitter with the hashtag #okspi. In The Know will return Thursday, August 2nd. In response to the critical needs in Oklahoma’s mental health care and addiction services, OK Policy announced a new fellowship program to prepare early-career professionals to become highly competent advocates for impactful policy reform. In addition to the Mental Health Policy Fellowship, OK Policy will add a new Mental Health Policy Analyst and Fellowship Coordinator position. The deadline to apply for both positions is August 13.  This week we also began accepting applications for paid, part-time internships in our Tulsa office during the Fall 2018 semester. In Episode 34 of the OK PolicyCast, Strategy and Communications Director Gene Perry spoke with Policy Director Carly Putnam and Hannah Katch from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about the plan to take SoonerCare away from patients who are unable to work or report enough hours a week.  Executive Director David Blatt's Journal Record column explored the shifting landscape in Oklahoma politics and asked if Oklahoma was still a conservative state. In his Capitol Update, Seve Lewis lamented the loss of an experienced lawmaker with the resignation of AJ Griffin. OK Policy in the News Blatt spoke to the Tulsa World about Oklahoma's historic deposit in the Rainy Day Fund.

[In The Know] Creek Freedmen file federal lawsuit against tribe

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. In The Know will go on hiatus next week as we host our annual Summer Policy Institute. You can follow what's happening at the Summer Policy Institute at the hashtag #okspi. In The Know will return Thursday, August 2nd. In The News Creek Freedman file federal lawsuit against tribe: Another Oklahoma tribe is facing litigation over the citizenship status of the descendants of its former slaves. With about 20 challengers on hand, attorneys with Riggs Abney formally announced a lawsuit Thursday afternoon at the Greenwood Cultural Center against leaders of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the U.S. Department of Interior [Tulsa World]. U. of Oklahoma Official Hired in Wake of Racist Fraternity Chant Says He Was Forced Out: A vice president at the University of Oklahoma who says he was forced to resign after being accused of improperly using a state vehicle for personal reasons denied the charge on Thursday. The real reason Jabar Shumate contends he was forced out involved his opposition to a fraternity whose racist chant three years ago plunged the university into turmoil and led to the creation of his position [The Chronicles of Higher Education]. Prosperity Policy: Still a Conservative State? Is Oklahoma a conservative state? The answer might seem obvious. Oklahoma has the well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s reddest states. Republicans dominate at all levels, including controlling every statewide office and congressional seat and three-quarters of state legislative seats ... And yet, there are increasing signs that conservatism’s grip on Oklahoma politics is loosening [David Blatt / Journal Record].

38

Number of federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, more than any other state except California

[National Conference of State Legislatures] 

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Quote of the Day | July 27, 2018

“They would say, ‘Well, I talked to my pastor, and my pastor said that it was my responsibility as the wife to stay with my husband.’ That has always stood out in my mind.”

-Rep. George Young, who requested an interim study on domestic violence patterns, speaking about people who sought help from him because of violence in their relationships [Journal Record].

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In The Know: Creek Freedmen file federal lawsuit against tribe

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

In The Know will go on hiatus next week as we host our annual Summer Policy Institute. You can follow what's happening at the Summer Policy Institute at the hashtag #okspi. In The Know will return Thursday, August 2nd.

In The News

Creek Freedman file federal lawsuit against tribe: Another Oklahoma tribe is facing litigation over the citizenship status of the descendants of its former slaves. With about 20 challengers on hand, attorneys with Riggs Abney formally announced a lawsuit Thursday afternoon at the Greenwood Cultural Center against leaders of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the U.S. Department of Interior [Tulsa World].

U. of Oklahoma Official Hired in Wake of Racist Fraternity Chant Says He Was Forced Out: A vice president at the University of Oklahoma who says he was forced to resign after being accused of improperly using a state vehicle for personal reasons denied the charge on Thursday. The real reason Jabar Shumate contends he was forced out involved his opposition to a fraternity whose racist chant three years ago plunged the university into turmoil and led to the creation of his position [The Chronicles of Higher Education].

Prosperity Policy: Still a Conservative State? Is Oklahoma a conservative state? The answer might seem obvious. Oklahoma has the well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s reddest states. Republicans dominate at all levels, including controlling every statewide office and congressional seat and three-quarters of state legislative seats ... And yet, there are increasing signs that conservatism’s grip on Oklahoma politics is loosening [David Blatt / Journal Record].

Apply Now to Be an OK Policy Paid Intern This Fall: OK Policy is now accepting applications for paid, part-time internships in our Tulsa office during the Fall 2018 semester! If you’re looking to be part of a team that’s fighting to make Oklahoma better for all Oklahomans, this might be the place for you. As an OK Policy intern, you may be asked to do things like help with data collection and formatting, write blog posts on state policy issues, assist with our advocacy efforts, help to coordinate events, and help with office administration [OKPolicy]. We're also now accepting applications for a Justice Data Analyst, a Mental Health Policy Analyst/Fellowship Coordinator, and two Mental Health Policy Fellows. See our jobs and internships page here. 

Hamilton: Health Care, Policymakers and Lousy Governing Principle: When it comes to health care for the poor, Oklahoma’s policymakers routinely ignore the adage against cutting off your nose to spite your face. In 2012, Gov. Mary Fallin and the Republican statehouse supermajority rejected Medicaid expansion because it was a pillar of – gasp! – Obamacare. This year, the governor and lawmakers embraced a Medicaid work requirement that seems likely to cost more to administer than it will save lopping off anyone gaming the system [Arnold Hamilton / Journal Record]. Advocacy Alert: Protect SoonerCare for Oklahoma Families [OKPolicy].

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Releases Application Information: The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority has posted information and instructions for medical marijuana licensing. The agency was required by State Question 788 to have the application information and instructions for patients and businesses up by July 26, 30 days after the election. Oklahoma State Department of Health Interim Commissioner Tom Bates said the applications should clear up information on what is required to apply for a license [KTUL]. Business as usual for Tulsa police, sheriff's office with new pot laws — for now [Public Radio Tulsa].

As Cannabis Groups Talk Medical Marijuana, Legislators Ask Why 'Force the State' with Tight Timeline on Law: Each of the four pro-medical marijuana groups at the Capitol on Wednesday told legislators the state Board of Health overreached in its handling of medical marijuana rules and offered a range of regulations that are best for State Question 788. A joint working group of 13 lawmakers held a public meeting to discuss what should happen next after the state question, which passed by a double-digit margin, takes effect on Thursday [Tulsa World].

Oklahoma Could Become the Only State to Require Pregnancy Tests for Medical Marijuana: Here’s how Oklahoma’s medical marijuana licensing process works: Doctor and patient discuss if medical marijuana is right for the patient. If a doctor thinks it is, a male patient gets a medical marijuana recommendation and moves to the next step of applying for a license with the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The process is different for female patients [State Impact Oklahoma]. The only draft of full legislation for medical marijuana removes thc limits, allows smokables. What else would it do? [Tulsa World].

Northeast OKC Rep. Young Wants Interim Study on Domestic Violence: During his three decades as a minister, state Rep. George Young has counseled couples, many of whom didn’t even go to his own church. Couples and women sought help because of violence within their relationships and within their families. Not all of them could find answers in their own congregations. “They would say, ‘Well, I talked to my pastor, and my pastor said that it was my responsibility as the wife to stay with my husband,'” Young said. “That has always stood out in my mind" [Journal Record].

Oklahoma Earthquake Lawsuit Moves to Class-Action Status: Central Oklahoma residents won't get a trial this fall for a case against an oil company accused of triggering earthquakes that damaged homes and buildings. The Journal Record reports that a Cleveland County judge outlined rules for the class-action case that Jennifer Lin Cooper brought against New Dominion LLC. The judge issued a journal entry July 13 on the limited class certification, which allows the defendant to begin an appeal process [Public Radio Tulsa].

Oklahoma Prison Guard Fired, Charged with Hitting Inmate: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections says it has fired a prison guard who is now charged with hitting an inmate. The department said Thursday that Cpl. Tyler Cravens was fired on June 6 after hitting the inmate he was escorting to his cell in the face. The department says the inmate showed no signs of aggressiveness or resistance when Cravens hit him because of a previous incident in which the unidentified inmate spat on Cravens [Public Radio Tulsa].

OKC Mayor Takes Public Health Approach to Criminal Justice Reform: Oklahoma City was recently named the incarceration capital of the world, after a new report ranked the US at the top of the list. Now Mayor David Holt hopes some deep pockets can help change that. The mayor’s office is utilizing the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to take a community approach to criminal justice reform, connecting non-violent offenders to the actual services they need [News9].

Education Board Puts Tulsa Charter School Langston Hughes Academy on Probation: The Board of Education on Thursday put a troubled Tulsa charter school on probation and asked it to fulfill some conditions. An Oklahoma Department of Education probe into the Langston Hughes Academy of Arts and Technology found a variety of problems. It found discrepancies between teachers’ records of grade transcripts, suspensions and attendance and what was submitted to the state as required by law in what could have been an effort to illegally obtain state funding [Tulsa World].

Rural Oklahoma School District Allowing Staff to Carry Firearms: It’s a controversial policy that school officials in one Oklahoma district say will keep students safe. The Hartshorne Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted last month to allow personnel to carry guns so long as they’re certified by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. School officials say they started talking about the plan following several school shootings in recent years [KFOR].

Thanks to New Law, $63.2 Million in Lottery Proceeds in Last Fiscal Year Will Go to Education: The Oklahoma Lottery’s annual education contribution rose 19 percent last fiscal year to $63.2 million, and officials are crediting a year-old law with providing the spark. Lottery officials announced Thursday that with sales up 47 percent for fiscal year 2018, which ended June 30, $63.2 million will go to education — $10 million more than the previous year. It includes $13.2 million earmarked specifically for public school programs in reading, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) [Tulsa World].

'Gasinos' Offer Revenue Source for Tribes, but Come with Challenges: When Kaw Nation Gaming Inc. CEO Pam Shaw took the fried chicken restaurant out of the tribe’s travel plaza in Braman, she heard about it from customers ... The chicken restaurant was removed nearly two years ago to make room for 46 slot machines. “That little space is making a lot of money for the tribe,” she said. But these operations can come with challenges for the tribes and definitely need to be evaluated for their financial feasibility, said Jim Klas, partner at KlasRobinson consulting firm [Journal Record].

Despite the Heat, No Record Use of Electricity Is Reported by Major Utilities: Despite the 109 degree temperatures of last week in Oklahoma, power usage did not hit a record high. At least that’s the word from  OGE spokeswoman Kathleen O’Shea. “While OGE did hit a system load high for this year on 7/20, it was considerably less than last year’s high,” she said in an email response to OK Energy Today. “We haven’t had record-setting highs since the summer of 2012 when we experiences almost three weeks of sustained temperatures above 100 degrees. [OK Energy Today].

Quote of the Day

“They would say, ‘Well, I talked to my pastor, and my pastor said that it was my responsibility as the wife to stay with my husband.' That has always stood out in my mind.”

-Rep. George Young, who requested an interim study on domestic violence patterns, speaking about people who sought help from him because of violence in their relationships [Journal Record].

Number of the Day

38

Number of federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, more than any other state except California

[National Conference of State Legislatures] 

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Medicaid Expansion Leads to Higher Employment: Researchers from the University of Kansas examined data from the Health Reform Monitoring Survey from 2013 to 2017. They found that in 2013, 41.3 percent of people with disabilities in states with expanded Medicaid were employed or self-employed. In 2017, the percentage increased to 47 percent. During the same time period, the percentage of people with disabilities that reported not working because of their disability decreased from 32 percent to 27 percent. These trends were not observed in states that did not expand Medicaid, the study found [US News].

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Apply now to be an OK Policy paid intern this Fall

View this email in your browser. OK Policy is now accepting applications for paid, part-time internships in our Tulsa office during the Fall 2018 semester! If you’re looking to be part of a team that’s fighting to make Oklahoma better for all Oklahomans, this might be the place for you. As an OK Policy intern, you may be asked to do things like help with data collection and formatting, write blog posts on state policy issues, assist with our advocacy efforts, help to coordinate events, and help with office administration. Interns work between 15 and 25 hours per week and are paid $11 per hour. We are happy to cooperate with your institution’s requirements for academic credit. Internships are open to both current undergraduate and graduate students (must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of college credit) and to recent grads (Spring 2018 or later). Participants are chosen by a competitive application process aimed at selecting students with strong academics, robust community involvement, and a clear interest in the study and practice of public policy. To apply for an internship with us, fill out the online application here, no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, August 7th.  All applicants will be contacted regarding interviews no later than August 10th. Questions? Reach out to Courtney Cullison (clcullison@okpolicy.org) – she’ll be happy to help you! Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

Apply now to be an OK Policy paid intern this Fall

OK Policy is now accepting applications for paid, part-time internships in our Tulsa office during the Fall 2018 semester! If you’re looking to be part of a team that’s fighting to make Oklahoma better for all Oklahomans, this might be the place for you.

As an OK Policy intern, you may be asked to do things like helping with data collection and formatting, writing blog posts on state policy issues, assisting with our advocacy efforts, helping to coordinate events, and helping with office administration. Interns work between 15 and 25 hours per week and are paid $11 per hour. We are happy to cooperate with your institution’s requirements for academic credit.

Internships are open to both current undergraduate and graduate students (must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of college credit) and to recent grads (Spring 2018 or later). Go here to learn more and to apply. Applications are due no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, August 7th.

Questions? Reach out to Courtney Cullison (clcullison@okpolicy.org) – she’ll be happy to help you!

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1,238

Number of emergency teaching certifications granted by the State Department of Education for the 2018-2019 school year. At this time last year, 874 emergency certifications had been granted for the 2017-2018 school year.

[State Department of Education via The Journal Record]

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[In The Know] Gov. Fallin tops list of least-popular governors in America

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. In The News Gov. Mary Fallin Tops List of 10 Least-Popular Governors in America in Her Final Months in Office: Morning Consult’s Governor Approval Rankings were compiled from online surveys conducted with 326,051 registered voters from April 1 through June 30. Term-limited Gov. Mary Fallin will be out after November, but in her final stretch in the Oklahoma governor's mansion, she edged out Gov. Dan Malloy (D-Conn.) to become the nation's most unpopular governor for the first time since her election [Tulsa World]. Chelsea Church Terminated as Pharmacy Board Director: Chelsea Church has been terminated as executive director of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, effective immediately. The board went into executive session shortly after 2 p.m. to discuss whether to take employment action against Church, the non-appropriated agency’s executive director, who is under criminal investigation. The board features six members, all of whom were in attendance Wednesday. After more than 80 minutes in executive session, the board reconvened in open session and voted unanimously to terminate Church [NonDoc]. OK Policy Announces Fellowship Program Focusing on Mental Health, Addiction: Oklahoma Policy Institute, in response to the critical needs in Oklahoma’s mental health care and addiction services, has announced a new fellowship program to prepare early-career professionals to become highly competent advocates for impactful policy reform. In addition to the Mental Health Policy Fellowship, OK Policy will add a new Mental Health Policy Analyst position [OK Policy].

Quote of the Day | July 26, 2018

“[Adult Protective Services] staff come to work every day knowing they cannot fully meet the needs of the communities they serve,” Wettstein said. “Someone out there may be in real trouble and we just don’t have the resources to respond as quickly as we want to.”

-Gail Wettstein, director of Oklahoma’s Adult Protective Services which investigates neglect, abuse or exploitation of vulnerable adults. The department has lost about 30 percent of its workers since 2014 due to state budget cuts. [The Frontier]

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In The Know: Gov. Fallin tops list of least-popular governors in America

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

In The News

Gov. Mary Fallin Tops List of 10 Least-Popular Governors in America in Her Final Months in Office: Morning Consult’s Governor Approval Rankings were compiled from online surveys conducted with 326,051 registered voters from April 1 through June 30. Term-limited Gov. Mary Fallin will be out after November, but in her final stretch in the Oklahoma governor's mansion, she edged out Gov. Dan Malloy (D-Conn.) to become the nation's most unpopular governor for the first time since her election [Tulsa World].

Chelsea Church Terminated as Pharmacy Board Director: Chelsea Church has been terminated as executive director of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, effective immediately. The board went into executive session shortly after 2 p.m. to discuss whether to take employment action against Church, the non-appropriated agency’s executive director, who is under criminal investigation. The board features six members, all of whom were in attendance Wednesday. After more than 80 minutes in executive session, the board reconvened in open session and voted unanimously to terminate Church [NonDoc].

OK Policy Announces Fellowship Program Focusing on Mental Health, Addiction: Oklahoma Policy Institute, in response to the critical needs in Oklahoma’s mental health care and addiction services, has announced a new fellowship program to prepare early-career professionals to become highly competent advocates for impactful policy reform. In addition to the Mental Health Policy Fellowship, OK Policy will add a new Mental Health Policy Analyst position [OK Policy].

Resign or be fired: Jabar Shumate says OU gave him ultimatum, was told banned fraternity would return to campus: Jabar Shumate, whose resignation as the University of Oklahoma’s vice president over diversity and inclusion efforts was announced Tuesday, said Wednesday that he was given an ultimatum to quit or be fired. OU spokeswoman Erin Yarbrough said in a prepared statement Wednesday that officials conducted an audit and confronted Shumate with allegations of “significant misuse of university assets.” In a prepared statement read at a press conference Wednesday, Shumate described the ultimatum and allegations of misuse of university assets as a “high-tech lynching” and as “false accusations.” [Tulsa World]

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Called "Rogue" Agency: The Oklahoma Supreme Court is being told the state Ethics Commission has become a "rogue" agency. Justices were told the Ethics Commission wants a "blank check" to fund its operations and wrongly considers itself a fourth branch of government. "On the contrary, the Commission is an executive agency not unlike all other executive agencies created by the Constitution," Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz told justices in a legal filing. "And the Legislature is the branch of government required — and equipped — to determine adequate funding levels for all state agencies, including the Commission" [NewsOK].

Health Department Announces Top Budget Officer: For the first time in nearly six months, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has a top official dedicated solely to its finances. The department announced Wednesday that it had hired Gloria Hudson as chief financial officer. Hudson previously worked as director of general accounting at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which oversees the state's Medicaid program [NewsOK].

Health Board Sets Special Meeting for August: The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced its governing board will hold a special meeting on Aug. 1. The meeting's agenda isn't yet available, but it would be the first opportunity for board members to reconsider medical marijuana regulations they passed July 10. Attorney General Mike Hunter said last week that the board likely overstepped its authority with some of the regulations [NewsOK].

Medical Marijuana Working Group Will Meet Until It Has "Something That Works": Oklahoma lawmakers’ Medical Marijuana Working Group met for the first time Wednesday afternoon. The 13-member, bipartisan, bicameral group is taking up medical marijuana rules in the wake of State Board of Health actions that drew two lawsuits. It will meet Wednesdays until it comes up with a set of regulations [Public Radio Tulsa]. After more than two and a-half hours of presentations and questions Wednesday during the group’s first meeting, Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada) described the situation facing lawmakers as “a whole lot to learn and a short time to do it” [NonDoc]. With regulations currently up in the air, proponents of medical marijuana are forming a group focused on patient rights [Public Radio Tulsa].

Poll: Oklahomans Not Ready for Recreational Marijuana: Oklahoma voters may have embraced medical marijuana but they remain a bit standoffish to recreational use, a recent poll suggests. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed by SoonerPoll on behalf of Griffin Communications said they’re against proposed State Question 797, a constitutional amendment that would cause marijuana to be treated “in a manner similar to alcohol” [Tulsa World].

Voter Registration Deadline Approaching for August Run Off: Voter registration is open through August 3, according to Carter County Election Board Secretary Diane Hall. Registration and personal information can be updated through that date. Party affiliation may not be changed until September 1 as it is a primary election year, Hall said [The Daily Ardmorite]. See key election dates and more information at our 2018 State Questions and Elections Page [OKPolicy].

Following State Budget Cuts, Oklahoma’s Adult Protective Services Is Doing More with Less: As the director of the state’s Adult Protective Services, Gail Wettstein remembers a time when no matter the case, the department would take it on. Times have changed. “We’re not doing that now,” Wettstein said. “We’re trying to have a focused scope, and also not waste anyone’s time.” The department has lost about 30 percent of its workers since 2014, Wettstein said [The Frontier].

Oklahoma Appeals Court Could Take Fresh Look at Julius Jones Conviction: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals will take a new look into the murder case that put a 19-year-old star athlete on death row. Julius Jones was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. Jones, who turned 38 years old Wednesday, has spent 19 years on death row [KOCO].

OKC Adjusts Judicial Processes to Cut Incarceration: The number of people put in jail in Oklahoma City for municipal charges has dropped more than 40 percent since 2015, Police Chief Bill Citty said. And the number of days that detainees spent in jail declined even more, nearly 55 percent for the same period. The result is a significant economic savings to the city, Citty said [Journal Record]. 

Council Member Shadid Prepares Open Meeting Act Lawsuit Against City of Okla City: The attorney for Oklahoma City Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid is drafting a lawsuit against the City of Oklahoma City over possible violations of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Shadid is ratcheting up his long-standing criticism of City Manager Jim Couch and others over the practice of dividing the Council into smaller groups out of public view to skirt Oklahoma Open Meeting Act rules [Free Press OKC].

Tulsa World Editorial: Gov. Fallin Should Sign Tulsa's Charter Changes or Explain Why She Won't: Gov. Mary Fallin shouldn’t further delay citizen-approved changes to Tulsa’s city charter without offering some valid explanation. In 2017, 68 percent of Tulsa voters OK’d a charter change proposal to allow city employees to participate in municipal elections so long as they do so on their own time and out of uniform. Voters also approved (with a 64 percent vote) a measure to make sure a municipal public safety sales tax wasn’t used for other purposes [Editorial Board / Tulsa World].

Talihina Residents Strive to Keep Veterans Center: The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs put out a request for proposals last month for site selection for a new Talihina Veterans Center in southeastern Oklahoma. The veterans nursing home came under scrutiny following the deaths of two veterans. The new center can be located within 90  miles or 2 hours of Talihina. The Journal Record’s Sarah Terry-Cobo reports residents of Talihina are fighting to keep the facility in their small town [KGOU].

Oklahoma's First Quarter GDP Growth Ranks No. 22 in Nation: Oklahoma's real gross domestic product at the beginning of 2018 reflects broad-based economic growth. After a big 3.3 percent real GDP increase mainly driven by oil in the fourth quarter of 2017, it increased a moderate 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018 from growth in a variety of sectors. That put the state's growth rate at No. 22 in the nation, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis [NewsOK].

Environmental Groups Claim OKC Energy Companies Received Favorable Treatment: Three environmental groups on Tuesday sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, asking the new leadership to address what they say appears to be preferential treatment shown to three Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas companies. The Oklahoma companies said they are continuing to work with the EPA, and the agency said the environmental groups' letter contains "significant factual errors and omissions" [NewsOK].

New Energy Index Indicates Continued Strong Growth for Oklahoma Oil and Gas Industry: The latest Oklahoma Energy Index shows the state’s oil and natural  gas industry isn’t letting up in its expansion. Dr. Russell Evans, executive director of the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute, said the ongoing expansion in the state’s primary industry is driving widespread economic growth and stronger than expected fiscal conditions across the state [OK Energy Today].

All Bets Are Off: Details of Sports Betting's Future Unknown: There’s no clear answer for how sports betting will look in Oklahoma or the other states that do not have a sportsbook yet. “Those looking at a one-size-fits-all answer to this might be looking at this for a long time,” said Kevin Mullally with Gaming Laboratories International. “There are different issues for the tribes and the states to consider” [Journal Record].

New Interstate Half-Mile Markers Designed to Improve Emergency Response: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has been installing half-mile marker signs along Interstate 35 from near Davis to the Oklahoma County line in a pilot project to better assist motorists and improve emergency services. "I know our partners in the emergency community will be very happy to see these because they've been requesting that we consider these for a long time now," said Terri Angier, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation [NewsOK].

Quote of the Day

“[Adult Protective Services] staff come to work every day knowing they cannot fully meet the needs of the communities they serve,” Wettstein said. “Someone out there may be in real trouble and we just don’t have the resources to respond as quickly as we want to.”

-Gail Wettstein, director of Oklahoma’s Adult Protective Services which investigates neglect, abuse or exploitation of vulnerable adults. The department has lost about 30 percent of its workers since 2014 due to state budget cuts. [The Frontier]

Number of the Day

1,238

Number of emergency teaching certifications granted by the State Department of Education for the 2018-2019 school year. At this time last year, 874 emergency certifications had been granted for the 2017-2018 school year.

[State Department of Education via The Journal Record]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Who Lives in Education Deserts? More People Than You Think: So how many adult Americans live in education deserts? The Chronicle’s analysis found that 11.2-million adults, or 3.5 percent of the adult population, live more than a 60-minute drive from a public college. Areas of the country that qualify as education deserts under our definition are largely rural and predominantly in the West. Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana, in that order, have the greatest percentage of adults living more than 60 minutes from a college [The Chronicle of Higher Education].

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Oklahoma families need your help

If this email is not displaying correctly, you can view it in your browser.   Dear Friend, Oklahoma officials are proposing radical changes to our Medicaid program, and they need to hear from you! SoonerCare, Oklahoma's Medicaid program, helps thousands of families in our state see a doctor or fill a prescription. Legislation and an executive order this spring required the state Medicaid agency to build a proposal to cut coverage for parents if they don't report working or volunteering enough hours. We know that most people on Medicaid who can work already do work, but this proposal could still have serious consequences for Oklahoma families if it’s approved by the federal government. The proposal could trap families in a Catch-22. Parents in Oklahoma must be earning less than half the poverty level to qualify for SoonerCare. If they work more hours to meet this new mandate, they could lose their SoonerCare - and not have any other options. With this proposal, working families risk losing their coverage if they don’t fill out the right paperwork. However, this proposal gives almost no detail on how the state will manage that risk or what it would cost. These are crucial concerns, especially for parents with disabilities and chronic illnesses, who face dire threats to their health if they can’t navigate this bureaucracy successfully. Many Oklahoma parents will lose health coverage as a result if this proposal is approved. However, the proposal provides no estimates of how many. The purpose of SoonerCare is to provide access to health coverage for low-income Oklahoma families, but this proposal doesn't appear to consider the effect on the parents who will lose coverage. Oklahomans deserve to know how this proposal will impact them. Public comments can shape policy. A federal judge cited public comments against a similar proposal in Kentucky when ruling that it violates the purpose of Medicaid.  All comments must be submitted by September 3rd. Please also share this page with anyone who you think would be affected or whose community would be affected. You can find more information and resources here.  Together we can make a difference, Sabine Brown Together Oklahoma Coordinator TogetherOK’s success depends on your engagement – and there are many ways for you to get involved. Join Us   Together OK | 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120 | (918) 794-3944 click here to unsubscribe | update subscription preferences | view email in browser