Two Republican Oklahoma state lawmakers have filed bills following Gov. Kevin Stitt's call for increased government accountability.
Five bills filed Wednesday by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat would give the governor authority to appoint the heads of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and Office of Juvenile Affairs. Appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.
In his inaugural address, Stitt said state agencies are too independent from voters.
"Regardless of the governor’s political party affiliation, they are elected to serve as the chief executive of the state and to lead the state," Treat said in a statement. "The governor should be able to select the men and women he or she wants to run these top state agencies to help fully enact the governor’s vision and agenda."
A bill by Rep. Tom Gann requires the CEO of any state agency, board, commission or program to attest to the accuracy of agency financial statements. Failure to sign or making a false claim would be a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine.
"The purpose of this bill is to ensure that those in charge of state agencies, boards and commissions take a proactive role in the organization’s internal control environment over financial disclosures and to give the public more transparency in the use of taxpayer money," Gann said in a statement.
Gann said financial mismanagement at the Oklahoma State Department of Health inspired him to write the bill.
