OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's attorney general says a bill approved by the Legislature this year to fund state government violated the Oklahoma Constitution by transferring $5 million out of a trauma care fund.
In a formal opinion released Tuesday, Attorney General Scott Pruitt said the transfer of money violated Article 10, Section 19 of the state Constitution, which prohibits using taxes levied for one purpose to be used for another purpose.
The Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund is used to help reimburse doctors, hospitals and ambulance services for uncompensated care. The Legislature transferred $5 million from the fund for general spending.
Pruitt issued a separate opinion that a similar transfer of about $5.5 million from a workers' compensation fund also violates the Oklahoma Constitution.