On February 6, 2018, in accordance with Oklahoma Constitutional requirements the Ethics Commission delivered promulgated Rule changes and its Fiscal Year 2019 budget request to the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
FY 2019 Budget Request. Also required by the Oklahoma Constitution, the Commission delivered its budget for FY 2019. The Commission requests an increase from $0.18/citizen to the funding average of comparably sized states providing the same services as the Ethics Commission, an amount of $0.86/citizen, or $3,354,000. This increase will rectify historic underfunding and establish the funding level at the level required by Oklahoma citizens when establishing the Commission.
New Open Government Department. The Commission also requests sufficient funding to provide for an “Open Government Department” within the Commission to facilitate and streamline access to records and meetings. This Open Government Department will also provide an avenue for administrative recourse, rather than private civil action or criminal charges, through the Commission. The Commission only requests funding for the Open Government Department as the current Constitutional jurisdiction of the agency is sufficient to engage in Rulemaking to provide this service. Any funding provided to the Commission for this process should be offset by savings at other agencies. The Commission requests funding at $0.30/citizen, or, $1,170,000 to provide this service.
Click here for a copy of the Commission’s FY 19 Budget Request.
Click the image below for PowerPoint slides.