Mental health agency to get $23M in emergency funds

Oklahoma's mental health agency will get an emergency $23.3 million from the so-called Rainy Day Fund.

The measure is the first bill to pass both chambers in more than a month of special session.

It now only needs Gov. Mary Fallin's signature to become law; she previously asked lawmakers to withdraw one-fourth of the Constitutional Reserve Fund and send the cash to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

"The Legislature's approval of $23 million to help close the budget hole is a great first step and we are very appreciative," agency spokesman Jeff Dismukes wrote in an email to The

Oklahoman. "It is critical to continue work on finding the additional $52 million needed to avoid devastating mental health and substance abuse services cuts!"

Despite the immediate cash infusion, the department will still be short, a consequence of losing cigarette fee revenues due to an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision in August. As late as Wednesday, lawmakers were trying to find enough revenue to fill the gap. The House gave its approval to a measure that raises the gross production tax rate on older wells.

The Rainy Day Fund bill was given final approval by the Oklahoma Senate. They did not consider other measures that were eligible to be heard Wednesday. Those bills, if sent to and signed by the governor, would fill the $215 million budget shortfall with another $83.5 million in unexpected tax revenue left over from last year.

Mental Health lost $75 million when the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down lawmakers' cigarette fee in August. If the Senate takes up the remaining legislation, the agency would get $48.2 million with this round of funding.

DHS would receive just over $29 million of the $69 million it lost. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which oversees the state's Medicaid program, lost $70 million from its budget in August. A House bill adopted Monday would restore $29.5 million.

Senate leadership has expressed reservations about using carryover cash, however. When lawmakers begin writing the next budget, they will start out at least $400 million short on revenue. There could also be emergencies or supplemental funding requests from agencies like the Education or Corrections departments.

Lawmakers are also keeping an eye on troubles at the Department of Health. If that agency needs its own emergency cash influx, the carryover money can be appropriated.

“That's not to say we won't take up those bills,” said Senate spokesman Aaron Cooper.

Fallin's finance secretary criticized lawmakers Wednesday as it became more likely that special session could be adjourned after only filling some of the budget hole.

“Perpetuating the theory that providing a small amount of funding to help agencies with the promise we can come back during regular session blatantly disregards the balanced budget requirement set in our constitution,” Preston Doerflinger wrote reminding legislators that Oklahoma must work from a balanced budget.

“Turning a blind eye to the single provision that separates us from the lawlessness of the federal budget only dooms us to fall ever deeper into a fiscal crisis.”