This week at the capitol: House interim studies begin
By Rep. Randy Randleman
The committee meeting for my interim study has been finalized. It will take place before the House Public Safety Committee on Monday, Sept. 13 with a revised start time of 9 a.m.
I spoke earlier this week with Rep. Collin Walke and some of the presenters to nail down final details. Speakers for the interim study include: Oklahoma Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Carrie Slatton-Hodges; Tulsa County Mental Health Court Special Judge Kirsten Pace; advocate for mental health reform Cathy Costello; Steve Baker from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Tulsa; Haskell County Sheriff Tim Turner; and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. We have a great lineup of speakers and I look forward to hearing what they have to say on this topic.
During this study, we will primarily focus on two questions: 1) How can we help law enforcement who are responding to a mental health crisis determine if the person needs to be transported to a facility where they can receive services rather than being booked into jail? and 2) How do we establish an adolescent mental health clinic in southeast Oklahoma?
The state of Oklahoma is divided into mental health “districts,” with one mental health clinic in each district.
There is a center in McAlester for people in southeastern Oklahoma, but it only operates an adult unit and doesn’t serve adolescents. Kids are being sent as far away as Vinita or Tulsa to receive help, which results in long drives for their family members and increased feelings of isolation in the child.
I have spent the last several years looking into opening an adolescent unit in McAlester, at the very least, and hopefully one in Poteau as well. The interim study is open to the public, and it can be livestreamed on the House website, www.okhouse.gov. Visit the “Media” tab and follow the “House Audio/Video” link.
The link will be labeled with the name of the committee, House Public Safety, and will go live shortly before the study begins. Over the past month, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety opened two MegaCenter locations to serve many Oklahomans looking to receive their Real ID or update their license.
The MegaCenters are equipped to process driver’s license or state ID renewals or replacements, as well as Real IDs. However, certain documentation is needed for the Real ID process, so check the requirements at realid.ok.gov before heading to a MegaCenter.
They are located in Oklahoma City at 1000 N.E. 10th and in Tulsa at 7130 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 190. Each center is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday. There are no appointments but are first come, first served.
Please let me know if there’s anything I can help with at (405) 557-7375 or randy.randleman@okhouse.gov. Thank you for the honor of representing District 15.
Rep. Randy Randleman represents District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes portions of Haskell, LeFlore, McIntosh, Muskogee, Pittsburg and Seqouyah counties.