In a decisive move by the House Democrats, a resolution was passed to remove the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), Allie Friesen. The resolution, known as SCR 12, was approved with a notable majority, signaling a push for accountability and change within the troubled agency. According to a report by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the decision aims to address the persistent financial instability and mismanagement of resources that have plagued the department.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson criticized the Governor's inaction on the ongoing issues at ODMHSAS, leading the legislature to intervene. "The Governor’s inaction on this ongoing issue has left the legislature no choice but to take steps to repair the situation at ODMHSAS and protect Oklahomans and their tax dollars," Munson told the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Having opposed efforts to centralize power in the hands of the Governor back in 2019, Munson now sees the consequences of such concentrated control and the refusal to act by the Governor. The resolution is seen by Munson as a corrective step towards handling the financial crisis that the department is in.
A special investigative committee, which included House Democratic Assistant Leader Melissa Provenzano, assessed ODMHSAS's operations. Provenzano detailed the chaos for Tulsa-area mental health providers, citing potential cuts to vital services such as COPES (Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services). "The continued financial uncertainty at the ODMHSAS, inability to account for the agency's budget and persistent unwillingness to answer basic financial questions has created chaos for Tulsa-area mental health providers for months, including possible cuts to critical, life-savings services like COPES," said Provenzano, in a statement obtained by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Trish Ranson, the House Democratic Caucus Chair, echoed these concerns. She underscored the importance of accountability for both Friesen and the Governor, as everyday Oklahomans are missing out on essential mental health services due to financial mismanagement. "From what I’ve seen and heard in the Investigative Committee, removing Allie Friesen as Commissioner of ODMHSAS is the first step to holding her and the Governor accountable," Ranson conveyed in a discussion with the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Interested parties can find more information on how to register and what to expect at the library on the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
