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Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rep. Humphrey clarifies intent of mental health bill after drawing anger, concern
A legislative bill filed by an Oklahoma lawmaker sparked outrage and fear that services provided by the state's mental health department would be moved under the Department of Corrections, but the lawmaker said he was just trying to draw attention to a problem. Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, introduced the bill and told The Oklahoman he filed it to bring attention to the lack of beds for people with mental illness. 'We have people who have mental health issues that aren't being met in the community and they're going forward and becoming more and more of a problem because they're not receiving adequate care,' Humphrey said. Humphrey said in a news release Wednesday he has heard from many Oklahomans upset about the bill. "I hope everyone who has gotten angry and voiced concerns over me suggesting this move will remain outraged upon learning that Oklahoma already is sending many of our mental health patients to prison and jails," Humphrey said. "We need to be asking why the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health is not providing adequate inpatient beds for Oklahoma's growing demands for long-term mental health inpatient needs." More: Lawsuits against corrections agency over inmate death will be filed soon, lawmaker says He added the issue does not seem impossible to fix. "We have hospitals, prisons, and other facilities that have closed across our state," he said. "If Oklahoma would capitalize on obtaining these numerous facilities and repurposing them to provide mental health beds, our problems would be better addressed." Humphrey, a harsh critic of the corrections department, said the DOC and county jails are not equipped to provide mental health services 24 hours a day, but that's what they are forced to do. The mental health department did not respond to a request for comment on the legislation. Department of Corrections Chief of Media Relations Kay Thompson said they value the partnership between the two agencies. She said officials with the mental health department are experts in providing critical mental health and substance abuse treatment to people in the community and they have helped create programs within prisons. 'Their work is essential in addressing these issues proactively and ensuring continuity of care for those transitioning out of custody,' she told The Oklahoman. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Humphrey's bill has been assigned to the House Rules committee, but committee Chairman Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, said Humphrey hasn't requested the bill be heard. Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, said though Humphrey is correct the state needs more space for people with mental illness, attention-grabbing bills aren't the best way to address the issue. Pae is the co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus, which also includes Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa; Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville; and Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. He said they received many emails about the bill. He said it's unrealistic to abolish an agency, especially when it impacts so many people. He said he didn't think the bill would get a committee hearing and many of his colleagues would not support that type of legislation. 'I don't think it's good policy and it seems like Representative Humphrey's intent was to draw attention to a lack of beds in our facilities, which that is a true statement,' he said. 'There's a way to do that without making people scared and being more productive.' Pae said Oklahoma has made progress on mental health and that's a result of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that have helped fund capital investments to address the shortage of beds. Other legislative efforts include destigmatizing mental health, Pae said. He said the state is still in need of additional resources and reform, and the Mental Health Caucus can advocate for those types of ideas, along with the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, an Oklahoma-based research and policy group. They highlighted several bills that will improve mental health services such as improving counties' access to mental health and diversion grants. 'Overall, we're better off than we were a few years ago, but by no means are we calling it quits and saying that we are done with everything,' Pae said. 'There's no doubt we have a crisis in this state and this country when it comes to mental health, and funding has to be part of that conversation.' Lorna Palmer, executive director the National Alliance on Mental Illness Oklahoma, said several members called the organization over the weekend with concerns about the bill and were especially worried about loved ones who have had interactions with police. She said the department has worked with the legislature and community partners to improve mental health outcomes in the state. The organization also works with law enforcement and 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline, on crisis intervention training and how to respond to someone having a mental health crisis. 'We've worked for a long time to raise awareness around mental illness and that being mentally ill is not a crime,' Palmer said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Rep. Justin Humphrey clarifies mental health bill he filed
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
OKLAHOMA VOICE: Legislature sees renewed efforts to change cockfighting laws
Jan. 28—OKLAHOMA CITY — Bills introduced by Oklahoma lawmakers seek to make changes to the state's cockfighting laws by reducing the penalties for participating or allowing robotic participation in the fights. But opponents of cockfighting argue that reducing the penalty would send the wrong message to Oklahomans about the "cruel" and "outdated" form of entertainment. They said that voters in the state passed a ballot measure in 2002 making it a felony to own, possess, keep or train fowl with the intent of cockfighting and can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, authored House Bills 1313 and 1326, which respectively attempt to reduce the penalty for cockfighting to a misdemeanor and allow a fowl to fight a robot if the rooster is unharmed. Cockfighting is the practice of forcing two roosters to fight each other, often to the death, for entertainment and regularly includes gambling on outcomes of the fights. The birds are bred and trained for the purpose of fighting. 'I'm not trying to legalize it," Humphrey said. "I'm trying to reduce it to a misdemeanor. We've reduced dangerous drugs that are killing people ... to a misdemeanor, and yet raising a chicken is a felony that carries 10 years. That's complete stupidity." He sponsored a bill in 2024 that passed the House but was never heard in the Senate. It would have authorized voters to reduce violations relating to cockfighting to misdemeanors in each county. Humphrey said it was a "tough deal" to get his bill passed in the House last year, and these attempts will be more difficult to get support for than last year because of resistance from House leadership. He said he doesn't expect the bill allowing robots in cockfights to pass, but he wanted to start a conversation and plant the idea in the minds of Oklahomans. Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, also proposed a cockfighting bill, Senate Bill 1111, which would reduce the penalty to a misdemeanor and alter the definitions of what it means to participate in cockfighting. A first conviction would be a misdemeanor with a $500 fine. A second conviction would still be a misdemeanor, but with a penalty of up to a year in county jail, a fine of $2,500, or both. A third offense would bring the penalty to felony status with a two year sentence, a $5,000 fine, or both. "This legislation creates options for law enforcement to prosecute this crime more than they are now," Woods said in a statement. "Currently, there are very few cases being prosecuted because of the level of penalty assessed with the crime and burden on law enforcement to take it to court. If passed, this will still be a crime with felony punishments attached to it while bringing more reasonable penalties into alignment for the offense." Brendan Hoover, a coordinator for the Kirkpatrick Policy Group, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on animals, arts, education and reproductive rights, said reducing the penalties for cockfighting sends a message that the crime "isn't a big deal." Enforcement can be difficult, Hoover said, because one almost needs to be caught "red-handed" in a building with fowl fighting to be charged. Cockfighting has remained a felony since 2002 and the statute was unanimously upheld by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2004, but bills have been introduced time and time again attempting to reduce penalties or legalize the fights, he said. "But the cockfighters, you know, they don't want to give up," Hoover said. "They think it's part of their heritage. They call it agriculture, you know, they say a lot of things to make it seem like it's OK and like it's accepted in Oklahoma, but it's not, it's animal cruelty. You're forcing animals to fight to the death, and you're betting on it for entertainment." Spreading the bird flu Kevin Chambers, the Oklahoma state director of Animal Wellness Action, said he's witnessed many cockfights and called them a "bloody mess" and "horribly cruel." But he said he's also concerned about cockfighting spreading the bird flu. Over 100,000 birds have been euthanized in Oklahoma alone amid a current outbreak of the illness, he said. "Cockfighting has been identified as a cause of the transmission for avian diseases because these birds are transported across state lines and even across the border with Mexico," Chambers said. "It's spreading avian diseases. Commercial flocks, they don't move them back and forth across the state lines all the time, but cockfighters do. They fight them and then they move the survivors back home to their state, and it's a perfect conduit for avian diseases." He said reducing the penalty for cockfighting would be an "embarrassment" for Oklahoma and send the state backwards as all 50 states and U.S. territories have outlawed cockfighting. The practice is still legal and popular in some Mexican states, parts of southeast Asia and the Philippines. A 2023 poll of Oklahoma voters signaled that cockfighting remains unpopular in the state. Of the Oklahomans polled, over 70% believed cockfighting should remain a felony. The National Sheriffs Association has also urged law enforcement to combat animal fighting, including cockfights. The group said animal fights often have links to other criminal activity, such as organized crime, trafficking of narcotics, bribery of elected officials, illegal firearms, crimes against people, and more. Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501©(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations. The Voice retains full editorial independence. You can read more at
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmaker files bill to rename state's Department of Corrections
OKLAHOMA CITY (KNWA/KFTA) — An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed a bill that would rename the state's Department of Corrections. House Bill 1310 was filed on Jan. 15 by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) and would rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption. 'The Oklahoma Legislature has published all the bills for our upcoming 2025 session,' Humphrey said in a news release on Tuesday. 'It is not unusual that I would receive some negative comments, and several media stations have questioned why I file certain bills. One such bill that has been drawing numerous questions is changing the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corruption. Many think this is a childish waste of time. I disagree.' The release said Humphrey blamed the legislation on Steven Harpe, the department's director, who he said is 'the worst he's seen at the job in his 35 years of working for or with corrections.' The lawmaker continued saying Harpe has zero experience but his salary has increased $90,000. Humphrey said he made an open records request for documents saying the raise was authorized but was told no records existed. Crews search for Army veteran after crash sends car into Arkansas River 'Based on the claim of no records, this seems like embezzlement,' Humphrey said. The release said Humphrey was told by the department if he wanted to see other records, he would have to see them in person and not be allowed to make copies. Humphrey also said he was told he would be required to sign a non-disclosure contract because of his release of nonpublic records. When Humphrey asked about what records he had released, department officials reportedly refused to tell him. Humphrey said HB1013 brings attention to one small example of what he calls 'the Oklahoma swamp.' The bill says any and all references made to the Department of Corrections would be amended to read the Department of Corruption If the bill is passed, it would go into effect on Nov. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
