Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman, Ron Mercer, vice-chairman, Aneta Wilkinson, Jay Dee Chase, Bob Rawlings, Mike Peck, Patrice Douglas and the Rev. George Young.
Present for the Department: Director Howard H. Hendrick, Margaret Hall, commission secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER—Chairman DeVaughn
Chairman DeVaughn called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—April 28, 2009
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the April 28, 2009 meeting.
3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
The Director reviewed the OKDHS Quality Awards and Best of the Best program that was held on May 6 in Oklahoma City.
The Director said OKDHS is responding well to the increased demand for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with the lowest error rate ever for FFY 2008 at 5.66 percent, and the heaviest caseload ever. There were more than 50,000 recipients in the month of April compared to a year ago. One out of every four children in the state is on SNAP.
Bills are running at the State Capitol related to the OKDHS budget. FY 2009 had a budget of $611.1 million and OKDHS is looking at a 1.5 percent cut. The agency will have $12 million carryover and a budget of $562.7 million for FY 2010. However, a closer examination of the spending levels reveals the agency is taking a deeper cut.
Hendrick said the U.S. USDA FNS stimulus funds are approximately $1.6 million. The need is going up while the funding is going down, so the agency is looking at other funding areas to fill in the gaps.
He mentioned the current best estimate is to close most of the gap of 2009 spending levels. The agency will look at the consequence of developing cuts that have long-term value and continue services cautiously.
The agency leadership has identified four problems:
1. The dependency on one time funds used to pay recurring costs of 15 to 20 percent of the state budget work program
2. The unfunded growth in the ADvantage and employee health care costs
3. The rapid evaporation of state fund certification could go through the balance of stimulus funds and Rainy Day Funds quickly. Equalization is down 20 percent, and it would reduce the certification from approximately $6.1 billion to approximately $4.9 billion
4. What pace of spending should be used to manage the one time funding sources to meet human services needs that are expanding while the state’s general revenue is contracting so that recurring revenues match recurring costs at some future unknown level of spending adequate to met the then-present human services needs?
Director Hendrick reviewed the original SFY 2010 budget as filed pre-stimulus, September 2008. The Director then reviewed the revised SFY 2010 budget request post-stimulus, March 2009. He recapped the federal stimulus legislation affecting OKDHS such as for SNAP.
4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR APRIL—Treba Dennis
Dennis said the agency position has improved by $1.2 million in April. She said a new line has been added to reflect the ARRA state dollar offset-EFMAP (federal stimulus funds). The agency continues to be over budget for the ADvantage program. Three other programs are over budget: Children and Family Services field staff, group homes and shelters and adoption subsidies.
The financial report was approved.
5. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson
Commissioner Wilkinson reviewed the proposed rules with the Commission. There were not any questions regarding the rules. Wilkinson moved for approval.
The administrative rules were approved.
6. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood (Area 1, Kingfisher County Collaborative: Steve Torres, Helen Naifeh)
Youngblood noted that the HSCs are reducing the rate at which they over fill positions due to increased stability in the workforce. Youngblood then reviewed the APS investigation initiation and completion timelines report. There were no questions from the Commission regarding the report.
Steve Torres and Helen Naifeh gave a presentation on the Kingfisher Community Collaborative which was established in 1997. The purpose of the organization is to focus on health and well-being of the youth and families in Kingfisher County. Some of their key activities are March Against Meth presentations to all students in the county on a yearly basis and the Kingfisher County Educators Health Fair. Pending projects are Smart Start and collaborating with Canadian County Youth and Family Services and Kingfisher Trails for a summer work program.
7. REPORT FROM AGING SERVICES DIVISION—Raymond Haddock (2-1-1 Program: Eleanor Kurtz, Lori Linstead)
Raymond Haddock explained the 2-1-1 program and how it is funded. Linstead explained the history of 2-1-1 and that the service now has seven centers covering the state. She mentioned that there is now federal legislation to support 2-1-1 nationwide.
8. LEGISLATIVE REPORT—Sandra Harrison
Harrison reviewed:
• SB 339, signed by the governor
• HB 1893, signed by the governor on April 22
• SB 292, signed by the governor on May 6
Harrison reviewed some noteworthy legislation, which included:
• HB 2167, vetoed by the governor on May 8
• SB 670, signed by the governor on April 9
• SB 15, signed by the governor on May 4
• SB 478, signed by the governor on May 8
• SB 390, sent to conference and pending in the senate
• SB 794, sent to the governor on May 18
• HB 2028, sent to the governor on May 15 and has not been signed yet
• HB 2029, sent to the governor on May 14
• HB 2174, signed by the governor on April 27
• SB 1029, sent to the governor on May 18
• HB1111, passed by both the house and senate on May 20 and now voluntary
• SB 980, passed house on May 20 and pending in senate
• SB 789, sent to the governor on May 13
• SB 817, dormant in house
• SB 757, sent to the governor on May 18
• SCR 30, filed on May 11
• HB 1734, didn’t contain significant revisions
The legislature is set to adjourn on May 22.
Commissioner Young requested clarification of TANF drug testing. Director Hendrick explained currently all clients are required to be screened and if they need to be tested then they are required to be tested.
The Commissioners and Director discussed efforts prior to HB 1734 and what OKDHS is currently working on.
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—June 16, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for June 16, 2009.
10. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS RECOMMENDED BY GENERAL COUNSEL AND AUTHORIZED BY OPEN MEETING ACT, 25 O.S. 1991, SECTION 307, (1), (4) AND (7)
A. STATUS REPORT ON PENDING LEGAL CLAIMS OR ACTIONS INCLUDING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS, DISALLOWANCE AND PROVIDER CASES—Charles Waters
B. STATUS REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO CLIENT MISTREATMENT AND EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT—Mark Jones
Commissioners voted to go into executive session.
11. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
Commissioners voted to return to regular session.
12. NEW BUSINESS
There were no items of new business.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioners voted to adjourn at 12:25 p.m.