OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --  Following an executive session today, the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services approved the same 5 percent increase for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director that other state employees received Oct. 1, 2006. The increase raises Director Howard H. Hendrick’s pay to $162,750 annually, effective Feb. 1, 2007.

Human Services Commission Chairman Richard DeVaughn, DDS, Enid, said the increase given to Hendrick 19 months ago was long overdue, and today’s action by the commission is keeping the director’s compensation competitive with national market standards.

“The levels of responsibility Howard Hendrick carries as human services director for this state are tremendous and his compensation should be reflective of the charge,” DeVaughn said.  “It is also fitting for the commission to recognize good performance.  The director has provided the leadership necessary to keep Oklahoma’s largest state agency moving forward through challenging times.”

The Oklahoma Constitution charges the commission with setting the salary for the human services director. The director does not receive salary increases when the Oklahoma Legislature mandates them for all other state employees.

“Director Hendrick brought excellent academic credentials and outstanding business and political experience to the Department nearly nine years ago and he has used them well during his tenure to keep the agency fiscally sound,” DeVaughn said.

Hendrick, the 14th director of human services in the agency’s 71-year history, holds a law degree and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant. He had a private tax law practice for 17 years and served in the Oklahoma State Senate for 12 years before coming to OKDHS as director.

This will be the second compensation adjustment in nearly nine years for Hendrick since he took the position at an annual salary of $125,000, July 1, 1998. In June 2005, the commission adjusted Hendrick’s compensation for the first time to $155,000. The approved annual compensation adjustment to $162,750 amounts to about a 3 percent increase per year over Hendrick’s nearly nine-year tenure.

Hendrick leads Oklahoma’s largest government agency.  In that role, he administers a $1.6 billion budget and leads a staff of nearly 8,000 employees who work in offices, centers and facilities across Oklahoma’s 77 counties.

Article XXV, Section 4 of the Oklahoma Constitution states the Human Services Commission selects the director who serves “at the pleasure of the commission” and fixes the director’s salary.

In addition to his duties as human services director, Hendrick also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Human Services in Gov. Brad Henry’s administration and served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Human Services in former Gov. Frank Keating’s administration.

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