Study hall

By JULIE DELCOUR Associate Editor - 11/1/2009


When the Legislature convenes in February the state revenue picture is likely to remain bleak with precious little money to spend on anything other than the basics.

That hasn't kept state lawmakers from doing what they always do in the off-season, which is bone up on issues that could become the subject of new legislation — or not. If you want to find out what could end up front and center on the legislative agenda, look at some of the interim studies lawmakers have already held or have scheduled for later this fall.

By year's end lawmakers will have held 154 interim studies — 120 on the House side and 34 on the Senate side — in which experts offer lawmakers insights and data over a one- or two-day period. Interim study season at the Capitol, which starts during the summer, usually is busier in off years when lawmakers aren't running for election.

Sessions allow lawmakers to get a running start on the next legislative session, and give them an opportunity to devote special attention to a variety of complex issues. Tutorials run the gamut from some of enormous public import such as privatizing the state's foster care system to more parochial issues such as controlling the deer population in rural areas. Always on the agenda are topics that fall under that wide umbrella of economic development. This year one study looks into the film industry's impact on the state budget.

Last month the tenacious Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, again held a study on the dangers of texting while driving and the use of cell phones while driving. Last week, there was information about the dangers of "sexting," the practice by teens of sending sexually explicit text messages and photographs over a cell phone or to social networking sites. Rep. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, sponsored the interim study. Sexting has led to child pornography charges against teens in several other states. Pittman says she knows of no charges pending here.

So, why is she conducting an interim study? As a proactive measure — to prevent creation of a "whole new generation of felons." She hopes the hearing will be the first of several public discussions on the topic.

After the regular session ended in May, House Speaker Chris Benge, R- Tulsa, and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, approved the list of interim studies. Major studies include modernizing state government, definitely a high priority for Republican leadership. Studies have looked into consolidation of state government licensing and permitting functions and use of new technology, health care, public safety, and education. Also on the agenda is that perennial favorite, workers comp reform.

Lawmakers again are holding hearings on requiring insurance carriers to cover autistic children. Despite past studies and the issue of fairness such legislation has received little more than lip service.

On the bright side, it appears Tibbs finally has the traction needed to get a law passed banning texting while driving — a genuine public safety threat and a subject that's become a national issue.

Last week, Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, an emergency room physician, held an interim study on providing more treatment for drug abusers. Oklahoma still lags most other states in funding treatment. A Washington state economist testified that a four-year-old program there expanded treatment for adult Medicaid recipients who receive state-funded benefits. For a $16.5 million investment the state saved $21 million.

Increasing spending on treatment makes infinite sense. The Legislature's been told that for years. At least half of Oklahoma's prison inmates have drug problems. Most violent crimes are committed by those under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Treating inmates while they're still behind bars means they might actually come out of prison with a fighting chance for not re-offending. That protects the public.

For better or worse, the results of far too many interim studies, which cost tens of thousands of dollars annually, end up moth-balled, ignored or put on hold, especially if they're pushed by members of the minority party.

Still, interim studies remain one of the more productive activities of lawmakers. Some questions or problems simply cannot be addressed during the hectic, pressure-cooker regular session. They deserve the more thorough deliberation that only an interim study can provide.



Julie DelCour, 581-8379
julie.delcour@tulsaworld.com


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/1/2009 9:57:36 AM)
My friends who work in the state and federal government will tell you that ordering a study, or empaneling a commission, is a darned good substitute for actually doing something. Legislators get to look busy, pay off friends and contributors who write the reports and staff the commissions, and bamboozle the rubes into thinking they are taking their phoney-baloney jobs seriously.

moogle, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:45:09 PM)
I think there should be a study about the effectiveness of studies.



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