Legislative Leaders Announce Public Safety Supplemental Agreement

Senate and House leaders announced today an agreement on a $3.7 million supplemental appropriation which will keep the Department of Public Safety from furloughing Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers.

The announcement was made by State Representative John Trebilcock and Senator Kenneth Corn.

“This funding will allow the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s efforts to protect our families and keep our highways safe to continue without interruption. We owe it to our courageous troopers and to the people of Oklahoma to make certain that our state law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to keep our state safe,” said Corn (D-Poteau), chair of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.

“This shows that we value the service our state troopers provide to Oklahoma. Public safety is always one of our top priorities, and it’s one of the items that should be funded first and foremost,” said Rep. John Trebilcock (R-Broken Arrow) chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. “This puts to rest any speculation that there would be furloughs in the Department of Public Safety.”

DPS officials announced last week that an extreme increase in operating expenses caused by extraordinary circumstances had created a shortfall – and without a supplemental appropriation the OHP would be forced to furlough troopers beginning next month to save money.