Oklahoma Lawmakers Take Close Look At DHS Budget

A state Senate budget panel is meeting to analyze the budget of the Department of Human Services.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services is scheduled to meet Tuesday at the state Capitol to discuss the DHS budget, along with the budgets for several other health-related agencies.

The Department of Human Services receives more than $500 million in state appropriations each year. And Oklahoma has been forced to increase the agency's budget as part of a settlement agreement with a child advocacy group that sued over the treatment of children in state custody.

The so-called Pinnacle Plan that resulted from that lawsuit is expected to cost the state an additional $153 million over the next five years to improve its child welfare system.

7/25/2012 Related Story: $100 Million Plan To Improve Oklahoma Foster Care System Approved

The Pinnacle Plan is part of a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit against the Department of Human Services last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.