Oklahoma's Department of Corrections gets emergency appropriation

Tuesday, April 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma House has passed a bill that appropriates emergency funds to the Department of Corrections to reduce plans furlough prison guards without pay.

The House voted 100-to-1 Monday on a supplemental spending bill that pumps another $9-million into the Department of Corrections to address the agency's plan to furlough its 4,700 workers for 23 days.

The supplemental money will reduce the number of furlough days to six. The bill must still be approved by the Senate.

The plan stalled last week when members of the Republican minority raised constitutional objections.

GOP House members said the measure would have appropriated money for more than one purpose, a practice the state Supreme Court has struck down.

The House approved the corrections money after it was placed in a separate bill. Funds for other agencies will also be considered in individual measures.