Clause in bill costs $280,000

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The state is paying a $280,000 tab thanks to a clause inserted into a bill that passed the state House on the last day of the legislative session.

The clause requires the Election Board to pay 152-thousand dollars into the retirement fund of Election Board secretary Lance Ward. The state House must pay 131-thousand dollars into the retirement account of Penny Tullis. Tullis was the top assistant former speaker Loyd Benson.

Tullis and Ward are the only two state employees to benefit from the provision. The bill allows them to transfer from the teacher retirement system to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement system.

Authors of the bill say they were not aware of the clause requiring the state to pay the costs associated with the transfer.