Faith-based initiative gets state House approval

Wednesday, March 1st 2006, 5:55 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma House approves part of Republican Speaker Todd Hiett's faith-based initiative even though a Democratic lawmaker says there are no guarantees that faith-based providers won't discriminate in delivering services.

Oklahoma City state Representative Opio Toure said Tuesday he supports the idea of faith-based alliances with government.

But he says lawmakers should require that religious groups administering services and programs provide them equally and not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin or religion.

The state House rejected Toure's attempt to add an equal opportunity clause to the measure along party lines.

The legislation would establish incentives to expand partnerships between state prison officials and religious and community groups to prepare inmates for life beyond prison walls before they are released.

It now goes to the state Senate.