State House Approves Bill To Increase Oversight Of Tulsa Health Department

The state legislature is considering changing the law so elected leaders would have more influence over the Tulsa and Oklahoma City health departments.

The Tulsa Health Department now administers thousands of vaccine doses each day here, after a year spent urging precautions against the virus. That's created some criticism from Governor Stitt, who today said the state needs a more unified command.

Tulsa and Oklahoma City each have independent health departments - the state set it up that way - so big cities could work independently and more rural counties would fall under state supervision.

It's House Bill 2504 that would prohibit any local health rules, like mask mandates, that are more stringent than those of the state. It gives the state a say in appointing the local Director, who would be required to ensure "administrative alignment" with the state, and the bill also gives the state an appointment on the local health board.

"I guess if these issues were real, I'm not sure why we weren't reached out too, because you know, we're all about solving problems. And if there's procedures or processes that aren't as they should be, we're all about solving them and getting on the right track," Dr. Bruce Dart, Executive Director of the Tulsa Health Department, said.

The bill has passed the house and will be heard in the Senate.