OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has filed House Bill 1343, which would abolish the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) and move the agency's functions under the Department of Corrections (DOC).

Humphrey said he's heard from many Oklahomans who are upset at the introduction of the measure, which he said he filed as a way to outrage Oklahomans.

"I hope everyone who has gotten angry and voiced concerns over me suggesting this move will remain outraged upon learning that Oklahoma already is sending many of our mental health patients to prison and jails," Humphrey said. "We need to be asking why the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health is not providing adequate inpatient beds for Oklahoma's growing demands for long-term mental health inpatient needs."

Humphrey said fixing the shortage of mental health inpatient beds does not seem impossible or even extremely difficult, and it could pose a cost savings to the state.

"We have hospitals, prisons, and other facilities that have closed across our state," he said. "If Oklahoma would capitalize on obtaining these numerous facilities and repurposing them to provide mental health beds, our problems would be better addressed."  

Humphrey said DOC and county jails are not equipped to provided mental health services 24 hours a day, but that is exactly what they are being forced to do.

"Our jails and prisons do not receive adequate mental health funding, nor do they receive proper mental health training for treatment and to provide appropriate long-term care," he said.

In addition, Humphrey said he's been advised by county commissioners that the association that represents many counties in the state is in the process of dropping insurance for some county jails and evaluating others. This could result in any county being sued being on the hook for court costs or any settlement. Many of these lawsuits are arising from mental health issues, he stated. He cautioned property owners to prepare for property taxes to increase exponentially as has already happened in several areas in the state.

The lack of mental health funding is costing counties and tax payers millions and millions of dollars, Humphrey said.

"Oklahoma has passed several state questions to legalize or keep those who commit drug crimes and property crimes in the county jail," Humphrey said. "These state questions guaranteed our counties would receive funding for mental health and jail incarceration. That has proven to be false."

Humphrey said his efforts to call out massive corruption in the Department of Corrections, the District Attorneys Council, community corrections, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health have failed to achieve changes in the system.

"This means more crime, more mental health issues and higher property taxes for Oklahomans," he said.

Humphrey noted that Gov. Stitt called for criminal justice reform in his State of the State address, and he asks Oklahomans to hold Stitt and other elected officials to this.

Humphrey said he has a friend who requested mental health help for her son. Unfortunately, her story had a tragic mental health outcome, he said.

"She should not have had to wait till her son murdered someone to get help," he said. "Now she's dealing with the lack of care and violence in our criminal justice system. Sadly, her story is a common one."

Humphrey said he hopes Oklahomans get mad and join him in calling out corrupt state agencies and state government officials that contribute to the corruption.