Journalist: Daniel Geary (TU)
Before breaking out for lunch, the House heard ORU-519, a bill authored by Rep. Madison Pexton. The bill would create a single screener for all Oklahomans to see if they are eligible for public assistance programs within the state. Additionally, the bill creates a unified application system to go along with it that would cut out all the unnecessary hoops of applying for multiple programs under different forms. These programs would be developed and maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
In defending her bill, Pexton said that these programs would streamline the process of applying for welfare programs and allow for administrative actions to be more efficient while preserving the dignity of all Oklahomans who seek assistance. When asked about why she decided on an effective date of 180 days upon passage, Pexton said that it would allocate more time to get the website up and running properly.
Another concern that arose during time for questions was the topic of job security for those working in all departments involved, to which Pexton said that while there would be less unsuccessful applications being submitted, the influx of applications from a streamlined process would more than offset any loss, therefore not creating a significant threat to people’s jobs.
In an interview with Pexton, she said that while there are several states that have similar policy models regarding the screener and unified application system, Maryland “was the first state to do both.” When asked about the House’s receptivity to her bill, Pexton said that “welfare programs can be a little bit of a divisive thing,” so she wanted to lean more into the efficiency argument and stress how the programs would alleviate hardships for applying. The bill would eventually pass the House with flying colors and is now on the way to the Senate.