By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Amid ongoing turmoil, the Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that appears to require someone other than the state’s current mental health commissioner to oversee compliance with a landmark mental health settlement agreement.
Under House Bill 2513, which heads to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk, the official tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ settlement agreement must be a medical doctor or hold a doctorate degree.
Allie Friesen, Oklahoma’s current mental health commissioner, has a master’s degree, according to a press release announcing her appointment in January 2024.
Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, said Dr. Jason Beaman, who serves the mental health department’s chief medical officer, has agreed to oversee the court-required improvements. He will ensure timely competency restoration services are delivered for criminal defendants awaiting trial.
She said the agency has already tasked him with implementing the settlement.
Lawmakers this year have approved $9.5 million to pay for it, Stanley said.
Under the bill, Beaman would have control of legislatively appropriated dollars to implement the settlement. He also would be responsible for working with legislative leaders on the department’s forensic-related legislation.
Stanley said the measure requires that the person overseeing the implementation report directly to the Legislature and governor. The individual would also report to the commissioner, according to the bill.
“So we’ll have good oversight in that agency to make sure this consent decree is carried out like it is supposed to be,” Stanley said.
Shortly after the settlement agreement was approved, lawmakers discovered the mental health department was in financial disarray and needed a multi-million dollar emergency appropriation to make payroll and ensure contracts were fulfilled. The revelation prompted legislative inquiries and an audit.
Friesen blamed the financial situation on prior administrations, but Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for her termination.
Stanley said Beaman will be charged with increasing training of forensic health care professionals, reducing the number of people inaccurately declared incompetent, reducing wait times for treatment and adding inpatient competency beds.
“I have full faith that he will be able to do that,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said she supported the bill because change is needed. But she said she is concerned about the bigger issue, cash management, at the agency.
“I hope we can continue to raise the alarm and try to improve our oversight so that we don’t fall apart this year,” she said.
Stitt said part of the agency’s problem was a lack of “guardrails” on contracts with providers, which has occurred probably over the last decade or more.
“You can’t have nonprofits and vendors billing unlimited,” Stitt said. “There’s not an unlimited checkbook on this side.”
