Legislator Loophole Could Go To A Statewide Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2015

House Committee Passes Measure Closing Loophole on Former Legislators Taking State Jobs 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Rules Committee passed a measure authored by Speaker Jeffrey W. Hickman that tightens the ban on elected officials being employed by the state when they leave office.

If approved by a majority of Oklahoma voters, House Joint Resolution 1025 prohibits a former legislator from being employed by any state entity, regardless of the source of salary funding, until July 1 of the year following the end of their term in office. Currently, legislators can take a state job immediately as long as their salary doesn’t come from dollars appropriated by the Legislature in the state budget.  The HJR does make an exception for legislators who are selected by the Governor to serve in a cabinet position or those who have been elected to another office.

“This measure creates time for the new Legislature to review and approve a new state budget before a former legislator could be employed by the state,” said Hickman, R-Fairview. “This will allow a former legislator to return to public service perhaps as a school teacher, state law enforcement or corrections employee, or another career but only after a full legislative session has passed after they leave office.”

If approved by the Legislature, the Secretary of State will place HJR 1025 on the November 2015 ballot and will go to a vote of the people.

HJR 1025 now moves to the House floor for consideration.

 

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