Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1161

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/23
• Refer: 2/22/23

Caption

Appropriations; making an appropriation to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Emergency.

Impact

The bill has a clear impact on state budgeting practices as it sets forth explicit conditions regarding the appropriation of funds. Funds designated for the fiscal year 2024 must be encumbered before a certain date and are required to be spent by November 15, 2024. Unused funds will subsequently lapse, which encourages careful financial planning and management within state agencies, particularly the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The overall intent of SB1161 is to provide necessary resources while promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending.

Summary

Senate Bill 1161 seeks to allocate funds for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce from the state's General Revenue Fund for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill stipulates an appropriation of One Hundred Thousand Dollars to support the operations of the Department. This funding is intended to ensure the Department can fulfill its legal obligations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The legislation emphasizes the importance of budget management by defining specific timeframes for the encumbrance and expenditure of allocated funds.

Contention

Although not highly contested in public forums, the bill does raise potential issues regarding the urgency of appropriations. The declaration of an emergency within the bill indicates a need for immediate action and funding, possibly hinting at underlying operational challenges faced by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Discussions around the bill may reflect broader concerns on how such emergency appropriations are handled, the transparency of financial processes, and the implications of declaring emergencies for budget approvals. Nevertheless, the proposed funding does not appear to face significant opposition from legislative committees, suggesting general support among lawmakers.