OPEA

Wednesday afternoon, three legislators traveled to Lexington for a town hall meeting in the visiting room at Joseph Harp Correctional Center.  Sixty-five Corrections employees from Harp and Lexington Assessment and Reception Center (LARC) participated.  After opening by OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley, Mike Cagle and Rick Allen led the meeting.  Senator John Sparks, Rep. Lisa Billy and Rep. Scott Martin spoke to those attending about state employee issues.

Sparks told the group that more employees should be members of OPEA and engaged in association activities. 

“The more involved, the better,” said Sparks.  “Encourage your co-workers to join OPEA.”

The legislators were asked to list their priorities for the 2009 legislative session.  All three said state employee compensation would be one of their main concerns. 

“We should stop privatization of prisons,” Sparks added.  “I am not in favor of money going to private prisons.  Legislators should invest in facilities.  If we are going to make the decision to incarcerate people and have longer sentences, we must build prisons.”

“Not having a long-term compensation plan for employees is no way to do business,” said Billy.  “Total compensation should be considered, including flex scheduling and increasing longevity.”

“I think it is important to keep jobs secure in troubled economic times,” said Martin.   He also agreed that total compensation was important.

“I support the benefit allowance paying for insurance,” said Martin.  “But, employees should not receive salary in their benefit allowance.”

Billy pointed out that compensation paid in the benefit allowance cannot be counted in calculating retirement. 

All three were interested in moving corrections employees from the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System.

Regarding the DOC audit, the legislators concurred that the governor should be removed from the parole process, with any savings returned to DOC. 

“Public safety is a core function of government,” said Martin.  “DOC should have a long-term plan for building.”

“No more private prisons,” responded Sparks in response to a question about privatization.  “I don’t want Oklahoma to be a housing unit for other states.”

In closing statements, the legislators indicated that they appreciated the opportunity to visit with corrections employees and more legislators should visit DOC facilities throughout the state. 

“This was a great forum to begin discussing DOC issues for next legislative session,” said Zearley.  “We hope more legislators will take time to visit state facilities and offices in their districts.”