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Oklahoma Prison Funding Proposal Awaits Governor's Signature For Immediate Implementation

prison bars
mikecogh
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Flickr Creative Commons

The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a $13 million supplemental funding measure to help Oklahoma's prison system pay its bills for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

The House voted 68-23 for the measure Tuesday and sent it to Gov. Mary Fallin's desk to be signed into law. 

In a separate vote, House members voted 81-8 for an emergency clause that would permit the measure to go into effect as soon as it is signed. The Senate passed the measure last week.

The bill appropriates $13 million to the Department of Corrections and gives it more authority to tap an internal agency revolving account. The department will use the money to pay for private prison beds, a backup of inmates in county jails and inmate medical services.

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