The Oklahoma Legislature measure that would allow those sentenced to community service to work on county public works projects was defeated earlier this week because of confusion about what it would do, legislators said. It is expected to get a new vote next week.
NewsOK
BY BRYAN DEAN
Published: May 7, 2011
A bill allowing those sentenced to community service to be used for labor on county public works projects could get a reprieve after it was defeated earlier this week, legislators said Friday.
Two legislators who voted against the bill Wednesday said confusion about what it would and would not do led to the bill’s defeat.
If the bill doesn’t pass, it would force county commissioners to hire additional temporary laborers to replace the work they are getting for free from people performing community service instead of a jail sentence, officials said. The bill is scheduled to be reconsidered next week.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Brain Maughan said he brought the issue up to Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, after questions came up about a program he started called Project Shine.
The program uses those sentenced to community service to perform work such as cleaning out creek beds and ravines, stripping graffiti and picking up debris after tornadoes and wildfires. A single county employee oversees those working on the projects.
Maughan said commissioners can use their road crews for such work but would have to divert them from road and bridge projects... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Sat, May 7, 2011
by John Cox