PA Bill Number: HB829
Title: In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Description: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Last Action: Signed in House
Last Action Date: Jul 3, 2024
Constitutional Carry law to cause OSBI (Oklahoma) to lose $4-6 million :: 03/01/2019
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) - The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is expected to lose $4-6 million, officials said, because constitutional carry was signed into law.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2597 into law Wednesday, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry a gun without a permit or training.
The OSBI is currently in charge of applications for permits and renewals.
OSBI Director Ricky Adams said in 2018, nearly $2.6 million was grossed from gun permits alone an additional $3.1 million was brought in from gun permit renewals.
The OSBI saw a total of 45,329 applications in 2018, totaling $5,739,605.
When constitutional carry goes into effect Nov.1, those who were once required to get a permit to carry a gun, will no longer be required to do so by law.
FOX 25 asked OSBI public information official Brook Arbeitman what it means if the agency loses that money.
"We've been preparing for this since the bill came up last year. In doing so, we are able to absorb some of that. We have some positions that have not been filled and so, we are able to absorb some of that that will be lost with the passage of this bill," Arbeitman said.
Arbeitman said she doesn't think employees at the agency will lose their jobs.
"We don't anticipate that. In saying that we have jobs vacant, those people had moved on and we just didn’t fill them in anticipation of this," said Arbeitman.
FOX 25 asked how losing between $4-6 million could affect the OSBI.
"All of this is just a prediction at this point in time. Until it becomes law and we can see what people are doing, it's hard to say," Arbeitman said.
For those who still want to get a permit, despite constitutional carry becoming a law, Arbeitman said they would still need to go through all the steps.
Right now, citizens who want to apply for a permit must complete a required gun training course beforehand, on top of getting a background check and paying for licensing costs.
"If you plan to travel to one of the reciprocity states that requires permits, you're going to run into some issues without a permit yourself. Because of that, we still encourage people to go through the process," said Arbeitman.
Depsite what the future holds for the OSBI, Arbeitman said it will adapt.
"The OSBI is a dynamic agency and change is a core competency of law enforcement. So, we will continue to adapt to this law and others that are enacted in Oklahoma and continue to protect and service the citizens of this state," Arbeitman said.
Sen. Kay Floyd told FOX 25 she's been asking lawmakers how the OSBI is expected to replace the $4 million they're expected to lose. She said no one has addressed the issue yet.
"From my understanding, $4-6 million will be lost. They use $2 million for administrative costs," Floyd said.
Adams said the OSBI did submit a budget request. On the form, obtained by FOX 25, for fiscal year 2020, the OSBI asked for $4 million to replace funding for the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act.
House Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace said Thursday that they'll likely give some money for the request, but not all of it.
https://okcfox.com/news/local/constitutional-carry-law-to-cause-osbi-to-lose-4-6-million
