First Step Male Diversion Program was approved by the joint committee, both Tuesday and previously, – $300,000 towards a $1.1 million facility to help house those currently going through the diversion program. Joint committee advances dozens of ARPA proposals to Legislature OKLAHOMA CITY – The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding on Tuesday advanced a comprehensive slate of projects to the full Legislature for consideration in an upcoming special session. The committee’s approvals, combined with previously approved projects, resulted in recommendation of over 60 projects totaling nearly all of Oklahoma state government’s $1.87 billion share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Ultimately, the committee recommended proceeding with projects totaling about 10% of the $18 billion in requests contained in more than 1,400 submissions made through a public portal that was open from fall 2021 to March 2022. For more than a year, subject matter working groups evaluated proposals by eligibility under federal law and priorities established by the joint committee in 2021. All working group recommendations were advanced by joint committee to the full legislature.

“I am proud of the work that was done by all stakeholders during this lengthy process as the joint committee has recommended over 60 projects, out of over 1,400, for consideration by the Legislature,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “It is my hope that the results of this process will provide a benefit to our state for generations to come.”

Program areas and specific projects approved by the joint committee will now be placed into appropriations bills for consideration when the Legislature reconvenes the Second Extraordinary Session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature, which was called for the purpose of evaluating ARPA projects advanced by the joint committee and matters of statewide economic development.