DOC director abruptly resigns during meeting

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is without a director after Joe M. Allbaugh resigned during a Board of Corrections meeting on Wednesday. Allbaugh said his resignation was effective immediately and that he would be retiring July 1. His announcement followed the election of the board’s new officers. Allbaugh said the board has a different set of ideas than he does. Governor Kevin Stitt said he did not know Allbaugh was going to resign. The news follows new legislation regarding the board. The governor signed HB 2480, what he called an “accountability bill”, back in March. The bill gives the executive branch the authority to hire and fire the agency leader.   According to the governor’s website, the Board of Corrections is a nine person board with five members appointed by the Governor, two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The board is the governing body for the department. Members are responsible for establishing and reviewing policies and confirming the appointment of wardens or unit heads. You can find information about the new board members here: https://www.governor.ok.gov/articles/pressreleases/governor-stitt-announces-five-appointments-to-the A nationwide search will now be conducted to replace Allbaugh.