OKLAHOMA CITY — State lawmakers are growing frustrated that their calls for a criminal investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Human Services have not been acted on yet.
In addition to an investigation into DHS, it also includes investigations into multiple juvenile justice centers.
That includes the one in Tulsa County, which just had its operating license extended .
The debate comes down to one state statute.
State lawmakers and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation do not agree on who has the authority to order an investigation.
Meanwhile, some families continue to rally and demand that someone does something.
Over the weekend, advocates and some state lawmakers held a protest at the Capitol building in Oklahoma City, calling for DHS accountability.
"I represent my people to the government to make sure they are not destroying walking on, trotting on, or perpetrating organized government-sponsored child trafficking,” State Sen. Shane Jett said.
Meanwhile, the debate on this investigation order continues on whether the House committee had the authority to order state agents to investigate DHS.
State agents say they do not. The chair of the criminal justice committee followed up last week, saying they do have the authority.
"There's a train coming and you can either get off the tracks, get on the train, or you can set there and get ran over but we're coming and we're coming after you,” State Rep. J.J. Humphrey said.
Then over the weekend, the OSBI director responded.
She cited the state statute again.
She disagrees with Humphrey, saying his order did not match the criteria to enforce an open investigation.
The state statute said an investigation may be initiated by, "the chair of the legislative investigation committee which has been granted subpoena powers by resolution, upon authorization by a vote of the majority of a committee."
The House committee that ordered the investigation has subpoena powers and held a majority vote a month ago.
Seth McIntosh with the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a team of nonprofit attorneys, spoke to FOX23 about the call for an investigation being on hold yet again.
"We're just not sure why it would be stalling. We have to have some sort of action to look like we're moving in the right direction. When it stalls like this, it just continues to look like everything's being swept under the rug. Our first priority should be to protect these kids and make sure they're safe,” McIntosh said.
While the investigation remains pending, some state lawmakers have begun calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt who has clearer authority to sign the investigation order.
"I'm always ready for God to help me, but governor how about you help us and sign an order to do an investigation? We need to do a top-down investigation on the Department of Human Services,” Humphrey said.
FOX23 reached out to the governor's personal email to ask for comment since his name was brought up at the Capitol rally over the weekend. He has not responded.
Meanwhile, dozens of families are still coming forward about issues they've had with DHS.
FOX23 has been in constant contact with DHS.
They said they do not comment on specifics of individual cases and fight for the safety of all children in the state.
They also said they will cooperate with any investigation.
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