An act relating to prisons and reformatories, the official text

1                            STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 1319                         By: Humphrey

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6                            AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to prisons and reformatories;

    granting elected state officials the right to access

8   facilities operated by the Department of Corrections

    for purposes of inspection and evaluation; providing

9   for announced and unannounced visits; authorizing

    access to inmates; directing the Department to

10  implement security protocols to manage visits;

    providing for codification; and providing an

11  effective date.

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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

15  SECTION 1.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

16 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 509.7 of Title 57, unless there

17 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

18  A. Beginning November 1, 2025, elected state officials shall

19 have the right to access all facilities operated by the Department

20 of Corrections for purposes of inspection and evaluation of said

21 facilities and to ensure compliance with policies and procedures

22 promulgated by the Department. An inspection and evaluation may be

23 announced or unannounced with higher risk facilities receiving more

24 frequent inspections and evaluations.

    Req. No. 10837                                           Page 1
1   B. The Department shall further allow elected state officials

2 access to inmates incarcerated at said facilities upon request by

3 elected state officials.

4   C. The Department shall implement the necessary security

5 protocols to manage said visits without compromising the safety and

6 security of the facility, its inmates, correctional officers, and

7 employees of the Department.

8   SECTION 1. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

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10  60-1-10837      GRS     01/07/25

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    Req. No. 10837                                            Page 2