Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1978 By: Rader
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the State Board of Corrections;
7 requiring promulgation of rules; establishing
8 criteria for certain verification process;
8 authorizing State Board of Corrections to take
9 certain action; providing for codification; and
9 providing an effective date.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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14 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 549a of Title 57, unless there
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15 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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16 A. The State Board of Corrections shall promulgate rules to
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17 establish a verification process before a punishment of death is
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18 executed as provided for in Section 1015 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma
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19 Statutes.
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20 B. The requirements of the verification process established in
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21 subsection A of this section shall include, but not be limited to:
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22 1. A determination that the Department of Corrections has
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23 faithfully adhered to the constitutional mandate against cruel and
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24 unusual punishment pursuant to Article II, Section 9 of the Oklahoma
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Req. No. 2968 Page 1
1 Constitution and the Eighth Amendment to the United States
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2 Constitution;
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3 2. Confirmation that any medical equipment was purchased from a
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4 reputable medical equipment vendor, including a statement from the
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5 vendor recognizing the intended use of such equipment and receipt of
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6 purchase;
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7 3. Confirmation that any Department of Corrections personnel
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8 understand and comply with the protocol for executing a punishment
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9 of death and are trained accordingly to execute such punishment.
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10 Any personnel who desire to opt out of the execution of a punishment
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11 of death may make application to the Department of Corrections to
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12 not be present during the execution and such application shall be
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13 approved by the Director of the Department of Corrections. The
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14 Department of Corrections shall not take any adverse employment
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15 action against an employee who opts out of being present during an
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16 execution;
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17 4. If punishment of death shall be carried out by the
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18 administration of a lethal quantity of a drug or drugs:
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19 a. documentation that the administrator of such drug or
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20 drugs is properly licensed and certified to perform
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21 the administration of such drug or drugs. Such
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22 documentation shall include a national criminal
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23 history record check as provided for in Section 150.9
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24 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and
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Req. No. 2968 Page 2
1 b. confirmation that any such drug or drugs were
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2 purchased from a reputable drug vendor, including a
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3 statement from the vendor recognizing the intended use
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4 of such drug or drugs and receipt of purchase;
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5 5. Documentation that the immediate family members of the
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6 victim of the crime resulting in the punishment of death are
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7 properly informed of the execution date and their right to witness
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8 the execution;
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9 6. Confirmation that the list of attendees for the execution is
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10 accurate and only includes those listed pursuant to subsection D of
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11 Section 1015 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
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12 7. Maintenance of an audio and visual recording of the
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13 execution of a punishment of death to ensure a functional recording
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14 during the entire execution process.
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15 C. It is incumbent upon the Board to prevent the execution of a
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16 punishment of death if any of the criteria in subsection B of this
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17 section is not met.
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18 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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20 60-2-2968 CN 1/15/2026 9:23:44 AM
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Req. No. 2968 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.