SB 445: Age of consent; increasing age of consent for sexual intercourse; modifying criteria for certain offense. Emergency. - Oklahoma

Committee Substitute → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Oklahoma's age of consent laws and rape statutes, raising the age threshold from 16 to 18 years and adjusting the age gap requirement for consensual relationships. It also expands the definition of who counts as an employee of an institution of higher education for criminal liability purposes.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of criminal liability by increasing the age of consent from 16 to 18 years and expanding the definition of institutional employees who could be held criminally responsible for sexual misconduct with students.

ELIGIBILITY

Raised the age of consent from 16 to 18 years for sexual intercourse, meaning sexual activity with someone under 18 is now treated more seriously under the law.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the age gap requirement for consensual relationships from 4 years to 4 years when the older person is 18 or older, previously it was 4 years when the older person was 16 or older.

Updated the age threshold for certain sexual offense categories from 16-18 years to 18 years, affecting how cases are classified and prosecuted.

DEFINITION

Added 'volunteers' to the definition of employees at institutions of higher education who could be held criminally liable for sexual misconduct with students.

Engrossed → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill changes the age of consent provisions in Oklahoma's rape statute, raising the age threshold from 16 to 18 years old for certain circumstances and updating related definitions. The changes affect how sexual offenses are classified based on victim age and relationship to the accused.

Scope change

The bill expands the age range for certain sexual offense classifications and modifies how 'employee of an institution of higher education' is defined to include those exercising institutional authority over victims.

ELIGIBILITY

Raised the age threshold for certain sexual offense classifications from 16 years old to 18 years old

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'employee of an institution of higher education' to include faculty, adjunct faculty, instructors, volunteers, and employees of contractors who may exercise institutional authority over victims

TECHNICAL

Changed document header from 'ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 445' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and updated page numbering references

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MODERATE

This bill increases the age of consent from 16 to 18 years old and modifies the age gap limitation for rape convictions. The changes expand criminal liability for sexual relationships involving minors under 18 and adjust the age difference threshold for conviction.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by raising the age of consent and modifying age-related exemptions for rape convictions.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the age of consent from 16 to 18 years old, meaning sexual intercourse with a person under 18 is now considered rape regardless of consent.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the age gap limitation for rape convictions from '14-18 years old' to '16-18 years old', narrowing the circumstances under which age differences alone can lead to conviction.

Added specific language clarifying that enrolled students who are not more than three years older than a concurrently enrolled student and are employed or volunteering are not considered 'employees of an institution of higher education' for this section.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'employee of an institution of higher education' to include faculty, adjunct faculty, instructors, volunteers, and business employees who exercise institutional authority over students.

Age of consent; increasing age of consent for sexual intercourse; modifying criteria for certain offense. Emergency.

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