HB 1968: Pardon and Parole Board; authorizing the Pardon and Parole Board to employ alternate members; establishing compensation; effective date. - Oklahoma

House Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted from a House Committee Substitute version to a Floor version, with the primary substantive change being the addition of a Senate sponsor (Deck of the House and Bullard of the Senate) to the bill's authorship line. The actual legislative content regarding the Pardon and Parole Board remains identical between versions.

TECHNICAL

Added Senate sponsor 'Bullard of the Senate' to the bill authorship line, indicating Senate involvement in the bill's sponsorship.

Changed the document header from 'House Committee Substitute' to 'Floor (House)' version, indicating the bill has moved from committee to the full House floor for consideration.

Removed bracketed text indicating the bill's subject matter (Pardon and Parole Board - members, Chair, training, compensation, voting, effective date) which was present in the Committee version but omitted in the Floor version.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to create a new proposed substitute version that replaces the entire original text with updated provisions for the Pardon and Parole Board. The changes establish new compensation structures, add alternate member positions with specific qualifications, and modify attendance requirements and removal procedures.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include formal provisions for alternate board members with defined qualifications and powers, in addition to regular board members.

ELIGIBILITY

Added provisions for five alternate board members with specific experience requirements: former prosecutors, public defenders, defense attorneys handling felonies, former judges, licensed mental health professionals, and parole/corrections officers.

FISCAL

Established new salary amounts: $42,500 per year for alternate members (in addition to existing $24,800 for Chair and $22,800 for regular members).

REQUIREMENT

Changed attendance thresholds from one meeting absence to two meetings for compensation forfeiture, and from three meetings to two meetings for official misconduct designation.

Added mandatory training requirements: 12 hours in first year and 6 hours annually thereafter for all members and alternates.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified removal procedures to allow Chair to determine justifiable excuses based on written board policy rather than Board-wide determination.

SCOPE

Added authority for Chair to assign alternate members to serve when regular members are absent.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board by adding alternate members to the board, establishing new training requirements, increasing compensation for board members, and adding consequences for missing meetings. The changes aim to improve board oversight and member accountability.

Scope change

The bill expands the board's composition by adding five alternate members with specific qualifications and clarifies that all members are full-time salaried employees.

ELIGIBILITY

Added five new alternate member positions with specific qualifications including prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, mental health professionals, and corrections officers.

REQUIREMENT

Changed training requirements from 12 hours in the first year to 6 hours annually for all members and alternate members.

Changed meeting attendance threshold from one meeting to two meetings before losing compensation rights.

FISCAL

Increased Chair compensation from $24,800 to $24,800 (unchanged) but modified salary structure for regular members and alternate members with new allotment schedules.

ENFORCEMENT

Added consequences for missing meetings including loss of compensation and potential removal from office for excessive absences.

Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 1 → House Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision restructures the Pardon and Parole Board's organizational framework by establishing formal roles for alternate members, setting specific training requirements, defining compensation structures, and adding ethical restrictions on board members representing inmates. The changes shift from a proposed committee substitute to a final house committee substitute, incorporating substantive policy modifications that affect board operations and member conduct.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly authorizes the employment of alternate members with defined appointment processes and qualifications, expanding the board's operational capacity while adding new ethical constraints on member conduct.

ELIGIBILITY

Establishes five specific categories of alternate members with distinct appointment authorities and experience requirements, including prosecutors, public defenders, defense attorneys, judges, mental health professionals, and corrections officers.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates minimum training hours for all board members (12 hours in first year, 6 hours annually thereafter) focused on criminogenic needs and effective intervention practices.

Increases consequences for missing meetings from precluding monthly compensation to potential official misconduct charges and removal from office for excessive absences.

FISCAL

Sets compensation at $24,800 annually for board members and $42,500 annually for alternate members, with specific monthly allotments for meeting preparation and attendance.

ENFORCEMENT

Imposes ethical restrictions prohibiting board members from representing incarcerated inmates in legal matters, with disqualification from voting on pardon/parole requests if prior representation occurred.

Pardon and Parole Board; authorizing the Pardon and Parole Board to employ alternate members; establishing compensation; effective date.

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