SB 1224: Pardons and paroles; authorizing electronic notification to victims and victim representatives. Effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board's procedures to ensure victims and their representatives are notified of clemency applications. It mandates that copies of applications be sent to victims and the Attorney General within ten business days, granting them twenty business days to submit written recommendations or protests. The bill also clarifies the Board's advisory role to the Governor and establishes specific timelines for scheduling hearings.

Scope change

The bill expands the procedural scope of clemency applications by formally including victims and victim representatives as parties entitled to receive application copies and submit input before the Board makes a recommendation.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates that the Pardon and Parole Board provide copies of clemency applications to the district attorney, victim, victim representative, and Attorney General within ten business days of receipt.

Grants victims and victim representatives twenty business days to submit written recommendations or protests regarding the application before the Board considers it.

Clarifies that the Board's recommendations to the Governor are advisory and not binding, reinforcing the Governor's final authority on clemency decisions.

TIMELINE

Updates the deadline for the Department of Corrections to certify a list of potentially eligible inmates for commutation to December 1, 2026 (originally 2019), aligning with the current legislative session.

Enrolled (final version) → Floor (House) · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a Senate version to a House Floor version, updating the header and page layout. The substantive legal text regarding pardon and parole procedures, including victim notification timelines and trial official roles, remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated to reflect the House of Representatives Floor Version, and page numbers were reorganized to match the new House layout.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 3 edits · May 29, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized for signature, removing internal drafting notes and adding a formal subject line. The core policy text remains identical to the previous version, establishing procedures for the Pardon and Parole Board to review clemency applications, notify victims, and report statistics to the legislature.

Scope change

No substantive change to the scope or applicability of the law; the text represents the final version ready for the Governor's signature.

TECHNICAL

Removed internal drafting markers, page numbers, and placeholder text (e.g., 'Duel of the House') to produce the official enrolled version.

Added a formal 'SUBJECT' line summarizing the bill's purpose, which was absent in the engrossed version.

Deleted the 'ENGROSSED' header and replaced it with the 'ENROLLED' header, indicating the bill has passed both houses and is in its final form.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 3 edits · May 14, 2026

MINOR

The bill adds transparency requirements for the Pardon and Parole Board by mandating the publication of approval rates and public appearance statistics. It also establishes a new notification process requiring the Board to inform victims at least 20 days before inmate hearings if a request for notice was received.

Scope change

The scope of the bill expands from general pardon procedures to include specific public reporting obligations and victim notification rights.

REQUIREMENT

The Pardon and Parole Board must now publish a summary of its approval rates for violent and nonviolent offenses, as well as statistics on personal appearances and public comments, on its website.

The Board must notify victims or their representatives in writing at least 20 days before an inmate is considered for parole or commutation, provided the victim has requested such notice.

Existing notification language was updated to clarify that electronic notification is authorized if the victim or their representatives have provided an email address to the Board.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 3 edits · May 14, 2026

MINOR

The bill was amended to correct a grammatical error in the victim notification clause and to add a new requirement for electronic notification. The House amendment fixed a typo where 'and' was changed to 'or' to ensure the Board notifies the victim or their representative. Additionally, a new provision mandates that the Board must provide electronic notification to victims if they have provided an email address.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability to victims was expanded by adding a specific mechanism for electronic communication, while the scope of the Board's duties was clarified by correcting a logical error in the notification criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Corrected a grammatical error in the victim notification list, changing 'and' to 'or' to ensure the Board notifies the victim or their representative.

Added a new requirement for the Pardon and Parole Board to send electronic notifications to victims who have provided an email address.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original 'Introduced' version text and replaced it with the 'Engrossed' version containing the House amendments.

Pardons and paroles; authorizing electronic notification to victims and victim representatives. Effective date.

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