Debt collection; prohibiting certain contract with private debt collectors. Effective date.

SB 973 prohibits Oklahoma courts and state entities from contracting with private debt collectors to collect criminal fines, fees, costs, or restitution owed by individuals. This directly affects courts, state agencies handling collections, and private debt collection companies that previously managed these payments. The bill’s key provision, added to Oklahoma law, bans such contracts without altering existing court cost structures for criminal cases. It repeals related sections of law (19 O.S. §§ 514.4-514.5) that governed court cost compliance programs. The law aims to keep collection of criminal justice debts within public systems, not private contractors.