1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 HOUSE BILL 3863 By: Ford
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to utilities; amending Section 1,
7 Chapter 171, O.S.L. 2023 (17 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section
8 180.12), which relates to exemptions; modifying who
8 may make certain determination; and providing an
9 effective date.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 171, O.S.L.
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15 2023 (17 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 180.12), is amended to read as
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16 follows:
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17 Section 180.12 A. A customer or applicant who has been
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18 determined to be a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or
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19 harassment, as defined in Section 109 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma
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20 Statutes or Section 644 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, by any
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21 of the following:
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22 1. An existing protective order;
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23 2. Law enforcement personnel; or
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 1 3. A designated representative of a certified domestic violence
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2 shelter or certified domestic violence program pursuant to Section
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3 18p-6 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or
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4 4. A designated representative of a domestic violence shelter
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5 or domestic violence program operated by a federally recognized
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6 Indian tribe,
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7 shall be exempt from the public utility's initial credit and deposit
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8 requirements as established by the public utility. This
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9 determination shall be evidenced by submission of the certification
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10 letter, provided in subsection B of this section, to the public
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11 utility. The certification letter expires after ninety (90) days.
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12 B. Certification Letter for Victim of Domestic Violence for
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13 Waiver of Initial Utility Deposit:
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14 IF A VALID PROTECTIVE ORDER IS ATTACHED TO THIS FORM, A CERTIFYING
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15 AGENCY OR OFFICER DOES NOT NEED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS.
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16 This letter serves to certify that ___________________________(Name
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17 of Applicant for Service) is a victim of domestic violence,
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18 stalking, or harassment, as defined in Section 109 of Title 43 of
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19 the Oklahoma Statutes or Section 644 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma
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20 Statutes, and therefore has demonstrated satisfactory credit for the
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21 purposes of establishing service. The requirement of initial
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22 deposit shall be waived for the above named customer. (Only one
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23 Certifying Agency is required.)
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 1 By my signature, I certify that the following Certifying Agency has
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2 determined that, based on the information gathered at the time of
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3 intake/assessment/provision of services, the above-named Applicant
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4 reported experiences of domestic violence and was assessed to be a
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5 victim of domestic violence.
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6 Agency Name: ____________________________________________
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7 Contact Number: _________________________________________
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8 Signature: ______________________________________________
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9 Printed Name: ___________________________________________
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10 Title: __________________________________________________
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11 Date: ___________________________________________________
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12 By my signature I certify that I have personally responded to or
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13 have confirmed via internal records that an officer of the
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14 _____________________________ Police Department has responded to an
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15 incident occurring within the municipal boundaries of the
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16 _____________________________ (municipality) where the above-named
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17 Applicant was reported to be a victim of domestic violence.
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18 Department Representative Signature:
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19 ____________________________________________
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20 Department Representative Printed Name:
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21 ____________________________________________
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22 Badge Number (if applicable):
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23 ____________________________________________
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24 Date: ______________________________________
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 1 This form expires ninety (90) days from the date of the signature of
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2 the certifying individual.
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3 C. The utility shall deem the certification letter and the
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4 contents thereof as confidential and exempt from disclosure.
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5 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
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7 59-2-9677 CMA 01/02/24
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