The bill amends various sections of Oklahoma law concerning the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), particularly focusing on the hiring processes for firefighters and the issuance of handgun licenses. It allows firefighter applicants to pay the required criminal history check fees directly to the Bureau, rather than through a money order or cashier's check. Additionally, the bill updates the application and renewal processes for handgun licenses, permitting electronic fee submissions and requiring the Bureau to notify licensees of upcoming expirations. It also repeals outdated sections related to petty cash funds and clarifies the Bureau's authority to establish rules for these processes, aiming to enhance efficiency and compliance with current legal standards.

Moreover, the bill specifies the OSBI's responsibility for maintaining criminal history records, including the management of fingerprints and related information, while outlining the obligations of law enforcement agencies in reporting this data. It removes certain fees associated with criminal history checks and mandates that the OSBI send fingerprint impressions to the FBI. New provisions are introduced to protect the confidentiality of criminal history records for individuals under eighteen, alongside penalties for non-compliance with mandatory reporting requirements. The bill repeals two existing sections of the Oklahoma statutes and sets an effective date of November 1, 2025, for the new provisions, ultimately aiming to streamline the management of criminal history records and improve the OSBI's operational efficiency.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-1290.5, 74-150.12, 74-150.29, 74-7., 74-2021, 74-150.30