Senate Bill No. 599 amends Section 1123 of the Oklahoma Statutes regarding lewd or indecent acts towards children. The bill modifies the scope of punishment for individuals convicted of making lewd proposals or engaging in indecent acts with children under the age of sixteen. Specifically, it introduces harsher penalties for offenders whose victims are under twelve years of age, allowing for punishment by death or imprisonment for a term of ten years to life, or life without parole, as opposed to the previous minimum of twenty-five years. The bill also stipulates that the accused must be at least three years older than the victim, except in cases involving force or fear.

Additionally, the bill outlines the definition of sexual battery and establishes penalties for such offenses, particularly when committed by individuals in positions of authority over the victim, such as school employees or foster parents. It also includes provisions regarding the treatment of human corpses in a lewd manner and specifies that any person convicted under these subsections will face felony charges with a maximum imprisonment of ten years. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-843.5
Floor (Senate): 21-843.5
Engrossed: 21-843.5
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 21-1123