Bill No. 871, introduced by Senators Reinhardt and George, amends existing laws related to crimes and punishments in Oklahoma. The bill modifies the statutory references for various serious criminal offenses, including first and second-degree murder, manslaughter, robbery, and sexual offenses, by changing the language from "defined" to "provided for" in the relevant sections of the law. Additionally, it introduces a new criminal offense related to causing an accident while eluding law enforcement that results in great bodily injury. The bill also updates the penalties for eluding peace officers, specifying that such actions can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the circumstances, including the potential for imprisonment and fines.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that individuals convicted of the specified serious offenses must serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole, and they will not be able to earn credits that would reduce their sentence below this threshold. The amendments to Section 540A clarify the penalties for eluding law enforcement, including the consequences for causing accidents that result in injury. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Substitute: 21-13.1
Floor (House): 21-13.1
Floor (Senate): 21-13.1
Engrossed: 21-13.1