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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
March 23, 2021
ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1980 By: Lepak of the House
and
Daniels and Bullard of the
Senate
An Act relating to courts; providing the intent of
the Legislature to promote transparency in the
Judicial Nominating Commission's selection process;
requiring the Judicial Nominating Commission to
promulgate certain rules; providing for codification;
providing for noncodification; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF TH E STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Legislature
that the Judicial Nominating Commission prom ulgate rules to promote
the transparency of the Judicial Nomin ating Commission's selection
process. It is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the
people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully
informed about their government. In accordance with this public
policy, the Legislature finds t hat the people have a vested interest
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in the selection process of justices and judges nominated to
judicial office and should be informed of the Judicial Nominating
Commission's selection proces s for each candidate nominated for
judicial office.
B. It is not the intention of the Legislature that any negative,
private, embarrassing or otherwise sensitive information be
disclosed by the Judicial Nominating Commission's efforts to
increase transparency of the selection process. Specifically, the
Legislature does not intend for the background check conducted by
the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to be made public.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in
the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 25 of Title 20, unless th ere is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Judicial Nominating Commission shall promulgate rules to
promote transparency of the selection process of nominees for
judicial office. The rules shall be prominently published on the
Judicial Nominating Commission's website .
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
March 23, 2021 - DO PASS