Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB839 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/21/2021

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) 
 
SENATE BILL 839 	By: Dahm 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to game wardens; amending 29 O. S. 
2011, Section 3-201, which relates to authority of 
game wardens; prohibiting cameras on private property 
without permission; and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     29 O.S. 2011, Section 3-201, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 3-201.  A.  All things being equal, veterans of World 
War II, the Korean, the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars shall be 
appointed as game wardens when vacancies occur. 
B.  All persons appointed game wardens shall be peace officers 
and have the full powers of peace o fficers of the State of Oklahoma 
in the enforcement of the provisions of this Code and are authorized 
to: 
1.  Enforce all state laws on Department-owned or Department-
managed lands; 
2.  Enforce all other laws of this state;   
 
 
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3.  Make arrests for wildlife co nservation violations and 
nonconservation-related crimes with the same power and authority as 
sheriffs are vested with and in cooperation with other law 
enforcement officers and agencies; 
4.  Take into possession any and all protected wildlife, or any 
part thereof, killed, taken, shipped or in any possession contrary 
to the law, and the wildlife or parts thereof may be disposed of as 
determined by the Director or any court of competent jurisdiction; 
5.  Make a complaint and cause proceedings to be commenced 
against any person for violation of any of the laws for the 
protection and propagation of wildlife, with the sanction of the 
prosecuting or district attorney of the county in which the 
proceedings are brought, and shall not be required to give security 
for costs; 
6.  Be an authorized agent of the Commission or Department under 
Section 3-202 of this title in addi tion to duties as a game w arden; 
and 
7.  Assist in enforcement of the state fire laws, upon requ est 
of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture , Food, and Forestry. 
C.  1.  Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a game 
warden may operate a vehicle ow ned or leased by the Depar tment upon 
a roadway during the hours of darkness without lighted head lamps, 
clearance lamps, or other illuminating devic es.  As used in this 
paragraph, "roadway" shall include any street or highway in this   
 
 
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state except an interst ate highway, a limited acc ess highway, a 
state trunk highway, or any street or highway within th e limits of 
an incorporated area. 
2.  Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a game warden 
may operate a vessel upon any waters of this state during the hours 
of darkness without the illuminating devices required by Section 
4207 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 
3.  A game warden may operate a vehicle or vessel without the 
illuminating devices specified in this subsection only if the 
operation: 
a. is made in the performance of the duties of the game 
warden pursuant to the provisions of the Code, and 
b. (1) will aid in the accomplishment of a law ful arrest 
for any violation of the Oklahoma Wildlife Code 
or any rule or regulation promulgated thereto, or 
(2) will aid in ascertaini ng whether a violation of 
the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code or any 
rule or regulation promulgated thereto has been 
or is about to be committed. 
D.  Any person who refuses to stop a vehicle or boat when 
requested to do so by a game warden in the perfo rmance of the duties 
of the game warden is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is 
punishable by a fine of not les s than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) 
nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).   
 
 
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E.  Any game warden who so licits or accepts any brib e or money 
or other thing of value in connection with the performance of duty 
as a game warden shall be guilty of a felon y and, upon conviction, 
shall be sentenced to a term not less than two (2) years nor more 
than seven (7) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections 
and shall be summarily removed from office. 
F. Pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section 
and the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code, a game warden shall not 
have authority to use or place a game or wildlife camera on private 
property without the permission of the owner or controller of the 
property. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effe ctive November 1, 2021. 
 
58-1-893 NP 1/21/2021 3:45:53 PM