Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1644 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/18/2023

                             
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) 
 
HOUSE BILL 1644 	By: Maynard 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to firearms; amending 21 O.S. 2021, 
Section 1280.1, which relates to the pos session of 
firearms on school pr operty; authorizing the storage 
of firearms and weapons in unattended vehicles on 
school property; requiring firearms and weapons be 
hidden from view; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section 
1289.7, which relates to firearms in vehicles; 
authorizing the storage of firearms in vehicles; 
expanding scope of certain prohibited act; and 
providing an effective date. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     21 O.S. 2021, Section 1280.1, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1280.1 
POSSESSION OF FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY 
 
A.  It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his or her 
possession on any public or private school property or while in any 
school bus or vehicle used by any school for trans portation of 
students or teachers any firearm or weapon designated in Section   
 
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1272 of this title, except as provided in subsection C of this 
section or as otherwise authorized by law. 
B.  For purposes of this section: 
1.  "School property" means any publicly owned property held for 
purposes of elementary, secondary or vocational -technical education, 
and shall not include property owned by public school districts or 
where such property is leased or rented to an individual or 
corporation and used for purposes other than educational; 
2.  "Private school" means a school that offers a course of 
instruction for students in one or more grades from prekindergarten 
through grade twelve and is not operated by a governmental entity; 
and 
3.  "Motor vehicle" means any automobile, truck, minivan or 
sports utility vehicle. 
C.  Firearms and weapons are allowed on school property and 
deemed not in violation of subsection A of this section as follows: 
1.  A An unloaded gun or knife designed for hunting or fishing 
purposes kept in a privately owned vehicle and properly displayed or 
stored as required by law, provided such vehicle containing said gun 
or knife is driven onto school property only to transport a student 
to and from school and such vehicle does not remain in a locked 
container or locked firearms rack and hidden from view in the motor 
vehicle when the motor vehicle is left unattended on school 
property;   
 
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2.  A gun or knife used for the purposes of participating in the 
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation certifi ed hunter 
training education course or any other hunting, fishing, safety or 
firearms training courses, or a r ecognized firearms sports event, 
team shooting program or competition, or living history reenactment, 
provided the course or event is approved by the principal or chief 
administrator of the school where the course or event is offered, 
and provided the weap on is properly displayed or stored as required 
by law pending participation in the course, event, program or 
competition; 
3.  Weapons in the posse ssion of any peace officer or other 
person authorized by law to possess a weapon in the performance of 
his or her duties and responsibilities; 
4.  A concealed or unconcealed weapon carried onto private 
school property or in any school bus or vehicle used b y any private 
school for transportation of students or teachers by a person who is 
licensed pursuant to the Ok lahoma Self-Defense Act, provided a 
policy has been adopted by the governing entity of the private 
school that authorizes the possession of a weap on on private school 
property or in any school bus or vehicle used by a private school.  
Except for acts of gr oss negligence or willful or wanton misconduct, 
a governing entity of a private school that adopts a policy which 
authorizes the possession of a w eapon on private school property, a 
school bus or vehicle used by the private school shall be immune   
 
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from liability for any injuries arising from the adoption of the 
policy.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to claims 
pursuant to the Worker s' Compensation Code; 
5.  A gun, knife, bayonet or other weapon in the possession of a 
member of a veterans gr oup, the national guard, active military, the 
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) or Junior ROTC, in order to 
participate in a ceremony, assem bly or educational program approved 
by the principal or chief administrator of a school or school 
district where the ceremony, assembly or educational program is 
being held; provided, however, the gun or other weapon that uses 
projectiles is not loaded and is inoperable at all times while on 
school property; 
6.  A handgun carried in a motor vehicle pursuant to a v alid 
handgun license authorized by the Oklahoma Self -Defense Act onto 
property set aside by a public or private elementary or secondary 
school for the use or parking of any vehicle; provided, however, 
said handgun shall be stored and hidden from view in a locked motor 
vehicle when the motor vehicle is left unattended on school 
property; and 
7.  A handgun carried onto public school property by school 
personnel who have been designated by the board of education, 
provided such personnel either:   
 
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a. possess a valid armed security guard license as 
provided for in Section 1750.1 et seq. of Title 59 of 
the Oklahoma Statutes, or 
b. hold a valid reserve peace officer certification as 
provided for in Section 3311 of Title 70 of the 
Oklahoma Statutes, 
if a policy has been adopted by the board of education of the school 
district that authorizes the carrying of a handgun onto public 
school property by such personne l.  Nothing in this subsection shall 
be construed to restrict authority granted elsewhere in law to carry 
firearms. 
D.  Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, 
upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of 
not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     21 O.S. 2021, Section 1289.7, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1289.7 
FIREARMS IN VEHICLES 
 
A.  Any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from 
possessing or purchasing a firearm and is not carryi ng or 
transporting a firearm in the furtherance of a crime may transport 
and store in or on a vehicle a firearm, loaded or unloaded, at any 
time.   
 
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B.  Any person, eighteen (18) to twenty (20) years of age, who 
is not otherwise prohibited by law from possess ing or purchasing a 
firearm and is not carrying or transporting a firearm in the 
furtherance of a crime may transport and store in or on a vehicle, 
open or concealed, an unloaded firearm at any time. 
C.  It shall be unlawful for any person transporting or storing 
a firearm in or on a vehicle to fail or refuse to identify that the 
person is in actual possession of a firearm when demanded by a law 
enforcement officer of this state during any arrest, detainment or 
routine traffic stop.  Any person who violates the provisions of 
this subsection may be issued a citation for an amount not to exceed 
One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). 
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 
 
59-1-5671 GRS 01/07/23