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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
HOUSE BILL 2222 By: Ford
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to crimes and punishments; amending
21 O.S. 2021, Sections 1902 and 1903, which relate to
the Bus Passenger Safety Act; mod ifying scope of
certain definition; defining terms; expanding scope
of unlawful acts to include rolling stock transit
vehicles and transit workers; and declaring an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1902, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1902. As used in the Bus Passenger Safety Act:
1. "Bus" means a vehicle designed to carry passengers that is
part of a network of passenger vehicles for use by the public,
running on a regular schedule of routes, times and fares;
2. "Bus transportation company" or "company" means any person
or governmental entity providing for-hire transport to passengers or
cargo by bus rolling stock transit vehicles upon the roads, streets,
highways and turnpikes of this state;
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3. "Deadly or dangerous weapon" includes all weapons listed in
Section 1287 of this title, and any ot her weapon capable of
inflicting serious bodily injury, except for a weapon carried for
lawful self-defense in compliance under the Oklahoma Self Defense
Act;
4. "Passenger" means any person served by the bu s
transportation company; and
5. "Rolling stock transit vehicles" includes buses, vans, cars,
railcars, locomotives, trolley cars, ferry boats, and vehicles used
for support services;
6. "Terminal" means a bus station o r depot or any facility
operated or leased by or operated on behalf of a bus transp ortation
company. This term shall include a reasonable area immediately
adjacent to any desig nated stop along the route traveled by any bus
operated by a bus transportation company and parking lots or parking
areas adjacent to a terminal ; and
7. "Transit worker" means any employee, contractor, or
volunteer working on behalf of the transit agency.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1903, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1903. A. No person shall by force or violence, or
threat of force or violence, seize or exercise control of any bus or
rolling stock transit vehicle. Any person violating this subsection
shall be guilty of a felony a nd shall, upon conviction, be punished
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by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for
not more than twenty (20) years, or by a fine of not more than
Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or by both such fine and
imprisonment.
B. In addition, no person shall intimidate, threaten, assault
or batter any driver, attendant transit worker, guard or passenger
of any bus or rolling stock transit vehicle with intent to violate
subsection A of this section. Any person violating this subsection
shall be guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction, be punished
by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for
not more than ten (10) years, or by a fin e of not more than Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both su ch fine and imprisonment.
C. In addition, any person violating subsection A or B of this
section using a dangerous or deadly weapon shall be guilty of a
felony, and shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in
the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than
twenty (20) years, or by a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand
Dollars ($20,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. It shall be unlawful for any pe rson to discharge any firearm
into or within any bus, rolling stock transit vehicle, terminal or
other transportation facility, unless such action is determined to
have been in defensive force resulting from reasonable fear of
imminent peril of death or gr eat bodily harm to himself or herself
or another. Such person shall, upon convi ction, be guilty of a
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felony punishable by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of
Corrections for not more than five (5) years, or both.
SECTION 3. It being immediat ely necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
59-1-5701 GRS 01/17/23