Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1639 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 03/01/2023

                     
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) 
 
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 
FOR 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1639 	By: Hasenbeck 
 
 
 
 
 
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 
 
An Act relating to sentencing; creating the Oklahoma 
Domestic Abuse Survivorship Act; defining terms; 
directing courts to co nsider certain mitigating 
factors during sentencing and pleas; requiring 
defendants to provide certain documentary evidence; 
providing sentencing ranges upo n finding by the 
court; requiring the admini stration of an evaluation; 
authorizing submission of results to the defendant 
and the court; assigning responsibility of cost of 
evaluations; allowing certain persons to make 
application for sentencing relief; authorizing the 
Court of Criminal Appeals to develop and disseminate 
standard application form; stating absence of a 
limitation period when applying for relief; providing 
guidelines for when persons may apply for reli ef; 
providing procedures for filing applications; stating 
types of documentary evidence necessary for 
consideration; providing for the filing of 
applications without costs under certain 
circumstances; allowing the state to object upon 
showing of certain evidence; providing for the 
dismissal of applications; authorizing courts to 
grant leave to file amendment applications; 
authorizing courts to grant certain motion; providing 
for sentencing review hearings; stating procedures 
for hearings; providing sentencing ranges upon 
finding by the court; providing procedures for 
amending judgment and sentences; establishing 
restrictions on subsequent app lications; allowing 
amended judgment and sentences to be appealed; 
stating requirement for appeals; directing the 
Supreme Court to establish education and training 
requirements; providing guidelines for rules;   
 
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requiring certain attorneys to complete annual 
education and training; am ending 22 O.S. 2021, 
Section 982, which relates to p resentence 
investigations; expanding scope of circumstances; 
providing for codification; and providing an 
effective date. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
Sections 1 through 13 of this act shall be known and may be 
cited as the "Oklahoma Domestic Abuse Survivorship Ac t". 
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statu tes as Section 1090.1 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
As used in this act: 
1.  "Conditional release" means a type of release from custody 
that is not parole but which must comply with conditions such as 
electronic monitoring ; 
2.  "Deferred sentence" means a type of sentence as provided in 
Section 991c of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statues; 
3.  "Domestic abuse" means any act of physical harm or the 
threat of imminent physical harm which is committed by an adult, 
emancipated minor, or minor child thirteen (13) years of age or   
 
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older against another adult, emancipated minor or minor child who is 
currently or was previously an intimate partner or family or 
household member; 
4.  "Economic abuse" means any behavior that has a substantial 
and adverse effect on the ability of an individual to: 
a. acquire, use, or maintain money or other property , 
b. obtain goods including, but not limited to , food and 
clothing, or 
c. obtain services including, but not limited to, 
utilities; 
5.  "Parole" means a conditional release of an offender who has 
served part of the term for which he or she was se ntenced to prison; 
 6.  "Physical abuse" means any real or threatened physical 
injury or damage to the body that is not accidental ; 
7.  "Posttraumatic stress disorder" means the same as such term 
is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental 
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5, 2013), and occurred as a result of 
the victimization of a survivor; 
8. "Psychological abuse" means a pattern of real or threatened 
mental intimidation, threats, coercive control, and humiliation that 
is intended to provoke fear of harm ; and 
9.  "Revocation hearing" means a type of hearing as provided in 
Section 991b of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes ;   
 
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10.  "Sentencing hearing" means a type of postconviction hearing 
in which the defendant is brought before the court for imposition of 
the sentence; and 
11.  "Suspended sentence" means a type of sentence as provided 
in Section 991a of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 
SECTION 3.    NEW LAW    A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.2 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows : 
A. During a hearing to: 
1.  Sentence a person; or 
2.  Accept a plea of guilty,  
for a person who is a survivor of domestic abuse, and has been 
charged with the crime against his or her intimate partner where 
self-defense could have been raised as an affirmative defense, the 
court shall consider as a mitigating factor th at the person has been 
abused physically, sexually, economically, or psychologically by the 
person the defendant defended his or herself against; 
B. The defendant shall provide to the co urt evidence including, 
but not limited to: 
1.  Documentary evidence, corroborating that the defendant was, 
at the time of the offense or within one (1) year prior to the 
commission of the offense, a victim of domestic abuse, as such term 
is defined in Section 2 of this act, perpetrated by the person the 
defendant defended his or herself against; and   
 
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2.  At least one piece of documentary evidence shall be a court 
record, presentence report, social services record, hospital record, 
sworn statement from a witness to the domestic violence who is not 
the defendant, law enforcement record, domestic incident report, or 
order of protection. 
Other evidence may include, but shall not be limited to, local 
jail records or records of the Department of Corrections, 
documentation prepared at or near the time of the commission of the 
offense or the prosecution thereof tending to support the claims of 
the person, or verification of consu ltation with a licensed medic al 
care provider or mental health care provider, employee of a court 
acting within the scope of his or her employment, member of the 
clergy, attorney, social worker, or rape crisis counselor , or other 
advocate acting on behalf of an agency that assists vic tims of 
domestic abuse. Expert testimony from a psychiatrist, psycholog ist, 
or mental health professional showing that the defendant has been 
diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder may also be submitted 
to the court as evidence. 
C. If the court finds by a preponderance of the e vidence that 
the defendant is a survivor of domestic abuse within one (1) year 
prior to or on the d ate of the offense by the person the defendant 
defended his or herself ag ainst, then the sentencing range for the 
defendant shall be as follows:   
 
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1. If the offense carries up to five (5) years, not more than 
three (3) years; 
2. If the offense carries up to ten (10) years, not more than 
five (5) years; or 
3. If the offense carries up to twenty (20) years, not more 
than seven (7) years. 
No matter the range for the offense, a defendant provi ding 
mitigation evidence und er this section shall not receive a sentence 
longer than ten (10) years. 
D.  Prior to sentencing a person pursuant to the provisions of 
this act, a psychological or psychiatric evaluation routinely used 
by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Se rvices 
shall be administered to the defendant.  The evaluation shall be 
trauma-informed and take into consideration possible common 
diagnoses for abuse victims such as acute stress disorder and 
posttraumatic stress disorder. The results of the evalu ation shall 
be forwarded to the defendant and submitted to the court as 
evidence. The Department shall conduct the evaluation at no cost.  
Should the defendant choose to defer the evaluation by the 
Department in favor of an evaluation conducted by a private 
practitioner, the evaluation by the Department shall be considered 
waived.  It shall be the responsibility of the defendant to bear the 
cost of any evaluation conducted by a private practitioner .   
 
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SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statu tes as Section 1090.3 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows: 
A.  Any person who has been convicted or received a sentence for 
a crime against his or her intimate partner where self-defense could 
have been raised as an affirmative defense and the abuse was 
perpetrated by the person the defendant was defending his or herself 
against and who claims: 
1.  That he or she was a victim of domestic abuse, as defined in 
Section 2 of this act, at the time of the criminal offense or within 
one (1) year leading up to the criminal offense perpetrated by the 
person the defendant defend ed his or herself against; 
2.  That the aforementioned domestic abuse was substantially 
related to the commission of the offense; or 
3.  That the sentence previously imposed does not serve the 
means of justice when considering the mitigating evidence of 
physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, 
may make an application to the court in which the judgment and 
sentence of the person was imposed.  Upon receiving the application, 
the court shall institute a proceeding to secure the appropriate 
sentencing relief. The Court of Criminal Appeals shall be 
authorized to develop and disseminate a standard form for an 
application in conformity with the provisions of this section.   
 
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SECTION 5.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.4 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  No period of limitation shall apply to the filing of any 
application seeking sentencing relief, whether an original 
application or a subsequent application. 
B.  For those seeking to submit an application after revocation 
of a suspended sentence, acceleration of a deferred sentence, or 
revocation of probation, the person may submit the application once 
the person has been processed into the custody of the Department of 
Corrections only if the person did not invoke the mitigati on 
procedures outlined in Section 3 of this act during or after the 
revocation hearing. 
C.  For those seeking to submit an application after revocation 
of parole or conditional release, the person may submit the 
application once the person has been processed into the Department 
of Corrections only if the person did not invoke the mitigation 
procedures outlined in Section 3 of this act during or after the 
revocation hearing. 
D.  The provisions of this section s hall apply to any 
application filed on or after the effective date of this act . 
SECTION 6.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.5 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:   
 
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A.  A proceeding is commenced by filing a n application for 
sentencing review with the clerk of the court imposing judgment if 
an appeal is not pending.  When such a proceeding arises from the 
revocation of parole or conditional release, t he proceeding shall be 
commenced by filing a n application with the clerk of the court in 
the county in which the parole or conditional release was revoked. 
Facts within the personal knowledge of the applicant and the 
authenticity of all documents and exhi bits included in or attached 
to the application shall be sworn to be true and correct. The clerk 
of the court shall docket the application upon its receipt , promptly 
notify the court, and deliver a copy to the district attorne y. 
B.  A valid application fo r consideration will show by a 
preponderance of the evidence, including but not limited to 
documentary evidence, corroborating that the applicant: 
1.  Was, at the time of the offense, or within one (1) year 
leading up to the commission of the offense, a victim of domestic 
abuse, as such term is defined in Section 2 of this act, perpetrated 
by the person the defendant defended his or herself against; and 
2.  At least one piece of documentary evidence shall be a court 
record, presentence report, social services record, hospital record, 
sworn statement from a witness to the domesti c violence who is not 
the defendant, law enforcement record, domestic incident report, or 
order of protection.  Other evidence may include, but shall not be 
limited to, local jail records or records of the Department of   
 
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Corrections, documentation prepared at or near the time of th e 
commission of the offense or the prosecution thereof tending to 
support the claims of the person, or verification of consultation 
with a licensed medical care provider or mental health care 
provider, employee of a court acting within the scope of his or her 
employment, member of the clergy, attorney, social worker, or rape 
crisis counselor, or other advocate acting on behalf of an agency 
that assists victims of domestic abuse.  Expert testimony from a 
psychiatrist, psychologist, or mental health professio nal showing 
that the defendant has been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress 
disorder may also be submitted to the court as evidence. 
SECTION 7.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.6 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
If the applicant is unable to pay co urt costs and expenses of 
representation, the applicant shall include a n affidavit to that 
effect with the application, which shal l then be filed without 
costs. Counsel necessary in representation shall be made available 
to the applicant upon filing the ap plication and a finding by the 
court that such assistance is necessary t o provide a fair 
determination of sentencing relief. If an attorney is appointed to 
represent such an applicant then the fees and expenses of such 
attorney shall be paid from the court fund.  The attorney, if   
 
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appointed, shall be employed by the respective county 's indigent 
defense agency. 
SECTION 8.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.7 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A. Within thirty (30) days after the docketing of the 
application, the state may file an objection if the state has 
evidence that directly controverts the evidence of abuse submitted 
by the applicant or evidence that provides additi onal context to the 
battering relationship . In considering the application, the court 
shall take account of the substance of the application, regardless 
of any defects of form.  The court may also allow affidavits for 
good cause shown.  Depositions may be employed only when there is no 
other means of obtaining testimony. 
B.  When a court is satisfied, on the basis of the application, 
the answer or motion of respondent, and the record, that the 
applicant is not entitled to sentencing review and no purpose would 
be served by any fur ther proceedings, the court shall order the 
application dismissed or grant lea ve to file an amended application.  
Where such evidence exis ts in the record, an e videntiary hearing 
shall be ordered.  The judge assigned to the case sho uld not dispose 
of it on the basis of information within his or her personal 
knowledge not made a part of the record.   
 
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C.  The court may grant a motion by the state for summary 
disposition of the application when it appears from the response and 
pleadings that there is no genuine basis for seeking a sentencing 
review.  An order disposing of an applicatio n without a hearing 
shall state the findings and conclusions of the court regarding the 
issues presented. 
SECTION 9.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.8 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  If the applicant meets the evidentiary burden in the 
pleadings, the court shall conduct a sentencing review h earing at 
which time a record shall be made and preserved.  The court may 
receive proof by affidavits, depositions, oral testimony, or other 
evidence and may orde r the applicant to be brought before the court 
for the hearing.  Any live testimony shall be subject to direct and 
cross examination.  The state may present evidence only if it 
directly controverts the evidence of abuse offered by the applicant, 
or evidence that provides additional context to the battering 
relationship. A judge should not preside at such a hearing if his 
or her testimony is material.  The court shall make speci fic 
findings of fact regarding whether or not the applicant was a 
survivor of domestic abuse at the time of the criminal offense or 
within one (1) year prior to the offense and that the abuse was 
perpetrated by the person the defendant defended his or herself   
 
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against. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that 
the applicant is a survivor of domestic abuse, then the new 
sentencing range for the defendant shall be: 
1.  If the offense carries up to five (5) years, not more than 
three (3) years; 
2.  If the offense carries up to ten (10) years, not more than 
five (5) years; or 
3.  If the offense carries up to twenty (20) years, not more 
than seven (7) years. 
No matter the range for the offense , an applicant that meets the 
evidentiary burden by a preponderance of the evidence under this 
section shall not receive a sentence longer than ten (10) years. 
B.  The court shall amend the judgment and sentence of the 
applicant to the new sentence. The order issued by the court shall 
be a final judgment. 
SECTION 10.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.9 of Title 22, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows: 
If the court finds in the affirmative that the applicant was a 
survivor of domestic abuse at the time of the criminal offense or 
within one year prior to the offense and that the abuse was 
perpetrated by the person the defendant defended hi s or herself 
against, the court shall amend the judgment and sentence to re flect 
a new sentence consistent with that provided in Section 9 of this   
 
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act.  If the amended sentence reflects less time than the applicant 
has already served in the custody of the Department of Corrections, 
then the court shall als o issue an order of discharge for the 
applicant. The court shall enter any supplementary orders as t o 
time served, custody, bail, discharge, or other matters that may b e 
necessary and proper. 
SECTION 11.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.10 of Title 22, unless 
there is created a dup lication in numbering, read s as follows: 
All grounds for sentencing relief available to an applicant 
under the provisions of this act , shall be raised in his or her 
original or amended application.  Any ground previously adjudicated 
or not raised or knowingly, voluntar ily and intelligently waived in 
the proceeding that resulted in the conviction or sentence , or in 
any other proceeding the applicant has taken to secure relief, may 
not be the basis for a subsequent application. 
SECTION 12.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.11 of Title 22, unless 
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  A denied application or an amended judgment and sentence 
entered under the provisions of this act may be appealed to the 
Court of Criminal Appeals by the applicant or the state within 
thirty (30) days from the entry of the amended judgment and 
sentence.   
 
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B.  Upon motion of either party on filing a notice of intent to 
appeal, within ten (10) d ays of entering the amended judgment and 
sentence, the district cou rt may stay the execution of the amended 
judgment and sentence pending disposition on appeal; provided, 
however, the Court of Criminal Appeals may direct the vacation of 
the order staying the execution prior to final disposition of the 
appeal. 
SECTION 13.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1090.12 of Title 22, unless 
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A. 1. The Supreme Court is required to establish by rule, 
education and training requirements for judges, associate judges, 
special judges, and referees who preside over cases dealing with 
domestic violence. Rules shall include, but not be limited to, 
education and trainin g relating to domestic abuse, coercive control, 
trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, battered woman syndrome, 
survivor use of force, mental heal th treatment, and other similar 
topics. 
2. All judges who preside over cases dealing with domestic 
violence shall attend at least three (3) hours of training in such 
courses each calendar year relating to the topics described in 
paragraph 1 of this subsec tion. 
3.  The Administrative Director of the Courts shall be 
responsible for developing and administering p rocedures and rules   
 
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for such courses for judicial personnel, including monitoring the 
attendance of judicial personnel at such training. 
B. 1. Any district attorney, assistant district attorney, 
public defender, assistant public defender, attorney employ ed by or 
under contract with the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, court -
appointed attorney, or attorney employed by or under contract with a 
district court whose duties include domestic violence responsibility 
shall complete at least three (3) hours of education and training 
annually in courses relating to the topics described in paragraph 1 
of subsection A of this section.  The education and training 
requirements may be accomplished through a collaborative effort 
between the judiciary and others with dome stic violence 
responsibilities. 
2. Each judicial district shall be responsible for developing 
and administering procedures and rules for such course s for 
attorneys identified in paragraph 1 of this subsection whose duties 
routinely include domestic violen ce responsibilities.  The chief 
judge of each judicial district, or any designee judge with domestic 
violence case responsibilities, shall carry out this mandate within 
one (1) year of the effective date of this act. 
SECTION 14.     AMENDATORY     22 O.S . 2021, Section 982, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 982. A.  Whenever a person is convicted of a violent 
felony offense wheth er the conviction is for a single offense or   
 
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part of any combination of offenses, except when the death sentence 
is available as punishment for the of fense, the court may, before 
imposing the sentence, require a presentence investigation be made 
of the offender by the Department of Corrections.  The court shall 
order the defendant to pay a fee to the Department of Corrections of 
not less than Fifty Doll ars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred 
Dollars ($500.00) for the presentence investigation.  In hardship 
cases, the court may reduce the amount of the fee and establish a 
payment schedule. 
B.  Whenever a person has a prior felo ny conviction and enters a 
plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony offense other than a 
violent felony offense, without an agree ment by the district 
attorney regarding the sentence to be imposed, the court may order a 
presentence investigation be mad e by the Department of Corre ctions.  
The fee provided in subsection A of this section shall apply to 
persons subject to this subsectio n. 
C.  Whenever a person has entered a plea of not guilty to a 
nonviolent felony offense and is found guilty by a court fo llowing a 
non-jury trial, the court may require a presentence investigation be 
made by the Department of Corrections.  The fee provide d in 
subsection A of this section shall apply to persons subject to this 
subsection. 
D.  When conducting a presentence inv estigation, the Department 
shall inquire into the circumstances of the offense and the   
 
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characteristics of the offender.  The informati on obtained from the 
investigation shall include, but not be limited to, a voluntary 
statement from each victim of the off ense concerning the nature o f 
the offense and the impact of the offense on the victim and the 
immediate family of the victim, the amou nt of the loss suffered or 
incurred by the victim as a result of the criminal conduct of the 
offender, and the age, marita l status, living arrangement s, 
financial obligations, income, family history and education, prior 
juvenile and criminal records, prior abusive relationships, prior 
sexual assaults, prior experiences being human trafficked , 
associations with other persons c onvicted of a felony offense, 
social history, indications of a predisposition to violence or 
substance abuse, remorse or g uilt about the offense or the harm to 
the victim, job skills and employment history of the offender.  The 
Department shall make a repo rt of information from such 
investigation to the court, including a recommendation detailing the 
punishment which is deeme d appropriate for both the offense and the 
offender, and specifically a recommendation for or against probation 
or suspended sentence.  The report of the investigation shall be 
presented to the judge within a reasonable time, and upon failure to 
present the report, the judge may proceed with sentencing. 
Whenever, in the opinion of the court or the Department, it is 
desirable, the invest igation shall include a physical and mental   
 
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examination or either a physical or mental examination of the 
offender. 
E.  The district attorney may have a presentence investigation 
made by the Department on each person charged with a violent felony 
offense and entering a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere 
as part of or in exchange for a plea agreement for a violent fel ony 
offense.  The presentence investigation shall be completed before 
the terms of the plea agreement are finalized.  The court shall not 
approve the terms of any plea agreement without reviewing the 
presentence investigation report to determine whether or not the 
terms of the sentence are appropriate for both the offender and the 
offense.  The fee provided in subsection A of this sectio n shall 
apply to persons subject to this subsection and shall be a condition 
of the plea agreement and sentence. 
F.  The presentence investigation reports specified in this 
section shall not be referred to, or be considered, in any appeal 
proceedings.  Before imposing a sentence, the court shall advise the 
defendant, counsel for the defendant, and the district attorney of 
the factual contents and conclusions of the presentence 
investigation report.  The court shall afford the offender a fair 
opportunity to controvert the findings and conclusions of the 
reports at the time of sentencing.  If either the defendant or the 
district attorney desires, a hearing shall be set by the court to 
allow both parties an opportunity to offer evidence proving or   
 
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disproving any finding contained in a report, which shall be a 
hearing in mitigation or aggravation of punishment. 
G.  The required pre sentence investigation and report may be 
waived upon written waiver by the district attorney and the 
defendant and upon approval by th e Court. 
H.  As used in this section, "violent felony offense " means: 
1.  Arson in the first degree; 
2.  Assault with a da ngerous weapon, battery with a dangerous 
weapon or assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; 
3.  Aggravated assault and battery on a police officer, sheriff, 
highway patrol officer, or any other officer of the law; 
4.  Assault with intent to kill, or sh ooting with intent to 
kill; 
5. Assault with intent to commit a felony, or use of a firearm 
to commit a felony; 
6.  Assault while mask ed or disguised; 
7.  Burglary in the first degree or burglary with explosives; 
8.  Child beating or maiming; 
9.  Forcible sodomy; 
10.  Kidnapping, or kidnapping for extortion; 
11.  Lewd or indecent proposition or lewd or indecent acts with 
a child; 
12.  Manslaughter in the first or second degrees; 
13.  Murder in the first or second degrees;   
 
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14.  Rape in the first or second de grees, or rape by 
instrumentation; 
15.  Robbery in the first or second degrees, or robbery by two 
or more persons, or robbery with a d angerous weapon; or 
16.  Any attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit any of 
the above enumerated offenses. 
SECTION 15.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 
 
59-1-7851 GRS 03/01/23