Req. No. 3270 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) SENATE BILL 1933 By: Floyd AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to sexual assault; creating the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board; establishing duties, powers, and responsib ilities of the Board; providing for use of executive sessions by the Board; subjecting Board to the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act ; requiring submission of certain reports to certain entiti es; providing for membership; providing for qualificat ions for Board members; stating appointment terms; establishing Board procedures for election of chair and vice chair; establishing meeting frequency; stating quorum; allowing for certain reimbursement; requiring Office of the Attorney General to provide c ertain support; amending 25 O.S. 2021, Section 307, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 182, O.S.L. 2022 (25 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 307) , which relates to executive sessions; authorizing executive sessions for certain entity; updating statutory reference; 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 Sec tion 143 of Title 21, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Req. No. 3270 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. There is hereby created the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board within the Office of the Attorney General. The Board shall have the power and duty to: 1. Examine the process for gathering and ana lyzing sexual assault forensic evidence kits in this state and work with members of the Legislature to draft proposed legislati on to improve the response of medical and law enforcement systems to sexual assault; 2. Develop a plan for the prioritization and acceptance of untested sexual assault foren sic evidence kits identified in the statewide audit conducted by the Board; 3. Identify possible procedures for the testing of anonym ous sexual assault evidence kits; 4. Identify possible improvements for victim access to evidence other than sexual assault fore nsic evidence kits including, but not limited to, police reports and o ther physical evidence; 5. Identify additional rights of victims conce rning the sexual assault forensic evidence kits testing process; 6. Identify and pursue grants and other fun ding sources to address untested sexual assault forensic evidence ki ts, reduce testing wait times, pro vide victim notification, and i mprove efficiencies in the kit testing process ; and 7. Develop a comprehensive training plan for equipping and enhancing the work of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and multidisciplinary Req. No. 3270 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Sexual Assault Response Teams (SAR Ts) across all jurisdictions within this state. B. In carrying out its duties and responsibilities, the Boar d shall: 1. Promulgate rules establishing criteria for the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence subject to specific, in -depth review by the Board; 2. Establish and maintai n statistical information related to sexual assault forensic evidence collectio n including, but not limited to, demographic and medical diagnostic informa tion; 3. Establish procedures for obtaining initial information regarding the collection of sexual as sault forensic evidence from medical and law enforcement entities; 4. Review the policies, practices, and procedures of the medical and law enforcement systems and make specific recommendations to the enti ties comprising the medical and law enforcement systems for actions necessary to improve such systems; 5. Review the extent to w hich the medical and law enforcement systems are coordinated and evaluate whether the state is efficiently discharging its sexual assault forensic evidence collection responsibilities; 6. Request and obtain a copy of all records and reports pertaining to sexual assault forensic evidence including, but not limited to: Req. No. 3270 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. hospital records, b. court records, c. local, state, and fed eral law enforcement records, d. medical and dental records, and e. emergency medical service records . Confidential information p rovided to the Board shall be maintained by the Board in a confidential man ner as otherwise required by state and federal law. Any person damaged by discl osure of such confidential information by the Board or its members which is not authorized by law may maintain an action for damages, costs, and attorney fees pursua nt to The Governmental Tort Claims Act ; 7. Maintain all confid ential information, d ocuments, and records in possession of the Board as confidential and not subject to subpoena or discovery in any civil or criminal proceedings; provided, however, such information , documents, and records otherwise available from other sources shall not be exempt from subpoena or discovery through such sources solely because such information, documents, and records were presented to or reviewed by the Board; and 8. Exercise all incidental powers necessary and proper fo r the implementation and administration of the Sexual Assault Forens ic Evidence (SAFE) Board. C. The review and discussion of individual cases of sexual assault evidence collection shall be conducted in executive session. Req. No. 3270 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 All discussions of individual cases and any writings produced by or created for the Board in the cou rse of determining a remedial measure to be recommended by the Board, as the result of a review of an individual case of sexual assault evidence collection, shall be privileged and shall not be admissible i n evidence in any proceeding. All other business shall be conducted in accord ance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeti ng Act. The Board shall periodically conduct meetings to discuss organization and business matters and any actions or recommendations aimed at improvement of the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence which shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. D. The Board shall submit an annual statistical re port on the incidence of sexual assault forensic e vidence collection in this state for which the Board has complete d its review during the past calendar year including its recommendations, if an y, to medical and law enforcement systems. The Board shall also prepare and make available to the public an annual report containing a summary of the activities of the Board re lating to the review of sexual assault forensic evidence collection and an evaluation of wh ether the state is efficiently discharging its sexual assault forensic evidence collection responsibilities. The report shall be completed no later than February 1 of the subsequent year. Req. No. 3270 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new sectio n of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 143.1 of Title 21, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board shall consist of eighteen (18) members, or their designees, as follows: 1. Nine of the members shall be: a. the Chief of the Victim Services Unit within the Office of the Attorney General, b. the Director of the Oklahoma S tate Bureau of Investigation, c. the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Sheriff s’ Association, d. the Chief of the Oklahoma City Poli ce Department, e. the Chief of the Tulsa Police Department , f. the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, g. the Executive Coordinator of the District Attorneys Council, h. the Executive Director of the Native Alliance Against Violence, and i. the Executive Director of the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training; and 2. Nine of the members shall be appointed by the Attorney General, shall serve for terms of two (2) years , and shall be Req. No. 3270 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 eligible for reappointment. The members shall be persons having training or experience in matters related to sexual assault. The appointed members shall include: a. two individuals of which one is a survivor of sexual assault who has experience wit h sexual assault forensic evidence kit collection and the other is a survivor of sexual assault committed in this state who has participated in the justice system process, b. a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner selected from a list of three names submitted by the Oklahoma Nurses Association, c. a chief of a municipal police department selected from a list of three names submitted by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Polic e, d. a county sheriff selected from a list of three names submitted by the execu tive board of the Oklahom a Sheriffs’ Association, e. an attorney from an office of public defenders with criminal defense experience from a list of three names submitted by the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System or other public defenders organization , f. an advocate of sexual assault victims from a community-based organization, Req. No. 3270 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 g. a representative of the Administra tive Office of the Courts who is familiar with data coding and run ning queries, and h. a person with experience seeking and applying for grants and other private funding. B. Every two (2) years the Board shall elect from among its membership a chair and a vice chair. The Board shall meet at least quarterly and may meet more frequently as necessary as dete rmined by the chair. Ten members or their designees, as specified in subsection A of this section, shall constitute a quorum. C. Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary travel out of funds available t o the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to the State Tra vel Reimbursement Act; provided, that the reimbursement shall be paid in the case of state employee members by the agency employing the member. D. The Office of the Attorney General shall provide administrative assistance and servi ces to the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Board with funds appropriated or other wise available for that purpose. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 25 O.S. 2021, Section 307, as amended by Section 1, Cha pter 182, O.S.L. 2022 (25 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 307), is amended to read as follows: Section 307. A. No public body shall hold executive sessions unless otherwise specifically provided in this section. Req. No. 3270 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. Executive sessions of pub lic bodies will be permitted only for the purpose of: 1. Discussing the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any individual sa laried public officer or employee; 2. Discussing negotiations concerning employe es and representatives of employee groups; 3. Discussing the purchase or appraisal of rea l property; 4. Confidential communications bet ween a public body and its attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim, or action i f the public body, with the a dvice of its attorney, determines that disclosure will seriously impair the ability of the public body to process the claim or conduct a pending investigation, litigation, or proceeding in the public interest; 5. Permitting district boards of education to hear evidence and discuss the expulsion or suspension of a student when requested by the student involved or the student’s parent, attorney or legal guardian; 6. Discussing matters involving a specific handicapped child; 7. Discussing any matter where d isclosure of information would violate confidentiality req uirements of state or federal law; 8. Engaging in deliberations or rendering a final or intermediate decision in an individual proceeding pursuant to Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act ; Req. No. 3270 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9. Discussing matters involving safety and security at state penal institutions or corr ectional facilities used to house state inmates; 10. Discussing contract negotiation s involving contracts requiring approval of the State Board of Corrections, which shall be limited to members of the public body, the attor ney for the public body, and the immediate staff of the public body. No person who may profit directly or indirectly by a proposed transaction which is under consideration may be present or partici pate in the executiv e session; or 11. Discussing the following: a. the investigation of a plan or scheme to commit an act of terrorism, b. assessments of the vulnerability of government facilities or public improvements to an act of terrorism, c. plans for deterrence or prevention of or protection from an act of terrorism, d. plans for response or remediation after an act of terrorism, e. information technology of the public b ody but only if the discussion specifically identifies: Req. No. 3270 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (1) design or functional schematics that demo nstrate the relationship or connections between devices or systems, (2) system configuration information, (3) security monitoring and response equipment placement and configuration, (4) specific location or placement of systems, components or devices, (5) system identification numbers, names, or connecting circuits, (6) business continuity and disaster planning, or response plans, or (7) investigation inform ation directly related to security penetrations or denial of services, or f. the investigation of an act of terrorism that has already been committed. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “terrorism” means any act encompassed by the definitions se t forth in Section 1268.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of this section, the following public bodies may hold executive sessions: 1. The State Banking Board, as provided for under Section 306.1 of Title 6 of the Oklahoma Statutes; Req. No. 3270 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority, as provided for in Section 854 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 3. The Oklahoma Dev elopment Finance Authority, as provided for in Section 5062.6 of Title 74 of the Okla homa Statutes; 4. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, as provided for in Section 5060.7 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 5. The Oklahoma Health Research Committee for purposes of conferring on matters pertaining to res earch and development of products, if public disclosure of the matter discussed w ould interfere with the development of patents, copyrights, products, or services; 6. The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission for the purposes provided for in Section 20 of Titl e 85A of the Oklahoma Statutes; 7. A review committee, as provided for in Section 855 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 8. The Child Death Review Board for purposes of receiving and conferring on matters pertaining to materials declared confidential by law; 9. The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board as provided in Section 1601 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 10. The Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board, a s provided in Section 2-1001 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes; Req. No. 3270 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 11. All nonprofit foundations, boards, bureaus, commissions, agencies, trusteeships, auth orities, councils, committees, public trusts, task forces or s tudy groups supported in whole or par t by public funds or entrusted with the expendi ture of public funds for purposes of conferring on matters pertaining to economic development including the transfer of property, financing, or the creation of a proposal to entice a business to remain or to l ocate within their jurisdiction if public disc losure of the matter discussed would interfere with the development of products or services or if public disclosure would violate the confidentiality of the business; 12. The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System B oard for purposes of discussing negotiating st rategies in connection with making pos sible counteroffers to offers to contract to provide legal representation to indigent criminal defendants and indigent juveniles in cases for which the System must provide representation pursuant to the provisions of the Indigent Defense Act; 13. The Quality Investment Committee for purposes of discussing applications and conf idential materials pursuant to the terms of the Oklahoma Quality Investment Act; 14. The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority established pursuant to Section 24-101 et seq. of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes and in its role as an electric utility regulate d by the federal government, for purposes of discussing security plans and procedures including, but not limited to, cybersecurity matters; and Req. No. 3270 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15. The Oklahoma Tax Commis sion for purposes of discussing confidential taxpayer matters as provided in Secti on 205 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and in compliance w ith subsection E of this section; and 16. The Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board as provided in Section 1 of this act . D. Except as otherwise specified in this subsection, an executive session for the purpose of discussing the purchase or appraisal of real property shall be limite d to members of the public body, the attorney f or the public body and the immediate staff of the public body. No landowner, real estate salesperson, broker, developer or any other person who may profit directly or ind irectly by a proposed transaction concerning real property which is under consideration may be present or participate in the execut ive session, unless they are operating under an existing agreement to represent the public body. E. No public body may go into an executive session unless the following procedures are strictly complied with: 1. The proposed executive session is noted on the agenda as provided in Section 311 of this title; 2. The executive session is authorized by a majority vote of a quorum of the members present and the vote is a recorded vote; and 3. Except for matters con sidered in executive sessions of the State Banking Board and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, and which are Req. No. 3270 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 required by state or fede ral law to be confidential, any vote or action on any item of business considered in an executive session shall be taken in public meeting with t he vote of each member publicly cast and recorded. F. A willful violation of the provisions of this section shall: 1. Subject each member of the public body to criminal sanctions as provided in Section 314 of this title; and 2. Cause the minutes and all other records of the executive session including tape recordings, to be immediately made public. SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-3270 CN 1/18/2024 12:05:37 PM