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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
February 20, 2024
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 325 By: Daniels
An Act relating to criminal prosecutions; am ending 22
O.S. 2021, Sections 812.1 and 812.2, which relate to
the right to speedy trial; modifying time limits for
conducting certain criminal proceedings; updating
statutory references; limiting number of continuances
on certain grounds; adding permissible grounds for
delay of certain proceedings; increasing frequency of
certain required review; updati ng statutory language;
and providing an eff ective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 22 O.S. 2021, Section 812.1, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 812.1. A. If any person charged with a crime and held
in jail solely by reason thereof is not brought to trial within one
(1) year after arrest nine (9) months after the person’s initial
appearance on the charge, the court shall set the case for immediate
review as provided in Section 2 812.2 of this act title, to
determine if the right of the accused to a speedy trial is being
protected.
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B. If any person charged with a felony crime who is held to
answer on an appearance bond is not brou ght to trial within ei ghteen
(18) months after arrest initial appearance, the court shall set the
case for immediate review as provided in Section 2 812.2 of this
act, title to determine if the right of the accused to a speedy
trial is being protected.
C. In the event a mistri al is declared or a convic tion is
reversed on appeal, the time l imitations provided for in this
section shall commence to run from the date the mistrial is declared
or the date of the mandate of the Court of Criminal Appeals.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 22 O.S. 2021, Section 812.2, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 812.2. A. Whenever the court finds that a case should
be reviewed to determine if the right of an accused to a speedy
trial is being protected, the court shall:
1. Issue notice to the District Attorney district attorney, the
accused, and the attorney for the accuse d that the case will be
reviewed by the court at a date and time which is not less than ten
(10) days nor more than twenty (20) days from the date of the
notice. Each party shall have the opportunity to present evide nce
or legal authority in support of it s position; and
2. Take evidence from both parties regard ing the
appropriateness of the cause for the delay. At the hearing, the
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court shall consider whethe r the delay has occurred f or any of the
following reasons:
a. the delay is the result of due to the application of
the accused or an attorney on behalf of the accused,
b. the delay is the result of due to the fault of the
accused or the attorney for the ac cused,
c. the accused is incompetent to stand trial,
d. a proceeding to determine the competency o f the accused
to stand trial is pending and a determinatio n cannot be
completed within the time limitations fixed for trial,
e. there is material evidence or a material witness which
is unavailable and that reasonable efforts have been
made to procure such evidence or witness, and there are
reasonable grounds to believe that suc h evidence or
witness can be obtained and trial commenced within a
reasonable time,
f. the accused is charged as a codefendant or
coconspirator and the court has determined that the
codefendants or coconspirators must be tried before
separate juries taken from separate jury panels,
g. the court has other cases pending for trial that are
for persons incarcerated pr ior to the case in question,
and the court does not have sufficient time to commence
the trial of the case within the time limitation fixed
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for trial; provided, no more than three conti nuances of
not more than thirty (30) days may be ordered pursuant
to this subparagraph,
h. the court, state, accused, or th e attorney for the
accused is incapable of proceeding to trial due to
illness or other reason and it is unreasonable to
reassign the case, and
i. no court reporter is available for the trial o f the
case; provided, if the delay is pursuant to this
subparagraph, a court reporter shall be assigned for
trial within sixty (60) days of the hearing,
j. a continuance is granted to allow the prosecuti on
additional time to prepare in a felony cas e if the
court enters specific findings that additional time is
justified due to exceptional circumstances, and
k. due to other reasonable grounds the court does not have
sufficient time to commence the trial of the case
within the time limit fi xed for trial; provided, no
more than one continuance of not more than thirty (30)
days may be ordered pursuant to this subparagraph .
B. If, after After hearing all the evidenc e and the legal
arguments properly submitted, if the court finds by a prepon derance
of the evidence that the state is not proceeding with due diligence,
that none of the exceptions set out in paragraph 2 of subsection A
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of this section justify additional delay and the right of the
accused to a speedy tr ial as provided in this section and Section
812.1 of this title has been violated, the court shall dismiss the
case.
C. If a preliminary hearing has been held, the case may be
refiled, unless the applicable statute of limitations has expired,
upon a showing of newly disc overed evidence which could not have
been discovered prior to trial, unless the applicable statute of
limitations has expired.
D. If a preliminary hearing has not been held, the case may be
refiled, upon good cause shown , unless any applicable statute of
limitations has expired.
E. If, after After hearing all the evidence a nd the legal
arguments properly submitted, if the court finds that the right of
the accused to a speedy trial has not bee n violated, the court shall
set the case for review in four (4) within three (3) months. If the
case is still pending after the four-month three-month period, the
court shall conduct another review within thirty (30) days. The
four-month review of pending cases every thirty (30) days shall be a
continuing responsibil ity of the court until final disposition of
the case.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
February 20, 2024 - DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS