Oklahoma House Bill HB1856

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

State government; Oklahoma 10-8 Fund; grant program; Office of the Attorney General; revolving fund; appropriation; effective date.

Impact

The program created by HB1856 has a significant financial underpinning, starting with an appropriation of $20 million from the State General Revenue Fund. This revolving fund is designed to provide ongoing financial support for the Oklahoma 10-8 Fund Grant Program. The funds can be utilized exclusively for grants awarded to qualified peace officers, which emphasizes the intent of the bill to stabilize and professionalize law enforcement in the state by addressing the issue of staffing shortages.

Summary

House Bill 1856 establishes the Oklahoma 10-8 Fund Grant Program, a new initiative directed by the Office of the Attorney General aimed at supporting the state's law enforcement personnel through financial assistance. The bill defines key terms, such as 'in-service' and 'peace officer', and details the qualifications necessary for law enforcement officers to apply for grants. This support primarily targets newly hired peace officers, incentivizing agencies to fill vacant positions, ultimately seeking to enhance professional law enforcement standards throughout Oklahoma.

Contention

One of the critical aspects of the law is the prohibition against law enforcement agencies reducing existing salaries as a result of receiving grant funding. This provision aims to ensure that the financial aid directly benefits the officers without impacting their regular salary structures. The bill also stipulates that new peace officers can receive grants of either $10,000 or $5,000 based on their agency's recruitment needs, strictly conditioned upon their hiring date and compliance with training mandates, which may create complications for different jurisdictions depending on budget scenarios.