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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
February 11, 2025
SENATE BILL NO. 523 By: Weaver
An Act relating to sheriffs; amending 19 O.S. 2021,
Section 547, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 325,
O.S.L. 2024 (19 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 547), which
relates to deputizing c ertain persons; authorizing
submission of certain resolution to board of county
commissioners; stating resolution criteria;
authorizing certain duties for certain peace
officers; stating certain liability and
responsibilities; requiring certain resolution; and
providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 19 O.S. 2021, Section 547, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 325, O.S.L. 2024 (19 O.S. Supp. 2024,
Section 547), is amended to read as follows:
Section 547. A. The sheriff shall be responsible for the
official acts of the undersheriff and deputy sheriffs, and may
revoke such appointments at the pleasure of the sheriff; provided,
however, for counties with a population of five hundred thousand
(500,000) or more persons, according to the latest Federal Decennial
Census, with the exception of chief deputies and undersheriffs, all
deputy sheriffs and detention officers shall serve a five -year
probationary period during whic h the deputy sheriff or detention
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officer shall be considered an at -will employee. After the five -
year probationary period, such deputy sheriff or detention officer
shall not be discharged except for just cause. The sheriff or the
undersheriff may in wri ting depute certain persons to do particular
acts.
B. Each sheriff may appoint as many reserve force deputy
sheriffs as are necessary to preserve the peace and dignity of the
county. A current list of each person holding such appointment
shall be maintained by the county sheriff and shall be available to
the public. Reserve force deputy sheriffs may perform duties which
encompass a particular act or a series of acts. The sheriff or a
Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training -certified deputy
sheriff shall accompany a reserve fo rce deputy sheriff in the
performance of all duties assigned to such reserve force deputy
sheriff unless such reserve deputy has completed the required two -
hundred-forty-hour basic police course. Reserve force deputies may
receive compensation for their services. The sheriff may pay
reserve force deputies for travel expenses pursuant to the State
Travel Reimbursement Act. Such reserve deputy sheriffs shall
complete a two-hundred-forty-hour basic police course within six ( 6)
months after they have been co mmissioned to be paid by the county as
an individual reserve deputy. The sheriff may pay for additional
training courses attended by reserve force deputies.
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C. Reserve force deputy sheriffs shall not serve more than one
hundred forty (140) hours per calendar month.
D. The sheriff or a designee may deputize municipal police
officers subject to an interlocal governmental agreement to combine
city and county law enforcement efforts and to encourage cooperation
between city and county law enforcement officia ls. Liability for
the conduct of any municipal police officers deputized under the
terms and conditions of an interlocal governmental agreement shall
remain the responsibility of their municipal employer.
E. The sheriff may enter into mutual aid agreements pursuant to
the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Section 1002 et seq. of Title 74 of
the Oklahoma Statutes, to assist or provide law enforcement services
to any town, city, and county within this state and the sheriff and
deputies shall have law enforcement authority within the
jurisdiction making the request. The employing governmental unit
shall remain responsible for their officers or deputies pursuant to
any mutual aid agreement.
F. A sheriff of the county may respond to any request from any
other jurisdiction within the state for law enforcement assistance
in cases of emergency. The sheriff, deputy sheriffs , and reserve
deputy sheriffs serving in response to the emergency request shall
have the same powers and duties as though employed by the requestin g
law enforcement agency, and when so acting they shall be deemed to
be acting within the scope of employment of the requesting law
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enforcement agency. Salaries, insurance , and other benefits shall
be provided in the regul ar manner by the county in which the
sheriff, deputy sheriffs , and reserve deputy sheriffs are regularly
employed. As used in this subsection, “emergency” means a sudden
and unforeseeable occurrence or condition, either as to its onset or
its extent, of such severity or magnitude that im mediate response or
action is necessary to assist law enforcement agencies having
jurisdiction at the scene of the emergency to carry out their
functions.
G. A reserve force deputy sheriff shall be authorized to serve
civil process pursuant to Section 2004 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma
Statutes.
H. The sheriff may contract with a private security firm that
meets the requirements set forth in Sections 1750.1 through 1750.14
of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes to guard any de tainee or
prisoner temporarily ho used for treatment in a medical facility
outside the confines of the jail. No private security firm may
transport a prisoner to or from an outside medical facility.
Transportation of a prisoner is only to be conducted by the sheriff
or deputy sheriff.
I. 1. Any sheriff of a county in which an event is occurring
and which the sheriff believes will require additional resources
than are normally available to the sheriff shall seek and submit
approval of a resolution to the board of county commissioners
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requesting permission to contract with the sheriff of another county
to provide the needed additional resources. The resolution shall
include information pertaining to the event including, but not
limited to, the event name, location, duration, and additional
resources needed.
2. Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or reserve deputy sheriff
assigned to work an event outside of his or her county of employment
shall have the same powers and duties as though employed by the
sheriff of the county in which the event tak es place. Liability for
the conduct of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or reserve deputy
sheriff, while in the performance of duties during such event or any
activity in conjunction with the event, shall remain the
responsibility of the employing county. Salaries, insurance, and
other benefits shall be provided in the regular manner by the county
in which the sheriff, deputy sheriff, or reserve deputy sheriff is
regularly employed.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
February 11, 2025 - DO PASS