Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2023-19

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 1:2023-19

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2023-19

I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power and authority vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, hereby order the creation of the MODERN (Modernizing Operations through Data and Evidence-based Restoration Now) Justice Task Force until February 2, 2024.

The Task Force shall study, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding policies and programs and propose legislation that will:

1. Protect lives and property;

2. Respect and support victims of crime;

3. Deter criminal activity;

4. Enhance and establish diversion programs, including alternative sentencing, supervision, and treatment options;

5. Reduce recidivism;

6. Reduce Oklahoma's incarceration rate and associated costs consistent with these goals;

7. Increase the cost-effectiveness of our state and local justice systems through expanding the use of technology;

8. Apply resources toward high performing strategies to increase public safety; and

9. Improve any other aspects of Oklahoma's justice system.

The Task Force shall submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives a report on or before December 29, 2023, detailing its findings and recommendations.

The Task Force shall be composed of eleven (11) members determined as follows:

1. The Secretary of Public Safety or designee;

2. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives or designee;

3. The President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate or designee;

4. The Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or designee;

5. A District Attorney for a county or district with a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or less as determined by the latest Federal Decennial Census, to be selected by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;

6. The Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts or designee;

7. A sheriff of a county with a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or more as determined by the latest Federal Decennial Census, to be selected by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate;

8. A public defender to be selected by the Administrative Director of the Courts;

9. A retired district judge to be selected by the Presiding Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals;

10. Someone with demonstrated knowledge of successful diversion programs, with a specific emphasis on programs in rural areas, to be selected by the Secretary of Public Safety; and

11. A crime victims advocate to be selected by the Secretary of Public Safety.

The Secretary of Public Safety or designee shall serve as the Chair of the Task Force and shall have the authority to create committees and name committee chairs to facilitate the work of the Task Force and shall have the authority to appoint Task Force members and non-members to serve on committees. The Task Force shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the Chair allowing for timely completion of its work. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Task Force. Members, including those appointed to committees who are not members of the Task Force, shall serve without compensation.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall provide staff and administrative support for the Task Force. Technical assistance will be provided by the Crime and Justice Institute as a part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. All Executive departments, officers, agencies, and employees of the State shall cooperate with the Task Force, including providing any information, data, records, and reports as may be requested.

This Executive Order shall be distributed to each member of the Task Force specifically identified herein and to each person appointed to a Task Force committee and to the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate and the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 11th day of July, 2023.

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. Kevin Stitt

ATTEST:

Brian Bingman

Secretary of State

Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2023-19

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 22, August 1, 2023, eff. 7/11/2023