Read the full stored bill text
Req. No. 15354 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
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
HOUSE BILL 3354 By: Williams
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to prisons and reformatories;
amending 57 O.S. 2021, Section 510, as amended by
Section 1, Chapter 202, O.S.L. 2022 (57 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 510), which relates to powers and
duties of the Director of the Department of
Corrections; updating language; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 57 O.S. 2021, Section 510, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 202, O.S.L. 2022 (57 O.S. Supp. 2025,
Section 510), is amended to read as follows:
Section 510. A. The Director of the Department of Corrections
shall have the following specific powers and duties relating to the
penal institutions:
1. To appoint, subject to the approval of the State Board of
Corrections, a warden for each penal institution;
2. To fix the duties of the wardens and to appoint and fix the
duties and compensation of such other personnel for each penal
Req. No. 15354 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
institution as may be necessary for the proper operation thereof.
However, correctional officers hired after November 1, 1995, shall
be subject to the following qualifications:
a. the minimum age for service shall be twenty (20) years
of age. The Director shall have the authority to
establish the maximum age for correctional officers
entering service,
b. possession of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours
from an accredited college or university, or
possession of a high school diploma acquired from an
accredited high school or GED equivalent testing
program,
c. satisfactory completion of minimum testing or
professional evaluation through the Merit System of
Personnel Administration to determine the fitness of
the individual to serve in the position. All written
evaluations shall be submitted to the Department of
Corrections, and
d. satisfactory completion of a physical in keeping with
the conditions of the job description on an annual
basis and along the guidelines as established by the
Department of Corrections;
3. The Director shall designate as correctional peace officers,
correctional officers who are employed in job classifications of
Req. No. 15354 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
correctional security officer, correctional security manager,
correctional chief of security and chief of security upon
satisfactory completion of a basic course of instruction for
correctional officers, as provided for in paragraph 4 of this
subsection. The peace officer authority of employees designated as
correctional peace officers shall be limited to: maintaining
custody of prisoners; preventing attempted escapes; pursuing,
recapturing and incarcerating escapees and parole or probation
violators and arresting such escapees, parole or probation
violators; serving warrants; carrying firearms; preventing
contraband from entering any penal institution; arresting
individuals who commit crimes at any penal institution; and
performing any duties specifically required for the job
descriptions. Such powers and duties of correctional peace officers
may be exercised for the purpose of maintaining custody, security,
and control of any prisoner being transported inside and outside
this state as authorized by the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act and
the Interstate Corrections Compact. The Director may implement
policies that place additional limitations on the authority of
correctional peace officers. The Director shall issue an
identification card to each correctional peace officer that
identifies the person as a correctional peace officer and grants the
person the authority to carry a firearm and make arrests pursuant to
this paragraph. Should a correctional peace officer terminate
Req. No. 15354 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
employment for any reason, fail to remain qualified as a
correctional peace officer or for reasons stated in policies of the
Department, the correctional peace officer shall return the
identification card to the supervisor of the correctional peace
officer immediately;
4. To develop and implement, upon approval of the State Board
of Corrections, a basic course of instruction for correctional
officers that consists of a training academy that provides not less
than two hundred (200) hours of core curriculum instruction and a
firearms training program that provides not less than twenty (20)
hours of instruction. The basic course of instruction shall be
subject to the following:
a. the minimum qualifying score that must be shot to pass
the firearms training program shall be equal to the
minimum qualifying score required by the Council on
Law Enforcement Education and Training for peace
officers, and
b. the Director may waive any number of hours or courses
required to complete the basic course of instruction
for any person who, in the opinion of the Director,
has received sufficient training or experience that
such hours of instruction would be unduly burdensome
or duplicative; however, completion of the firearms
training program shall not be waived;
Req. No. 15354 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
5. To develop and implement annual in-service training for
correctional officers that consists of at least forty (40) hours of
continued corrections education and annual recertification of
firearms proficiency. The minimum qualifying score that must be
shot to requalify for recertification of firearms proficiency shall
be equal to the minimum qualifying score required by the Council on
Law Enforcement Education and Training for the requalification of
peace officers;
6. To require any person employed as a correctional security
officer, correctional security manager, correctional chief of
security, and chief of security to remain qualified as a
correctional peace officer. Any correctional peace officer who is
unable to remain qualified as a correctional peace officer may be
offered an available position within the Department in the same or
lesser pay grade for which the employee is eligible, or the employee
may be terminated. When an employee who is commissioned as a
correctional peace officer by the Department voluntarily moves into
a position which does not require correctional peace officer status,
the Director may allow the employee to maintain his or her
correctional peace officer status;
7. To authorize other employees of the Department to carry
firearms anywhere in the state to use for self-defense pursuant to
and consistent with policies developed by the Department upon
satisfactory completion of the firearms training program provided
Req. No. 15354 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
for in paragraph 4 of this subsection. The Director shall issue an
identification card to each authorized employee that grants the
employee the authority to carry a firearm pursuant to the provisions
of this paragraph. Should an authorized employee terminate
employment for any reason, fail to remain qualified to carry a
firearm, or for reasons stated in the policies of the Department,
the authorized employee shall immediately return the identification
card to the supervisor of the employee and shall no longer be
authorized to carry firearms under the authority of this paragraph;
8. To maintain such industries, factories, plants, shops,
farms, and other enterprises and operations, hereinafter referred to
as prison industries, at each penal institution as the State Board
of Corrections deems necessary or appropriate to employ the
prisoners or teach skills, or to sustain the penal institution; and
as provided for by policies established by the State Board of
Corrections, to allow compensation for the work of the prisoners,
and to provide for apportionment of inmate wages, the amounts thus
allowed to be kept in accounts by the Board for the prisoners and
given to the inmates upon discharge from the penal institution, or,
upon an order, paid to their families or dependents or used for the
personal needs of the prisoners. Any industry that employs
prisoners shall be deemed a "State Prison Industry" if the prisoners
are paid from state funds including the proceeds of goods sold as
authorized by Section 123f of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Req. No. 15354 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
Any industry in which wages of prisoners are paid by a
nongovernmental person, group, or corporation, except those
industries employing prisoners in work-release centers under the
authority of the Department of Corrections, shall be deemed a
"Private Prison Industry";
9. To assign residences at each penal institution to penal
institutional personnel and their families;
10. To provide for the education, training, vocational
education, rehabilitation, and recreation of prisoners;
11. To regulate the operation of canteens for prisoners;
12. To prescribe rules for the conduct, management, and
operation of each penal institution including rules for the demeanor
of prisoners, the punishment of recalcitrant prisoners, the
treatment of incorrigible prisoners, and the disposal of property or
contraband seized from inmates or offenders under the supervision of
the Department;
13. To transfer prisoners from one penal institution to
another;
14. To establish procedures that ensure inmates are educated
and provided with the opportunity to execute advance directives for
health care in compliance with Section 3101.2 of Title 63 of the
Oklahoma Statutes. The procedures shall ensure that any inmate
executing an advance directive for health care is competent and
executes the directive with informed consent;
Req. No. 15354 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
15. To maintain courses of training and instruction for
employees of the Department;
16. To maintain a program of research and statistics;
17. To provide for the periodic audit, at least once annually,
of all funds and accounts of each penal institution and the funds of
each prisoner;
18. To provide, subject to rules established by the State Board
of Corrections, for the utilization of inmate labor for any agency
of the state, city, town, or subdivision of this state, upon the
duly authorized request for such labor by the agency. The inmate
labor shall not be used to reduce employees or replace regular
maintenance or operations of the agency. The inmate labor shall be
used solely for public or state purposes. No inmate labor shall be
used for private use or purpose. Insofar as it is practicable, all
inmate labor shall be of such a nature and designed to assist and
aid in the rehabilitation of inmates performing the labor;
19. To provide clerical services for, and keep and preserve the
files and records of, the Pardon and Parole Board; make
investigations and inquiries as to prisoners at the penal
institutions who are to be, or who might be, considered for parole
or other clemency; assist prisoners who are to be, or who might be,
considered for parole or discharge in obtaining suitable employment
in the event of parole or discharge; report to the Pardon and Parole
Board, for recommendation to the Governor, violations of terms and
Req. No. 15354 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
conditions of paroles; upon request of the Governor, make
investigations and inquiries as to persons who are to be, or who
might be, considered for reprieves or leaves of absence; report to
the Pardon and Parole Board, for recommendation to the Governor,
whether a parolee is entitled to a pardon, when the terms and
conditions of the parole have been completed; make presentence
investigations for, and make reports thereof to, trial judges in
criminal cases consistent with other laws of the state; supervise
persons on felony probation or parole; and develop and operate,
subject to the policies and guidelines of the Board, work-release
centers, community treatment facilities or prerelease programs at
appropriate sites throughout this state;
20. To establish an employee tuition assistance program and
promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedures
Act for the operation of the program. The rules shall include, but
not be limited to, program purposes, eligibility requirements, use
of tuition assistance, service commitment to the Department,
reimbursement of tuition assistance funds for failure to complete
course work or service commitment, amounts of tuition assistance and
limitations, and record keeping;
21. To establish an employee recruitment and referral incentive
program and promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative
Procedures Act for the operation of the program. The rules shall
include, but not be limited to, program purposes, pay incentives for
Req. No. 15354 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
employees, eligibility requirements, payment conditions and amounts,
payment methods, and record keeping;
22. To provide reintegration referral services to any person
discharged from the state custody who has volunteered to receive
reintegration referral services. The Director may assign staff to
refer persons discharged from state custody to services. The
Director shall promulgate rules for the referral process. All
reintegration referral services shall be subject to the availability
of funds;
23. To conduct continual planning and research and periodically
evaluate the effectiveness of the various correctional programs
instituted by the Department; manage the designing, building, and
maintaining of all the capital improvements of the Department;
establish and maintain current and efficient business, bookkeeping,
and accounting practices and procedures for the operations of all
penal institutions and facilities, and for the Department's fiscal
affairs of the Department; conduct initial orientation and
continuing in-service training for the Department employees; provide
public information services; inspect and examine the condition and
management of state penal and correctional institutions; investigate
complaints concerning the management of prisons or alleged
mistreatment of inmates thereof; and hear and investigate complaints
as to misfeasance or nonfeasance of employees of the Department;
Req. No. 15354 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
24. To authorize any division of the Department to sell
advertising in any Department-approved publication, media production
or other informational material produced by the Department;
provided, that such advertising shall be approved by the Director or
designee prior to acceptance for publication. The sale of
advertising and negotiation of rates for the advertising shall not
be subject to The Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act or the
Administrative Procedures Act. The Department shall promulgate
rules establishing criteria for accepting or using advertisements as
authorized in this paragraph;
25. To issue subpoenas to assist or further investigations into
allegations of crimes committed in public or private prisons within
this state. Subpoenas issued by the Director shall be enforced by
the District Court in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma;
26. To authorize award of the badge of an employee who dies
while employed by the Department to the spouse or next of kin of the
deceased employee;
27. To establish, in conjunction with the Information Services
Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, an
emergency alert notification system for the public, capable of
distributing notifications of facility emergencies or prisoner
escapes for all facilities and each facility of the Department of
Corrections;
Req. No. 15354 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
28. To declare an emergency when, due to shortage of staff,
correctional officers at a facility are required to work more than
two double shifts in a seven-day period. As used in this paragraph,
"double shift" means two eight-hour shifts in a twenty-four-hour
period; and
29. To enter into contracts with media or film production
companies to allow the Department to authorize a media or film
production company to shoot commercial films at penal institutions
and other property under the control of the Department. Any funds
received pursuant to said contracts shall be deposited into the
Department of Corrections Revolving Fund.
B. When an employee of the Department of Corrections has been
charged with a violation of the rules of the Department or with a
felony pursuant to the provisions of a state or federal statute, the
Director may, in the Director's his or her discretion, suspend the
charged employee, in accordance with the Oklahoma Personnel Act
and/or or the Merit System of Personnel Administration Rules,
pending the hearing and final determination of the charges. Notice
of suspension shall be given by the Director, in accordance with the
provisions of the Oklahoma Personnel Act. If after completion of
the investigation of the charges, it is determined that such charges
are without merit or are not sustained before the Oklahoma Merit
Protection Commission or in a court of law, the employee shall be
Req. No. 15354 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
reinstated and shall be entitled to receive all lost pay and
benefits.
This subsection shall in no way deprive an employee of the right
of appeal according to the Oklahoma Personnel Act.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
60-2-15354 GRS 01/03/26