Read the full stored bill text
Req. No. 3027 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
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)
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 27 By: Goodwin
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amendment to Section 10 of
Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution; requiring
vote of the people to clarify voting procedures of
the Pardon and Parole Board; updating language;
providing ballot title; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2ND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Section 10 of Article VI of the
Oklahoma Constitution to read as follows:
Section 10. There is hereby created a Pardon and Parole Board
to be composed of five (5) members;: three to be appointed by the
Governor;, one by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;, and one
by the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court of Appeals or its
successor. An attorney member of the Board shall be prohibited from
representing in the courts of this state persons charged with felony
Req. No. 3027 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
offenses. The appointed members shall hold their offices
coterminous with that of the Governor and shall be removable for
cause only in the manner provided by law for elective officers not
liable to impeachment. It shall be the duty of the Board to make an
impartial investigation and study of applicants for commutations,
pardons or paroles, and by a majority vote make its recommendations
to the Governor of all persons deemed worthy of clemency. Provided,
the Pardon and Parole Board shall have no authority to make
recommendations regarding parole for persons sentenced to death or
sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Where an applicant has received a sentence of death, a
recommendation by the Board for clemency that results in a tie vote
shall not constitute a denial of the recommendation.
Where the applicant has received a sentence of death, in the
absence of a regularly appointed Board member, or when a regularly
appointed Board member has recused from voting due to an alleged
conflict of interest, alternate Board members shall be available to
vote on a recommendation for clemency when necessary to break a tie
vote. There shall be seven alternate members of the Pardon and
Parole Board: three alternate members appointed by the Governor,
two alternate members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, and two alternate members appointed by the Presiding Judge of
the Criminal Court of Appeals or its successor. Alternate members
of the Board shall be prioritized according to the preferences of
Req. No. 3027 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
the appointing authority and shall meet the same appointment
qualifications and criteria as regularly appointed Board members.
In cases where the utilization of an alternate member is necessary
to vote on a recommendation for clemency, the alternate member
selected shall represent the same appointing authority as that of
the Board member who is absent or has recused from voting and shall
have no less than one hundred eighty (180) days to review the
investigation and application for clemency.
The Pardon and Parole Board by majority vote shall have the
power and authority to grant parole for nonviolent offenses after
conviction, upon such conditions and with such restrictions and
limitations as the majority of the Pardon and Parole Board may deem
proper or as may be required by law. The Pardon and Parole Board
shall have no authority to grant but may recommend parole for
persons sentenced pursuant to Section 13.1 of Title 21 of the
Oklahoma Statutes or the exceptions to nonviolent offenses as
defined by Section 571 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
The Governor shall have the power to grant, after conviction and
after favorable recommendation by a majority vote of the Pardon and
Parole Board, commutations, pardons and paroles for all offenses,
except cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and with such
restrictions and limitations as the Governor may deem proper,
subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Provided,
the Governor shall not have the power to grant paroles if a person
Req. No. 3027 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
has been sentenced to death or sentenced to life imprisonment
without parole. The Legislature shall have the authority to
prescribe a minimum mandatory period of confinement which must shall
be served by a person prior to being eligible to be considered for
parole. The Governor shall have power to grant after conviction,
reprieves or leaves of absence not to exceed sixty (60) days,
without the action of the Pardon and Parole Board.
The Governor shall communicate to the Legislature, at each
regular session, each case of reprieve, commutation, parole or
pardon granted, stating the name of the person receiving clemency,
the crime of which the person was convicted, the date and place of
conviction, and the date of commutation, pardon, parole or reprieve.
The Pardon and Parole Board shall communicate to the
Legislature, at each regular session, all paroles granted, stating
the names of the persons paroled, the crimes of which the persons
were convicted, the dates and places of conviction, and the dates of
paroles.
SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
Req. No. 3027 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
This measure amends Section 10 of Article 6 of the Oklahoma
Constitution. It states that a tie vote on a recommendation for
clemency shall not be considered a denial of clemency. It
allows for alternate members of the Pardon and Parole Board to
be selected and used under certain circumstances. It states
that seven alternate members shall be selected and when an
alternate member is required to serve, the alternate member
shall be from the same appointing authority as the Board member
who cannot serve. It also allows the alternate member time to
review the investigation and application for clemency.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, prepare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2
hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
60-2-3027 CN 1/12/2026 1:18:29 PM