HB 1559 Summary

• Amends 12 O.S. 2001, Section 2502 regarding attorney-client privilege in Oklahoma civil procedure.

• Modifies the exception to attorney-client privilege for communications between public officers/agencies and their attorneys by allowing disclosure to multicounty grand juries and grand juries conducting investigations related to removal or criminal actions.

• Clarifies that accidental disclosure of privileged communications does not waive privilege if reasonable steps were taken to prevent and rectify the disclosure.

• Establishes that disclosing privileged information to government agencies does not waive privilege with non-governmental parties unless the disclosure was intentional and concerns the same subject matter.

• Effective date: November 1, 2011.