HB 1423 Summary

• Amends 21 O.S. 2011, Section 455 to expand witness intimidation and tampering prohibitions to include preventing or attempting to prevent any person from producing records, documents, or other objects (previously limited to testimony only).

• Expands the crime to apply to witnesses who make reports of abuse or neglect under Section 1-2-101 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes or Section 10-104 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

• Changes penalty language from "State Penitentiary" to "custody of the Department of Corrections" for both sections of the crime, maintaining the 1-10 year felony sentence range.

• Updates gendered pronouns to include gender-neutral language ("his or her" rather than "his").

• Effective date: November 1, 2013.