ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 2019 - Summary

• Grants the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) authority to investigate and prosecute larceny or theft of oil, gas, and oil field equipment, with power to appoint up to 20 special officers ("oil and gas investigators") for these investigations.

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Public Safety to appoint up to 20 additional special officers ("oil and gas investigators") to investigate oil and gas theft, requiring coordination with the OSBI Director.

• Creates two separate revolving funds ("OSBI Oil and Gas Theft Recovery Revolving Fund" and "DPS Oil and Gas Theft Recovery Revolving Fund") to be funded by administrative fines from oil and gas theft violations, with proceeds split 50% to counties and 50% to the respective agency funds.

• Empowers authorized peace officers to stop vehicles transporting oil, gas, or oil field equipment for inspection, and establishes forfeiture procedures for unlawful oil/gas and vehicles used in theft operations, with sales proceeds distributed to cover taxes, innocent parties, and investigation expenses.

• Establishes new criminal penalties including fines ($1,000-$10,000) and jail time for failing to stop for inspection or permitting seizure of unlawful materials; requires dealers and brokers to maintain detailed records of oil/gas and equipment transactions.

• Effective November 1, 2014.