SB 497 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma criminal procedure law regarding acts committed by persons with mental illness or mental defect, including verdicts of "guilty with mental defect" or "not guilty by reason of mental illness"

• Creates a 7-member Forensic Review Board appointed by the Governor to determine eligibility for therapeutic visits, conditional release, or discharge of individuals confined by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

• Requires the Forensic Review Board to provide notice to the district attorney at least 45 days before meeting to determine eligibility for therapeutic visits, conditional release, or discharge

• Board meetings are closed to the public and limited to specified individuals including the person under review, their treatment team, Department officials, and legal counsel

• Becomes effective November 1, 2025