Pardon and Parole Board; increasing member compensation. Effective date.
Summary
SB 1347 increases the compensation for members of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and clarifies that board positions are full-time rather than voluntary or part-time. The bill amends the statute governing board compensation to raise the chair’s annual pay from $24,800 to $80,000 and other members’ annual pay from $22,800 to $70,000, while also increasing the amounts paid for meeting preparation and regular monthly board meetings.
The bill also keeps and reinforces attendance-based accountability rules. A member who misses one board meeting in a calendar year without a justifiable excuse loses the monthly compensation for that period, and missing two or more meetings may be treated as official misconduct and grounds for removal under existing state law and constitutional procedures. The act is set to take effect November 1, 2026.
Impact
SB 1347 would amend 57 O.S. 2021, Section 332.4, substantially changing the compensation structure for the Pardon and Parole Board and expressly classifying board service as full-time. It would affect the chair and all board members by increasing salary and per-meeting payments, and it would continue to tie compensation and continued service to attendance and misconduct standards under Oklahoma law, including removal procedures referenced in Title 51 and the Oklahoma Constitution.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was introduced as a compensation and classification update for the Pardon and Parole Board and advanced to Appropriations, but there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials. Based on the text alone, the measure appears administrative rather than controversial in purpose, though the large salary increases and full-time designation could draw scrutiny because they significantly change the status and pay of board members.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the size of the compensation increase, especially the jump to $80,000 for the chair and $70,000 for members, along with the shift to full-time status. Supporters would likely view this as aligning pay with responsibilities and clarifying expectations, while critics may question the cost, the need for full-time designation, or whether the board’s attendance and removal rules are sufficient safeguards. The bill’s strict attendance penalties and misconduct/removal provisions may also be debated as either necessary accountability measures or overly punitive.