Fees; increasing sheriff's fee for certain service. Effective date. Emergency.
Summary
SB152 amends Oklahoma’s criminal cost statute to increase the sheriff’s fee for serving or attempting to serve writs, warrants, orders, process, commands, notices, or for pursuing fugitives from justice. The bill raises the fee from $50 to $150 for service within a county and from $50 to $150 for service outside the county, or alternatively allows mileage/actual necessary expenses when greater. It also makes conforming, technical updates to the statute’s wording and formatting.
The bill keeps the existing structure of criminal court costs and special assessments in place, including fees tied to traffic offenses, misdemeanors, felonies, DUI cases, court reporters, jury requests, and various dedicated funds. Those funds include the Law Library Fund, Oklahoma Court Information System Revolving Fund, Sheriff’s Service Fee Account, Attorney General Victim Services Unit, Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account, Oklahoma Impaired Driver Database Revolving Fund, and Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund. The measure also preserves provisions allowing electronic payment and the rule that criminal defendants generally are not required to prepay witness-service costs before conviction.
Impact
SB152 would directly increase the amount collected in criminal cases for sheriff service of process and fugitive pursuit, shifting more revenue to county sheriff service fee accounts and, in some cases, the issuing court clerk’s revolving fund. Because the sheriff’s fee is embedded in the broader criminal cost framework, the bill affects defendants convicted in criminal cases and the agencies that receive earmarked portions of court-collected fees. The bill also updates statutory language in 28 O.S. Section 153 without changing the overall fee-collection scheme or the list of dedicated funds.
Sentiment
The available legislative record shows little public debate or recorded vote history, so sentiment must be inferred from the bill’s posture and text. The measure appears to be a straightforward fee increase with an emergency clause, suggesting an intent to move it quickly and to support law-enforcement-related service costs. No committee transcript or vote data is available in the provided materials to indicate organized opposition or support.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the increase in the sheriff’s service fee, which raises criminal court costs for defendants and could be viewed as a higher financial burden on people convicted of offenses. Supporters would likely frame the change as necessary to cover the cost of serving process, pursuing fugitives, and supporting courthouse security and sheriff operations. Because the bill also preserves and routes money to multiple special funds, any concern about fee stacking or the overall cost of criminal convictions could be another issue, but no specific objections are documented in the provided record.
Notaries public; requiring certain national criminal history record check; increasing certain fees and bond requirements for commission. Effective date.