Hose Bill 1235 was introduced into the Oklahoma House by Mike Osburn (R) Oklahoma County on January 18, 2017. It was passed by the House May 11, 2017. Passed the Senate April, 2017 and was signed by the Governor May 17, 2017
HB1235: “SERVICE SHALL BE MADE AS FOLLOWS: UPON AN INMATE IN A COUNTY JAIL OR DETENTION CENTER UNDER THE JURISDICTION AND CONTROL OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF OR THE JAIL TRUST OF THE COUNTY BY DELIVERING A COPY OF THE SUMMONS AND OF THE PETITION TO THE JAIL OR DETENTION CENTER ADMINISTRATOR OR THE DESIGNEE OF SUCH ADMINISTRATOR OF THE JAIL OR DETENTION CENTER WHERE THE INMATE IS HOUSED.”
AS YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE COUNTIES NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS FOR SOME YEARS WAS TULSA AND OKLAHOMA COUNTIES. A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE ALLOWED TO SERVE IN THOSE JAILS BUT RECENTLY CERTAIN SHERIFF’S OFFICES THOUGHT THEY WOULD MAKE MONEY IF THEY REFUSED TO LET US SERVE IN THE JAILS. OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT NOT TO BE A TRUE FACT BUT WE KNOW IT TO BE FICTION. THIS IS NOT THE CASE NOW AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK DONE BY OUR ASSOCIATION AND OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE HELPED PASS THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO ALL PROCESS SERVERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT LIVE IN ONE OF THE COUNTIES REFUSING SERVERS TO SERVE PROCESS IN THEIR JAILS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THOSE JAILS WHEN YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME FROM OUT OF COUNTY TO DO SO IN THE IMMEDIATE PAST. ALL SERVERS IN THIS STATE ARE AFFECTED BY LEGISLATION WHETHER IT IS IN YOUR COUNTY OR NOT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS LEGISLATION.
ANN POLLARD
PRESIDENT