HB 4151 — Domestic abuse; directing law enforcement officers to conduct interviews regarding domestic abuse; codification; effective date.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

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The bill enhances the investigatory protocols and victim support services regarding domestic abuse-related deaths.

• 63 O.S. 2021, Section 938

  A. All human deaths of the types listed herein shall be investigated as provided by law: 1. Violent deaths, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal, including suicide where the deceased had a history of being victimized by domestic abuse, or accidental;

  This amendment clarifies that all violent deaths involving victims of domestic abuse will now be investigated.

• 63 O.S. 2021, Section 938

  C. If the circumstances surrounding a death known or suspected to be suicide affords a reasonable basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to domestic abuse by another, the coroner may conduct the inquiry in consultation with a board-certified pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology.

  This change allows for coroner inquiries into suspicious deaths related to domestic abuse to involve pathologist consultations.

• A. Prior to making any findings as to the manner and cause of death of a deceased individual with an identifiable history of being victimized by domestic abuse, and in the presence of three or more factors provided for in subsection B of this section, law enforcement investigators shall interview family members, such as parents, siblings, or other close friends or relatives of the decedent with relevant information regarding the history of domestic abuse.

  This provision mandates interviews with family members for deceased individuals who were victims of domestic abuse before concluding the cause of death.

• B. Law enforcement investigators may request a complete autopsy in a case where they have determined there is an identifiable history of being victimized by domestic abuse and any of the following conditions are present: 1. The decedent died prematurely or in an untimely manner; 2. The scene of the death gives the appearance of a death due to suicide or an accident; 3. The decedent or partner of the decedent wanted to end the relationship; 4. There is a history of being victimized by domestic abuse that included coercive control; 5. The decedent is found dead in a home or place of residence; 6. The decedent is found by a current or previous partner of the decedent; 7. There is a history of being victimized by domestic abuse that includes strangulation or suffocation; 8. The current or previous partner of the decedent, child of the decedent, or child of the current or previous partner of the decedent, is the last to see the decedent alive; 9. The partner of the decedent had control of the scene before law enforcement arrived; or 10. The body of the decedent had been moved or the scene or other evidence was altered in some way.

  This new guideline allows investigators to request autopsies when specific conditions indicative of domestic abuse are met.

• D. During the pendency of the investigation and any review, family members shall have access to all victim services and support provided under the Oklahoma Victim's Rights Act.

  This provision grants family members access to victim services during investigations.

• E. In the event that a local law enforcement agency makes a finding that the death is not a homicide and closes the case, family members or legal representation of the family members shall have the right to request any and all records of the investigation currently available, as provided for in Section 942 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

  This gives family members the right to access investigative records if the case is closed without determining homicide.

• F. The provisions of this section shall not require law enforcement agencies to compromise an existing or open investigation and shall not preempt the discretion provided to law enforcement agencies in the investigation of death cases. This section shall not impose any additional liability on a law enforcement agency for its investigation of existing cases or its investigative conclusions in those cases.

  It clarifies that law enforcement agencies retain discretion without incurring liability during the investigation.

• G. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: 1. "Domestic abuse" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. "Identifiable history of being victimized by domestic abuse" means demonstrable past incidents of being victimized by domestic abuse that may be verified by prior police reports, written or photographic documentation, restraining order declarations, eyewitness statements, or other evidence that corroborates a history of such incidents; and 3. "Partner" means a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, fiancé, someone with whom the decedent had a dating relationship or engagement for marriage, or the parent of the child of the decedent.

  New definitions clarify terminology related to domestic abuse and victimization.

Action History

1. February 03, 2026

   Second Reading referred to Rules

2. February 02, 2026

   Authored by Representative Hasenbeck

3. February 02, 2026

   First Reading

Sponsors

• Toni Hasenbeck · Primary

Subjects