House Bill 1679 is named after First Lady Sarah Stitt because it was modeled after her work as Oklahoma was preparing for the commutation of hundreds of non-violent offenders. It would require the Department of Corrections to identify inmates within nine months of release and to begin gathering documentation like a state ID, vocational training records, work records and other items needed to help find employment. Stitt pushed for that kind of help during the 2019 commutation.
The House passed the “Sarah Stitt Act” unanimously.
HB 1679 is authored by Representatives Marilyn Stark and Brian Hill in hopes of helping those being released from prison to find a post-incarceration job.
“This legislation is especially important to me after having worked with people who were struggling, on the streets or living with friends, just trying to get food without an ID and only their prison ID to use for identification. Once a person has served their time, we need to do all we can to help them succeed. I truly believe this is a hand-up and not a hand-out, and working with Rep. Hill and the First Lady on this legislation has been truly rewarding.”
“The First Lady saw the need for a program to prepare people leaving incarceration to find a job, and her work has inspired and helped shape this legislation. I look forward to seeing the bill advance in the Senate and become a key part of our criminal justice reform efforts,” said Stark.
Hill says this legislation will help continue the momentum of criminal justice reform.
“Oklahoma has made significant strides to address criminal justice reform in the last few years. However, until we help individuals reenter the workforce and become contributing members of society, we will continue to see an extraordinarily high recidivism rate in our state,” Hill said. “House Bill 1679 is by no means the end-all-be-all, but it is a huge step forward to addressing this issue.”
HB 1679 now heads to the Senate.
