Lawmakers consider burglary charge

Oklahoma law could soon have three levels of burglary offenses under a bill that was under consideration in the conference committee stage Thursday.

Senate Bill 786 would create third-degree burglary as an option for prosecutors. Someone could be prosecuted under the new statute if they break into and enter any vehicle, trailer or boat with the intent to steal any property or commit a felony.

That definition previously was lumped into second-degree burglary, which now only covers breaking and entering into an unoccupied building.

The bill also reduces the punishment for felony burglary crimes. Previously, seconddegree burglary could get a suspect between two and seven years in prison. The new, proposed version of the law would keep the hard cap of seven years on second-degree burglary, but eliminate the mandatory minimum sentence.

For burglary in the third degree, defendants would face a sentence of no more than five years behind bars.

The bill is one of several under consideration this year that would eventually lower Oklahoma’s prison population. There is no comprehensive fiscal estimate for how much money it could save the state, but prisoners each cost taxpayers $52.90 per day and nearly $20,000 a year to incarcerate.

It is part of a deal between the governor, legislative leaders and state prosecutors that was announced earlier this month. Like the other bills in the deal, Senate Bill 786 stalled last year in committee.

The bill became open for signatures during a hearing of the House Conference Committee on the Judiciary on Thursday. If it receives enough signatures from committee members, it can advance to the House and Senate floors.

Author state Rep. Ben Loring, D-Miami, said that because of the light legislative week due to spring break, there weren’t enough members present at the meeting to give it final approval for floor consideration. Lawmakers can still sign onto the conference committee report, however.