Phil Bacharach

The meeting focused on legislative strategy concerning the VASU Advisory Council statute and proposed sunrise language, with discussion centered on whether to pursue advocacy independently due to the Attorney General's Office's legislative workload. A path forward involved monitoring the bill tracker for an enrolled bill to attach the language. The Council also unanimously approved the previously finalized sunrise language contingent upon finding a willing author and sponsor, with the Attorney General's permission and Council participation. For the 2026 Advisory Council, members discussed the potential legislative environment shift post-elections regarding the pursuit of codifying oversight structure. Regarding the BIP Pilot Program, the new Consultant staff member was introduced, and the completed application was presented for review. Discussions covered MOU requirements for applicants, particularly concerning rural areas working with county-adjacent DV/SA programs, and concerns were raised about existing court-ordered compliance reviews for misdemeanors, suggesting a need for ongoing reviews. Judicial branch separation-of-powers concerns were noted regarding imposing requirements on judges or prosecutors through statutory language. A subcommittee chair position was temporarily filled, and next steps for reviewing original membership terms were established.

The 2025 report from the Oklahoma Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board fulfills its statutory mandate by evaluating and improving systems for processing sexual assault forensic evidence. It provides a comprehensive statistical analysis for 2025, covering the status of untested sexual assault kits, forensic analysis trends across state laboratories, and detailed demographics of victims and offenders. The report also includes key recommendations for the year 2025, focusing on establishing a permanently funded Statewide SANE Coordinator and addressing serial voyeurism as a registerable offense, with the aim of enhancing public safety, improving victim care, and ensuring accountability.

The agenda included discussions and possible actions regarding the LAP form, training, and revisions. Council members discussed FVPSA contract changes, data fields, and concerns about LAP reporting for programs serving undocumented victims. There was also discussion and possible action on the VASU Advisory Council statute and proposed sunrise language, as well as the 2025 rule review process. The council received program and VASU updates, including Fall BIP Facilitator Training dates, VINE transition to VINE Protect, and the Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy.

The meeting included an overview of the Human Trafficking Response Unit's structure and operations, along with discussion on legislative initiatives HB1886 and HB4210. The council discussed revisions to OAC Title 75, Chapter 25 concerning Batterers Intervention Programs, Chapter 30 concerning Adult Victims of Human Sex Trafficking Programs, and Chapter 15 concerning Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs. Additionally, they discussed updates to Chapter 1 regarding administrative standards and considered changes to the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP).

The meeting included updates on Sexual Assault Kit Initiatives from OSBI, OCPD, and TPD, focusing on backlog inventories, kits analyzed, test results, DNA profiles obtained, and CODIS entries. There was also an update and discussion on the Statewide SANE Program, including the coordinator position and advisory council. The board discussed Safe Board Statistics and Processes, including data requests and analysis. Recommendations and Evaluations Subcommittee addressed topics such as the Peeping Tom Bill, SANE Coordinator Funding, VPO Law, and Vital Statistics. The board also reviewed a case study to identify trends, strengths, and weaknesses in investigations. Communication Summary included a letter from an inmate. The board discussed the 2026 Meeting Schedule/Vision and Vacant Board Member Positions.