Earlier this month, Rep. Hasenbeck saw one of her bills, House Bill 3640, pass the House Judiciary Civil Committee. The proposed measure would create the Oklahoma Domestic Abuse Survivorship Act, which would require the courts to consider abuse in sentencing for cases of the murder of domestic partners.
A legislative press release outlined that HB 3640 would require at least one proof of evidence, such as a sworn statement from a witness to domestic violence, an order of protection, or a record from the court, social services, law enforcement or hospital. If evidence reveals that abuse occurred within one year before the offense, the court can depart from the applicable sentence.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Health, 40% of Oklahoma women and 38% of Oklahoma men have experienced violence, rape or stalking from an intimate partner at least once in their lives.
Attorney General Genter Drummond wrote in a mid-February press release that Oklahoma has consistently been ranked in the top 10 states of women murdered by men in single-victim/ single-offender incidents since 1996. The most recent state rankings place Oklahoma as second in the nation for women killed by men.
Hasenbeck’s district, District 65, includes Comanche and Caddo counties. In the current legislative session Hasenbeck has authored and co-sponsored 33 bills.