Oklahoma Code § 21-701.10b

Title 21. Crimes And Punishments: Death sentence prohibited for defendants who were
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intellectually disabled prior to age 18 - Sentencing proceedings.
A.  For purposes of this section:
1.  "Intellectual disability" or "intellectually disabled" means
significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing
concurrently with significant limitations in adaptive functioning;
2.  "Significant limitations in adaptive functioning" means
significant limitations in two or more of the following adaptive
skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills,
community use, self-direction, health, safety, functional academics,
leisure skills and work skills; and
3.  "Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning"
means an intelligence quotient of seventy (70) or below.
B.  Regardless of any provision of law to the contrary, no
defendant who is intellectually disabled shall be sentenced to
death; provided, however, the onset of the intellectual disability
must have been manifested before the defendant attained the age of
eighteen (18) years.
C.  The defendant has the burden of production and persuasion to
demonstrate intellectual disability by showing significantly
subaverage general intellectual functioning, significant limitations
in adaptive functioning, and that the onset of the intellectual
disability was manifested before the age of eighteen (18) years.  An
intelligence quotient of seventy (70) or below on an individually
administered, scientifically recognized standardized intelligence
quotient test administered by a licensed psychiatrist or
psychologist is evidence of significantly subaverage general
intellectual functioning; however, it is not sufficient without
evidence of significant limitations in adaptive functioning and
without evidence of manifestation before the age of eighteen (18)
years.  In determining the intelligence quotient, the standard
measurement of error for the test administrated shall be taken into
account.
However, in no event shall a defendant who has received an
intelligence quotient of seventy-six (76) or above on any
individually administered, scientifically recognized, standardized
intelligence quotient test administered by a licensed psychiatrist
or psychologist, be considered intellectually disabled and, thus,
shall not be subject to any proceedings under this section.
D.  A defendant charged with capital murder who intends to raise
an intellectual disability as a bar to the death sentence shall
provide to the state notice of such intention at least ninety (90)
days after formal arraignment or within ninety (90) days after the
filing of a bill of particulars, whichever is later.  The notice
shall include a brief but detailed statement specifying the
witnesses, nature and type of evidence sought to be introduced.  The

notice must demonstrate sufficient facts that demonstrate a good-
faith belief as to the intellectual disability of the defendant.
E.  The district court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing to
determine whether the defendant is intellectually disabled.  If the
court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the
defendant is intellectually disabled, the defendant, if convicted,
shall be sentenced to life imprisonment or life without parole.  If
the district court determines that the defendant is not
intellectually disabled, the capital trial of the offense may
proceed.  A request for a hearing under this section shall not waive
entitlement by the defendant to submit the issue of an intellectual
disability to a jury during the sentencing phase in a capital trial
if convicted of an offense punishable by death.  The court's
determination on the issue of an intellectual disability shall not
be the subject of an interlocutory appeal.
F.  The court shall submit a special issue to the jury as to
whether the defendant is intellectually disabled.  This special
issue shall be considered and answered by the jury during the
sentencing stage and prior to the determination of sentence.  If the
jury unanimously determines that the defendant is intellectually
disabled, the defendant may only be sentenced to life imprisonment
or life without parole.  The defendant has the burden of production
and persuasion to demonstrate an intellectual disability to the jury
by a preponderance of the evidence.
G.  If the jury determines that the defendant is not
intellectually disabled or is unable to reach a unanimous decision,
the jury shall proceed to determine the existence of aggravating and
mitigating factors in determining whether the sentence of death
shall be imposed.  In those deliberations, the jury may consider any
evidence of an intellectual disability as a mitigating factor in
sentencing the defendant.
H.  If the jury determines that the defendant is not
intellectually disabled and imposes a death sentence, the trial
court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law relating to
the issue of whether the determination on the issue of an
intellectual disability was made under the influence of passion,
prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor.  The findings shall be
attached as an exhibit to the report of the trial judge required
under Section 701.13 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  If the
trial court finds that the determination of an intellectual
disability was not supported by the evidence, the issue may be
raised on appeal to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for
consideration as part of its mandatory sentence review.
I.  The standard of review for a trier of fact intellectual
disability determination shall be whether, after reviewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the state, any rational
trier of fact could have found the defendant not intellectually

disabled as defined by this section, giving full deference to the
findings of the trier of fact.
J.  The court shall give appropriate instructions in those cases
in which evidence of the intellectual disability of the defendant
requires the consideration by the jury of the provisions of this
section.

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