Bill > HB1581

This bill makes significant changes to Oklahoma's child abuse multidisciplinary team system by creating a new Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council to oversee and guide child abuse investigations and support. The bill removes the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth from its previous oversight role and replaces it with a new eight-member council composed of representatives from various child welfare and law enforcement organizations. The council will be responsible for establishing investigation guidelines, reviewing training curricula, developing model protocols for child abuse investigations, collecting data, and approving functioning multidisciplinary teams across the state. The bill modifies funding mechanisms for child advocacy centers, shifting administrative responsibilities from the Commission on Children and Youth to the Department of Human Services and a nationally accredited Children's Advocacy Centers association. Additionally, the bill simplifies requirements for multidisciplinary teams, removing some previous reporting and documentation obligations while emphasizing collaboration between different agencies involved in child abuse investigations. These changes aim to streamline and improve the coordination of child abuse investigation and support services in Oklahoma, with a focus on creating more effective and standardized approaches to protecting children.

Budget and Finance

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1581&Session=2600