Bill > HB1863

This bill modifies Oklahoma's Children's Code to enhance the functioning of multidisciplinary child abuse teams (MDTs) across the state. The bill requires district attorneys to develop MDTs in each county, composed of professionals from various fields including mental health, law enforcement, medical services, child protective services, and child advocacy centers. The teams' functions are expanded to include conducting joint investigations of child abuse cases, developing written protocols for investigating and interviewing child victims, and increasing communication and collaboration among professionals involved in child abuse cases. A key innovation is the creation of a secure database by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, which will be used to collect case information, facilitate case management, enable programmatic evaluations, and help identify trends in child abuse cases. The bill also strengthens requirements for team training, case review processes, and reporting, with the goal of improving the efficiency of child abuse investigations while minimizing stress on child victims. The new provisions aim to create a more coordinated and effective approach to addressing child abuse, with an emphasis on inter-agency cooperation and comprehensive case management. The bill will become effective on November 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1863&Session=2600