Bill > HB1965

This bill modifies Oklahoma's Children's Code with several key provisions aimed at improving child welfare and juvenile justice processes. The bill requires more individualized and comprehensive service plans for children in foster care, mandating that these plans consider parents' work schedules, transportation, and other practical circumstances. It introduces time-limited reunification services, specifying that such services must be provided for 15 months after a child enters foster care, and requires the district attorney to file a petition for termination of parental rights if parents have not corrected the circumstances leading to the child's deprived status after that period. The bill also expands procedures for terminating parental rights, adding more nuanced considerations such as the child's relationship with current caregivers, the child's age and preferences, and specific circumstances that might prevent termination. Additionally, the bill mandates diversion services for first-time juvenile offenders and requires the Office of Juvenile Affairs to evaluate and publicly report recidivism rates for children who receive these services, while ensuring that published data cannot identify specific individuals. The bill also updates language around guardianship, emphasizing a preference for relatives when appointing guardians for minors, and makes several technical corrections and clarifications to existing statutes related to child welfare and juvenile justice.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1965&Session=2600