Bill > SB1796

This bill allows foster parents in Oklahoma to use various arrangements for temporary care of children in their custody, with specific guidelines and time limits. It defines an "alternate caregiver" as an approved individual who can provide care for up to fourteen consecutive days, and an "informal care arrangement" as occasional care by friends, neighbors, or relatives for up to seventy-two hours. Foster parents must notify the Department of Human Services before using any of these arrangements and must identify at least one, but no more than two, approved alternate caregivers who have undergone thorough background checks, including criminal history, child welfare records, and a home evaluation. The bill also authorizes approved foster families to provide "respite care," which is short-term care to give foster parents a break, and requires foster parents to use a "reasonable and prudent parent standard" when selecting informal caregivers, ensuring they are safe and capable of meeting the child's needs. The Director of Human Services is directed to create rules to implement these provisions, and the act will take effect on November 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1796&Session=2600