Bill > HB3849

This bill modifies the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program, which is overseen by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, to expand its purpose and eligibility. The program will now aim to provide mentoring services not only to children of incarcerated parents who are in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) and placed outside the home or identified by OJA as at risk, but also to any child at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. The bill also updates the requirements for organizations applying to administer the program, including a reduction in the required years of experience serving children of incarcerated parents from five to three, and clarifies that the Commission can award one or more grants to eligible nonprofit organizations or programs that meet specific criteria, such as having a statewide or regional presence and providing ongoing training. The timeline for awarding these grants has also been adjusted, with the Commission now required to award them by November 1, 2024, and every third year thereafter, and the bill specifies an effective date of November 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3849&Session=2600