Oklahoma House Bill HB1047

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Children; relinquishment; abandonment; neglect; age; effective date.

Impact

The proposed changes directly amend 10A O.S. 2021, which relates to child relinquishment laws and expands the definition under which parents can relinquish their rights without criminal repercussions. Additionally, it modifies 21 O.S. 2021 to establish an affirmative defense against felony charges for parents who voluntarily hand over newborns to state-defined entities. This aims to align legal protections with the state's objectives of promoting child welfare and encouraging safe relinquishments, thus potentially decreasing the number of children left in unsafe situations.

Summary

House Bill 1047 addresses the procedures and legal ramifications surrounding the relinquishment of newborns in Oklahoma. The bill amends existing statutes to allow a parent to relinquish a child sixty days of age or younger without facing criminal charges for abandonment or neglect. This legal framework aims to provide a safe option for parents who may feel unable to care for their newborns, thereby reducing the risk of unsafe abandonments and enhancing child safety through designated channels such as medical service providers and child rescuers.

Contention

While the bill generally supports the welfare of children and facilitates safe options for relinquishment, it may encounter criticism regarding the implications of changing the age definition for abandonment and the roles of medical providers and child rescuers in these situations. Lawmakers and child advocacy groups might debate whether the modifications sufficiently protect the interests of the child and whether they adequately address the needs of parents, especially in providing support and counseling services to those contemplating relinquishment.