Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB423 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	SB423 HFLR Page 1
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	3	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 1 1
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29		-	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
30		-
31		-	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
32		-
33		-	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
34		-
35	28		ENGROSSED SENATE
36	29		BILL NO. 423 By: Pugh of the Senate
37	30
38	31		and
39	32
40		-	Roe and Crosswhite Hader of
41		-	the House
42		-
	33	+	Roe of the House
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47	38		An Act relating to children; amending 10 O.S. 2021,
48	39		Section 7505-3.2, which relates to costs expended by
49	40		adoptive family; increasin g allowable amount for
50	41		certain expenses; updating statutory reference;
51	42		amending 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2-109, which
52	43		relates to relinquishment of child to medical
53	44		services provider or child rescuer ; increasing
54	45		certain age limit; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section
55	46		851, which relates to desertion of children;
56	47		increasing certain age l imit; and providing an
57	48		effective date.
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63	54		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKL AHOMA:
64	55		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10 O.S. 2021, Section 7505 -3.2, is
65	56		amended to read as follo ws:
66	57		Section 7505-3.2. A. 1. An affidavit shall be attached to the
67	58		petition for adoption, or may be filed after the filing of the
68	59		petition for adoption, but prior to the fin al decree of adoption,
69	60		which discloses to the court all of th e costs, funds, or m onies
	61	+	expended by the adoptive family or expected to be expended in
	62	+	connection with the adoption of a minor.
	63	+	2. No final decree of adoption s hall be entered until the court
	64	+	is satisfied that all costs and expenses have been disclosed, are
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71		-	SB423 HFLR Page 2
72		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	66	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 2 1
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97		-	expended by the adoptive family or expected to be expended in
98		-	connection with the adoption of a minor.
99		-	2. No final decree of adoption s hall be entered until the court
100		-	is satisfied that all costs and expenses have been disclosed, are
101	91		reasonable, and that the costs and expenses do not violate the
102	92		provisions of subsection B of this section. Upon its review of the
103	93		affidavit of monies expende d, the court shall in writing dis approve
104	94		any expenditure that the court deems unreasonable or in violation of
105	95		Sections 865 through 870 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Stat utes and,
106	96		to the extent necessary to comply with Oklahoma law, shall order
107	97		reimbursement of any consideration given in vio lation of Sections
108	98		865 through 870 of Title 21 of the Oklahom a Statutes. Payment s made
109	99		pursuant to this section shall not be a violat ion of Sections 865
110	100		through 870 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Court approval of
111	101		the affidavit of monies expended shall not exempt a person, attorney
112	102		or licensed child-placing agency from prosecution if the information
113	103		provided to the court is frau dulent or false.
114	104		B. 1. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the
115	105		following list of adoption-related costs and expenses specified in
116	106		this paragraph may be deemed proper i tems for a person to pay in
117	107		connection with an adoption:
118	108		a. reasonable attorney fees and court costs,
119	109		b. reasonable medical expenses for birth mother and minor
120	110		to be adopted,
	111	+	c. reasonable adoption counseling expenses for birth
	112	+	parents before and after the birth of the minor, not
	113	+	to exceed six (6) months from placement of the m inor,
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122		-	SB423 HFLR Page 3
123		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	115	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 3 1
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148		-	c. reasonable adoption counseling expenses for birth
149		-	parents before and after the birth of the minor, not
150		-	to exceed six (6) months from placement of the m inor,
151	140		d. reasonable fees of a licensed child -placing agency,
152	141		including social services st aff fees provided by
153	142		agency employees that include:
154	143		(1) casework services,
155	144		(2) adoptive child and family studies,
156	145		(3) placement services,
157	146		(4) certification of agency facilities,
158	147		(5) admission assessments, and
159	148		(6) service planning,
160	149		e. (1) reasonable and necessary living expenses of the
161	150		birth mother that are incurred during the
162	151		adoption planning proc ess or during the
163	152		pregnancy, not to exceed two (2) months after the
164	153		birth of the minor or after the consent or
165	154		relinquishment of the birth mother. Reasonable
166	155		and necessary living expenses includ e but are not
167	156		limited to:
168	157		(a) housing expenses,
169	158		(b) utilities, such as electric, gas, water, or
170	159		telephone bills,
	160	+	(c) food for the birth mother and any minor
	161	+	child of the birth mother residing in the
	162	+	home of the birth mother ,
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172		-	SB423 HFLR Page 4
173		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	164	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 4 1
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198		-	(c) food for the birth mother and any minor
199		-	child of the birth mother residing in the
200		-	home of the birth mother ,
201	189		(d) travel expenses for transpo rtation to
202	190		support the pregnancy, such as gasoline, bus
203	191		fares, or providing for t he temporary use of
204	192		a vehicle during the pregnancy, and
205	193		(e) child care or foster care for any minor
206	194		child of the birth mother associated with
207	195		pregnancy-related medical care ., and
208	196		(2) Reasonable reasonable and necessary living
209	197		expenses shall not include :
210	198		(a) any expenses met by existing resources of
211	199		the birth mother,
212	200		(b) any expenses used for the support of family
213	201		members who are not minor children of the
214	202		mother,
215	203		(c) any expenses for rec reational or leisure
216	204		activities, and
217	205		(d) the purchase or gift of an automobile,
218	206		f. reasonable expenses for a home study,
219	207		g. reasonable and necessary costs associated with an
220	208		international adoption,
	209	+	h. reasonable expenses legally r equired by any
	210	+	governmental entity related to the adoption of a
	211	+	minor, and
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222		-	SB423 HFLR Page 5
223		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	213	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 5 1
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248		-	h. reasonable expenses legally required by any
249		-	governmental entity related to the adoption of a
250		-	minor, and
251	238		i. a one-time gift to the birth mother from the
252	239		prospective adoptive parents of no greater value than
253	240		One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
254	241		2. In addition, all expenses approved by the co urt should be
255	242		commensurate with other customary fees for similar services by
256	243		persons of equivalent experience and training where the services are
257	244		performed. Any serv ices provided outside this state shall be
258	245		allowed in an amount as if the services had been performed within
259	246		the State of Oklahoma.
260	247		3. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to living and
261	248		transportation expenses incurred after the biological mother of the
262	249		minor contacts the child -placing agency or attorney for adoption
263	250		services.
264	251		4. The provisions of this subsect ion shall not prohibit a court
265	252		from extending any time period, or in cluding any additional costs
266	253		and expenses in connection with an adoption other than those
267	254		specified in this subsection based on unusual circumstances or need.
268	255		If additional costs and expe nses in connection with an adoption are
269	256		approved by the court, the c ourt shall specify in writing the
270	257		unusual circumstances that justify the approval.
	258	+	5. Except as otherwise ordered by the court except for good
	259	+	cause shown, all payments made pursuant to t his section shall be
	260	+	paid directly to the third -party provider of se rvices or goods. Any
	261	+	living expense paid on behalf of a birth mother in a domestic
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272		-	SB423 HFLR Page 6
273		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	263	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 6 1
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298		-	5. Except as otherwise ordered by the court except for good
299		-	cause shown, all payments made pursuant to t his section shall be
300		-	paid directly to the third -party provider of se rvices or goods. Any
301		-	living expense paid on behalf of a birth mother in a domestic
302	288		adoption which is not supported by an itemized receipt shall not be
303	289		allowed for payment. If gift cards are issued to pay expenses, an
304	290		itemized receipt verifying purchases shall be required for approval
305	291		by the court. The accounting shall inclu de vouchers for all monies
306	292		expended, copies of all checks written and receipts for all cas h
307	293		payments attesting to th e accuracy of the accounting.
308	294		6. No person, attorney or licensed ch ild-placing agency shall
309	295		have a financial interest in a third -party provider of services or
310	296		goods, without disclosing in an affidavit the financial interest to
311	297		the court and the other part ies to the adoption.
312	298		C. Any person, attorney, or licensed child -placing agency
313	299		desiring to pay living and transportation expenses on behalf of a
314	300		birth mother is authorized to expend an initial amount not to exceed
315	301		One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
316	302		($3,500.00) plus deposits for housing a nd utilities for such costs
317	303		and expenses without first obtaining court ap proval as required by
318	304		paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section. Any such costs and
319	305		expenses shall be disclosed a s is otherwise required by the Oklahoma
320	306		Adoption Code.
	307	+	D. 1. Except for the amount authorized by subsection C of this
	308	+	section, the payment of any living or transportation expenses for
	309	+	benefit of the birth mother as authorized in subparagraph e of
	310	+	paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section shall be approved in
	311	+	advance by the court.
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322		-	SB423 HFLR Page 7
323		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	313	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 7 1
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348		-	D. 1. Except for the amount authorized by subsection C of this
349		-	section, the payment of any living or transportation expenses for
350		-	benefit of the birth mother as a uthorized in subparagraph e of
351		-	paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section shall be approved in
352		-	advance by the court.
353	338		2. The person, attorney, or licensed child -placing agency
354	339		desiring to pay living or transportation expenses on behalf of a
355	340		birth mother which exceed the amount in subsection C of this section
356	341		shall file a petition for an order approving payme nt of adoption-
357	342		related expenses.
358	343		3. The petition for an order approving payment of adoption-
359	344		related expenses shall be filed in the district court where the
360	345		adoption petition is to be filed , as provided in Section 7502-1.2 of
361	346		this title.
362	347		4. The petition shall be captioned: “In the matter of Baby
363	348		(name).” The petition shall in clude a listing of all anticipated
364	349		living or transportation expenses to be paid on behalf of the birth
365	350		mother for which court approval is being sought. If additional
366	351		expenditures not previously authorized by the court are needed on
367	352		behalf of the birth mot her, an amended petition may be filed with
368	353		the court.
369	354		5. The petition shall be heard by t he court within ten (10)
370	355		days of filing. The court clerk shall charge the same cost for a
371	356		petition for payment of expenses as is charged for the filing of an
	357	+	adoption petition. In the event an adoption petition is later filed
	358	+	in the same county, the adop tion petition shall be fil ed as an
	359	+	amended petition within the same case in which payment for expenses
	360	+	was approved and no additional court costs shall be required. In
	361	+	the event a petition for preadoption termination of parental rights
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373		-	SB423 HFLR Page 8
374		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	363	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 8 1
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399		-	adoption petition. In the event an adoption petition is later filed
400		-	in the same county, the adoption petition shall be fil ed as an
401		-	amended petition within the same case in which payment for expenses
402		-	was approved and no additional court costs shall be required. In
403		-	the event a petition for preadoption termination of parental rights
404	388		is later filed in the same county, the court clerk shall not assess
405	389		an additional filing fee and may use the sam e case number as for the
406	390		petition for adoption.
407	391		6. Any order authorizing payment shall be attached to a
408	392		petition for adoption. If no adoption petition is filed, the court
409	393		shall retain jurisdiction to enter any orders deemed appropriate
410	394		regarding the reimbursement of costs and expenses paid. If the
411	395		child is placed for adoptio n outside the State of Oklahoma, any such
412	396		order shall be submitted to the Interstate Compa ct of the Placement
413	397		of Children and to the court in the other state where the petition
414	398		for adoption is to be filed.
415	399		E. 1. In addition to the adoptive family affidav it requirement
416	400		of subsection A of this section, a Disclosure Statement of Adoption -
417	401		related Costs and Expenditures sh all be prepared in writing by the
418	402		person, attorney or child -placing agency in a direct-placement
419	403		adoption. The Disclosure Statement of Adop tion-related Costs and
420	404		Expenditures shall include a declaration of all fees, expenses, and
421	405		costs charged or expected to be charged for the adoption including,
422	406		but not limited to, the following:
	407	+	a. retainer fees, the hourly rate, and the number of
	408	+	hours billed for the adoption,
	409	+	b. any fee charged for preplacement or other home studies
	410	+	of any prospective birth parents, re gardless of
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424		-	SB423 HFLR Page 9
425		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	412	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 9 1
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450		-	a. retainer fees, the hourly rate, and the number of
451		-	hours billed for the adoption,
452		-	b. any fee charged for preplacement or other home studie s
453		-	of any prospective birth parents, re gardless of
454	437		whether the home study was performed by an outside
455	438		agency,
456	439		c. any costs, fees or expenses or any other thing of
457	440		value paid to or on behalf of the birth parents
458	441		related to the adoption of a minor by any party other
459	442		than the adoptive parents, and
460	443		d. any other fees and expenses related to the adoption
461	444		not otherwise specifically listed in this section.
462	445		2. The Disclosure Statement of A doption-related Costs and
463	446		Expenditures containing true and accurate information shall be f iled
464	447		before or when the fi nal decree of adoption is ordered in each
465	448		adoption of a minor in th is state. A statutory Disclosure Statement
466	449		of Adoption-related Costs and Expenditures is provided in Section 2
467	450		7505-3.3 of this act title. A copy of the statemen t shall be a
468	451		public record to be compiled and maintained by the court clerk and
469	452		available for public inspection; provided, that any information
470	453		identifying the person , attorney or child-placing agency in the
471	454		direct adoption shall be redacted from the docum ent prior to filing
472	455		with the court clerk and shall not be made public. In addition, the
473	456		identity of the child, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents
	457	+	shall be redacted from the document prior to filing with the court
	458	+	clerk and shall not be made publi c.
	459	+	SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2-109, is
	460	+	amended to read as follows:
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475		-	SB423 HFLR Page 10
476		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	462	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 10 1
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501		-	shall be redacted from the document prior to filing with the court
502		-	clerk and shall not b e made public.
503		-	SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2-109, is
504		-	amended to read as follows:
505	487		Section 1-2-109. A. A parent subject to the provisions of this
506	488		act shall not be prosecuted for child abandonment or child neglect
507	489		under the provisions of any st atute which makes child abandonment or
508	490		child neglect a crime, when the allegat ions of child abandonment or
509	491		child neglect are based solely on the relinquishment of a child
510	492		thirty (30) sixty (60) days of age or younger to a medical services
511	493		provider or a child res cuer as defined in this section.
512	494		B. The following entities shall, witho ut a court order, take
513	495		possession of a child thirty (30) sixty (60) days of age or younger
514	496		if the child is voluntarily delivered to the entity by the parent of
515	497		the child and the parent did not express an intent to return for the
516	498		child:
517	499		1. A medical servic es provider; or
518	500		2. A child rescuer.
519	501		C. Delivery of the child may be effectuated by a n in-person
520	502		transfer of the child to the medical services provider or child
521	503		rescuer or by leaving the child in a newborn safety device that is:
522	504		1. Voluntarily installed by the medical services provider or
523	505		child rescuer;
	506	+	2. Physically located inside a pol ice station, fire station,
	507	+	child protective services agency, hospital or other medical
	508	+	facility; and
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525		-	SB423 HFLR Page 11
526		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	510	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 11 1
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551		-	2. Physically located inside a pol ice station, fire station,
552		-	child protective services agency, hospital or other medical
553		-	facility; and
554	535		3. Located in an area that is conspicuous and visible to the
555	536		employees of the police station, fire station, child protect ive
556	537		services agency, hospital or other medical facility.
557	538		D. A medical services provider or child rescuer that installs a
558	539		newborn safety device shall:
559	540		1. Be responsible for the cost of the installation; and
560	541		2. Install an adequate dual alarm system connec ted to the
561	542		physical location of t he newborn safety device that is:
562	543		a. tested at least one time per week to ensure the alarm
563	544		system is in working order, and
564	545		b. visually checked at least two times per day to ensure
565	546		the alarm system is in working order.
566	547		E. Any entity identified in subsectio n B of this section to
567	548		which a parent seeks to relinquish a child pursuant to the
568	549		provisions of this section may:
569	550		1. Request, but not demand, any information about the c hild
570	551		that the parent is willing to share. The entity is encouraged to
571	552		ask about, but not demand, the details of any relevant medical
572	553		history relating to the child or the parents of th e child. The
573	554		entity shall respect the wish of the parent if the parent desires to
574	555		remain anonymous; and
	556	+	2. Provide the pare nt with printed information relat ing to the
	557	+	rights of the parents, including both parents, with respect to
575	558
576		-	SB423 HFLR Page 12
577		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	559	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 12 1
578	560		2
579	561		3
580	562		4
581	563		5
582	564		6
583	565		7
584	566		8
585	567		9
586	568		10
587	569		11
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589	571		13
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591	573		15
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601	583
602		-	2. Provide the pare nt with printed information relat ing to the
603		-	rights of the parents, including both parents, wi th respect to
604	584		reunification with the c hild and sources of counseling for the
605	585		parents, if desired.
606	586		F. Once a child has been relinquished to any entity identified
607	587		in subsection B of this section, t he entity receiving the child
608	588		shall:
609	589		1. Perform or provide for the performance of any act necessa ry
610	590		to protect the physical health or safety of the child; and
611	591		2. Notify the local office of the Department that a parent of a
612	592		child thirty (30) days of age o r younger, in the best judgment of
613	593		the receiving entity, has relinquished such child and that the
614	594		entity has taken possession of the child.
615	595		G. Upon being made aware that a medical services provider or
616	596		child rescuer has pos session of a child under the prov isions of this
617	597		section, the Department of Human Services shall immediately check
618	598		with law enforcement authorities to determine if a child has been
619	599		reported missing and wh ether the missing child could be the
620	600		relinquished child.
621	601		H. The Department shall desi gn and disseminate:
622	602		1. A simplified form for the recording of medical or other
623	603		information that a relinquishing parent wishes to share with the
624	604		entity to whom the child is being relinquished;
	605	+	2. Easily understood printed materials that give information
	606	+	about parents’ rights with regard to reunification with a child
	607	+	including, but not limited to, info rmation on how a parent can
625	608
626		-	SB423 HFLR Page 13
627		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	609	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 13 1
628	610		2
629	611		3
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649	631		23
650	632		24
651	633
652		-	2. Easily understood printed materials that give information
653		-	about parents’ rights with regard to reunification with a chi ld
654		-	including, but not limited to, info rmation on how a parent can
655	634		contact the appropriate entity regarding reu nification, and
656	635		information on sources of counseling for relinquishing parents; and
657	636		3. Media information including printed material that creates
658	637		public awareness about the provisions of this act.
659	638		I. For purposes of this section:
660	639		1. “Medical services pro vider” means a person authorized to
661	640		practice the healing arts including a physician ’s assistant or nurse
662	641		practitioner, a registered or practical nurse and a nurse aide; and
663	642		2. “Child rescuer” means any employee or other designated
664	643		person on duty at a poli ce station, fire station, child protective
665	644		services agency, hospital or other medical facility.
666	645		J. A medical services provider or child rescuer with
667	646		responsibility for performing duti es pursuant to this section shall
668	647		be immune from any criminal liability that might otherwise result
669	648		from the actions of the e ntity, if acting in good faith in receiving
670	649		a relinquished child. In addition, such medical provider or child
671	650		rescuer shall be imm une from any civil liability that might
672	651		otherwise result from merely rec eiving a relinquished child.
673	652		SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 851, is
674	653		amended to read as follows:
	654	+	Section 851. A. Any parent of any child or chil dren under the
	655	+	age of ten (10) years, and every person to whom such child or
	656	+	children have been confided for nurture or education, who deserts
	657	+	such child or children within this state, or takes such child or
675	658
676		-	SB423 HFLR Page 14
677		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	659	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 423 Page 14 1
678	660		2
679	661		3
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699	681		23
700	682		24
701	683
702		-	Section 851. A. Any parent of any child or chil dren under the
703		-	age of ten (10) years, and every person to whom such child or
704		-	children have been confided for nurture or education, who deserts
705		-	such child or children within this state, or takes such child or
706	684		children without this state, with the intent who lly to abandon it
707	685		shall be deemed guilty of a felony an d upon conviction thereof shall
708	686		be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for any period
709	687		of time not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years.
710	688		B. It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this
711	689		section that a parent volunta rily delivered a child under the age of
712	690		thirty (30) sixty (60) days to and left the child with, or
713	691		voluntarily arranged for another person to deliver a child to and
714	692		leave the child with, a medical serv ices provider or child rescuer
715	693		as provided in Section 1 -2-109 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma
716	694		Statutes.
717	695		SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
	696	+	Passed the Senate the 23rd day of February, 2023.
718	697
719		-	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDI CIARY - CIVIL, dated
720		-	04/10/2023 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.
	698	+
	699	+
	700	+	Presiding Officer of the Senate
	701	+
	702	+
	703	+	Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of ________ __,
	704	+	2023.
	705	+
	706	+
	707	+
	708	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	709	+	of Representatives
	710	+