An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2137 By: McDugle, Fugate, Burns, and
Menz of the House
and
Jett of the Senate
An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2021,
Section 150.1, which relates to the Deployed Parents
Custody and Visitatio n Act; modifying definitions;
defining term; and declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Marriage
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLA HOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43 O.S. 2021, Section 150.1, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 150.1 As used in the Deployed Parents Custody a nd
Visitation Act:
1. "Civilian personnel" means direct-hire, permanent civilian
employees of the Departmen t of Defense;
2. "Close and substantial relationship" means a relationship in
which a bond has been forged between the child and the other person
by regular contact or communication;
3. "Custodial responsibility " refers to legal custody, physical
custody or visitation rights with respect to a child;
4. "Deploying parent" means a legal parent of a minor child or
the legal guardian of a child, who is a member of the United States
Armed Forces, civilian personnel or contractor serving in designated
combat zones or duty stations and who is deployed or has been
notified of an impending deployment;
ENR. H. B. NO. 2137 Page 2
5. "Deployment" means the temporary transfer of a
servicemember, civilian personnel or contractor serving outside
their residential zon e, or in designated combat zones, in compliance
with official orders to another location in support of comb at,
contingency operation, or natural disaster requiring the use of
orders for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days,
during which family members are not authorized to accompany the
servicemember at government expense. Deployment shall includ e any
period during which a servicemember, civilian personnel or
contractor serving outside their residential zone , or in designated
combat zones, is absent from duty on acc ount of sickness, wounds,
leave or other lawful cause, and shall also include any t ransfer
pursuant to military orders requiring presence in a foreign co untry;
6. "Guardian" means a person who has been appointed a s a
guardian of a minor or incapacitated a dult pursuant to the
requirements of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The term s hall
include a limited guardian, but shall not include a guardian ad
litem;
7. "Nondeploying parent" means a legal parent or guard ian who
is not deployed and who has a chil d or ward in common with a
deploying parent;
8. "Residential zone" means a seventy-five-mile radius
surrounding a servicemember's permanent place of dwelling located
within the servicemember's state of legal residence o r domicile;
9. "Servicemember" means a member of either:
a. the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy,
Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard,
or
b. the active or reserv e components of the National
Guard; and
9. 10. "Visitation" means the right to take a child for a
limited period of time to a place other than the habitual residence
of the child.
SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary fo r the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage an d approval. ENR. H. B. NO. 2137 Page 3
Passed the House of Representatives the 28th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 29th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Sena te
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of ___________________, 20_______, at __ _____ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF ST ATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock __ _____ M.
By: _________________________________