Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2741 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	ENGR. S. A. TO ENGR. H. B. NO. 2741 Page 1 1
	3	+	SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2741 SFLR Page 1
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28		-	ENGROSSED SENATE AMENDMENT
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	29	+	SENATE FLOOR VERSION
	30	+	April 9, 2024
	31	+	AS AMENDED
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30	33		ENGROSSED HOUSE
31		-	BILL NO. 2741 By: Duel and Roe of the House
	34	+	BILL NO. 2741 By: Duel, Roe, and Menz of the
	35	+	House
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33	37		and
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35	39		Weaver of the Senate
36		-
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39		-
40		-	[ mental health - Neil's Law - Oklahoma Elder
41		-	Exploitation and Abuse Act - civil actions - venue
42		-	provisions - access to records - privileged
43		-	relationships – noncodification – codification -
44		-	effective date ]
45		-
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48		-	AUTHOR: Add the following House Coauthor: Menz
49		-
50		-	AMENDMENT NO. 1. Page 1, strike the enacting clause
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52		-	Passed the Senate the 22nd day of April, 2024.
53		-
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55		-
56		-	Presiding Officer of t he Senate
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59		-	Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
60		-	2024.
61		-
62		-
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64		-	Presiding Officer of the House
65		-	of Representatives
66		-
67		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2741 Page 1 1
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92		-	ENGROSSED HOUSE
93		-	BILL NO. 2741 By: Duel and Roe of the House
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95		-	and
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97		-	Weaver of the Senate
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105	45		[ mental health - Neil's Law - Oklahoma Elder
106	46		Exploitation and Abuse Act - civil actions - venue
107	47		provisions - access to records - privileged
108	48		relationships – noncodification – codification -
109	49		effective date ]
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113	53		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
114	54		SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
115	55		codified in the Oklahom a Statutes reads as follows:
116	56		This act shall be known and may be cited as "Neil's Law".
117	57		SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
118	58		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -101 of Title 43A, unless
119	59		there is created a duplica tion in numbering, reads as follows:
120	60		This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Elder
121	61		Exploitation and Abuse Act ".
122	62		SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
123	63		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -102 of Title 43A, unless
124	64		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
125	65
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151	92		A. The purpose of the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act
152	93		is to promote the general welfare of all citizens by establishing a
153	94		civil action for incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults which
154	95		provides for the protection of their rights and affords them a right
155	96		of civil action against those who neglect, exploit, or abuse them.
156	97		B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act
157	98		is to allow incapacitated perso ns and vulnerable adults, through
158	99		their legal representatives, to pursue claims against persons who
159	100		neglect, exploit, or abuse the incapacitated person or vulnerable
160	101		adult if he or she lacks the capacity to pursue such claims on his
161	102		or her own behalf.
162	103		C. The Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act does not
163	104		preclude an individual 's mandatory responsibil ity to report to Adult
164	105		Protective Services or law enforcement if there is reasonable cause
165	106		to believe a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or
166	107		exploited.
167	108		D. It is the intent of the Oklahoma State Legislature:
168	109		1. That the district court shall exercise the authority
169	110		conferred by the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act to
170	111		encourage the development of maximum self -reliance and independence
171	112		of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults and make appointive
172	113		and other orders only to the extent nec essitated by the mental and
173	114		adaptive limitations of other condition s of the incapacitated or
174	115		partially incapacitated person warranting the action; and
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201	143		2. That in performing their duties and exercising their powers,
202	144		legal representatives bringing claims under this act for
203	145		incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults shall:
204	146		a. assure, to the extent reasonably possible, that the
205	147		rights of the persons for whom t hey are appointed are
206	148		protected, and
207	149		b. encourage, to the extent reasonably possible,
208	150		incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults to
209	151		participate to the maximum extent of their abilities
210	152		in all decisions which affect them concerning the
211	153		claims afforded them under this act.
212	154		SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
213	155		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -103 of Title 43A, unless
214	156		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
215	157		A. When used in the Oklahoma Eld er Exploitation and Abuse Act:
216	158		1. "Incapacitated person " means:
217	159		a. any person eighteen (18) years of age or older:
218	160		(1) who is impaired by reason of mental or physical
219	161		illness or disability, dementia or related
220	162		disease, developmental or intellectual disabi lity
221	163		or other cause, and
222	164		(2) whose ability to receive and evaluate information
223	165		effectively or to make and to communicate
224	166		responsible decisions is impaired to such an
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251	194		extent that such person lacks the capacity to
252	195		manage his or her financial resources or to meet
253	196		essential requirements for his or her mental or
254	197		physical health or safety without assistance fro m
255	198		others, or
256	199		b. a person for whom a guardian, limited guardian, or
257	200		conservator has been appointed pursuant to the
258	201		Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act;
259	202		2. "Vulnerable adult" means an individual who is an
260	203		incapacitated person or who, because of physical or mental
261	204		disability, including persons with Alzheimer 's disease or other
262	205		dementias, incapacity, or other disability, is substantially
263	206		impaired in the ability to provide adequately for the care or
264	207		custody of himself or herself, or is unable to manag e his or her
265	208		property and financial affairs effectively, or to meet essential
266	209		requirements for mental or physical health or safety, or to protect
267	210		himself or herself from abuse, neglect, or exploitation without
268	211		assistance from others;
269	212		3. "Caretaker" means a person who has:
270	213		a. the responsibility for the care of a vulnerable adult
271	214		or the financial management of the resources of a
272	215		vulnerable adult as a result o f a family relationship,
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299	243		b. assumed the responsibility for the care of a
300	244		vulnerable adult voluntarily , by contract, or as a
301	245		result of the ties of friendship, or
302	246		c. been appointed a guardian, limited guardian, or
303	247		conservator pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardia nship and
304	248		Conservatorship Act;
305	249		4. "Abuse" means causing or permitting:
306	250		a. the infliction of physical pain, injury, sexual abuse,
307	251		sexual exploitation, unreasonable restraint or
308	252		confinement, mental anguish or personal degradation,
309	253		or
310	254		b. the deprivation of n utrition, clothing, shelter,
311	255		health care, or other care or services without which
312	256		serious physical or mental injury is likely to occur
313	257		to a vulnerable adult by a caretaker or other person
314	258		providing services to a vulnerable adult;
315	259		5. "Exploitation" or "exploit" means an unjust or improper use
316	260		of the resources of a vulnerable adult for the profit or advantage,
317	261		pecuniary or otherwise, of a person other than the vulnerable adult
318	262		through the use of undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress,
319	263		deception, false representation or false pretense;
320	264		6. "Financial neglect" means repeated instances by a caretaker,
321	265		or other person, who has assumed the role of financial management,
322	266		of failure to use the resources available to restore or maintain the
323	267
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349	294		health and physical well-being of a vulnerable adult, including, but
350	295		not limited to:
351	296		a. squandering or negligently mismanaging the money,
352	297		property, or accounts of a vulnerable adult,
353	298		b. refusing to pay for necessities or utilities in a
354	299		timely manner, or
355	300		c. providing substandard care to a vulnerable adult
356	301		despite the availability of adequate financial
357	302		resources;
358	303		7. "Neglect" means:
359	304		a. the failure to provide protection for a vulnerable
360	305		adult who is unable to protect his or her own
361	306		interest,
362	307		b. the failure to provide a vulnerabl e adult with
363	308		adequate shelter, nutrition, health care, or clothing,
364	309		or
365	310		c. negligent acts or omissions that result in harm or the
366	311		unreasonable risk of harm to a vulnerable adult
367	312		through the action, inaction, or lack of supervision
368	313		by a caretaker providing d irect services;
369	314		8. "Personal degradation " means a willful act by a caretaker
370	315		intended to shame, degr ade, humiliate or otherwise harm the personal
371	316		dignity of a vulnerable adult, or where the caretaker knew or
372	317		reasonably should have known the act would caus e shame, degradation,
373	318
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399	345		humiliation or harm to the personal dignity of a reasonable person.
400	346		Personal degradation includes the taking, transmitting, or display
401	347		of an electronic image of a vulnerable adult by a caretaker, where
402	348		the caretaker's actions constitute a willful act intended to shame,
403	349		degrade, humiliate or otherwise harm the personal dignity of the
404	350		dependent adult, or where the caretaker knew or reasonably should
405	351		have known the act would cause shame, degradation, humiliation or
406	352		harm to the personal d ignity of a reasonable person. Personal
407	353		degradation does not include:
408	354		a. the taking, transmission or display of an electronic
409	355		image of a vulnerable adult for the purpose of
410	356		reporting vulnerable adult abuse to law enforcement,
411	357		the Department of Human Servi ces or other regulatory
412	358		agency that oversees caretakers or enforces abuse or
413	359		neglect laws or rules,
414	360		b. the taking, transmission or display of an electronic
415	361		image of a vulnerable adult for the purpose of
416	362		treatment or diagnosis, or
417	363		c. the taking, transmissio n or display of an electronic
418	364		image of a vulnerable adult as part of an ongoing
419	365		investigation;
420	366		9. "Sexual abuse" means:
421	367		a. oral, anal, or vaginal penetration of a vulnerable
422	368		adult by or through the union with the sexual organ of
423	369
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449	396		a caretaker or other perso n providing services to the
450	397		vulnerable adult, or the anal or vaginal penetration
451	398		of a vulnerable adul t by a caretaker or other person
452	399		providing services to the vulnerable adult with any
453	400		other object, or
454	401		b. for the purpose of sexual gratification, the touch ing,
455	402		feeling or observation of the body or private parts of
456	403		a vulnerable adult by a caretaker or other person
457	404		providing services to the vulnerable adult, or
458	405		c. indecent exposure by a caretaker or other person
459	406		providing services to the vulnerable adult;
460	407		10. "Indecent exposure" means forcing or requiring a vulnerable
461	408		adult to:
462	409		a. look upon the body or priv ate parts of another person
463	410		or upon sexual acts performed in the presence of the
464	411		vulnerable adult, or
465	412		b. touch or feel the body or private parts of another ;
466	413		11. "Sexual exploitation" includes, but is not limited to, a
467	414		caretaker's causing, allowing, permitting or encouraging a
468	415		vulnerable adult to engage in prostitution or in the lewd, obscene,
469	416		or pornographic photographing, filming or depiction of the
470	417		vulnerable adult as those acts are defined by state law; and
471	418		12. "Verbal abuse" means the use of words, so unds, or other
472	419		communication including, but not limited to, gestures, actions or
473	420
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499	447		behaviors, by a caretaker or other person providing services to a
500	448		vulnerable adult that are likely to cause a reasonable person to
501	449		experience humiliation, intimidation, fear, shame or degradation.
502	450		B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean a
503	451		vulnerable adult is abused or neglected for the sole reason the
504	452		vulnerable adult, in good faith, selects and depends upon spiritual
505	453		means alone through prayer, in accordance wit h the practices of a
506	454		recognized religious method of healing, for the treatment or cure of
507	455		disease or remedial care, or a caretaker or other person
508	456		responsible, in good faith, is furnishing such vulnerable adult
509	457		spiritual means alone through prayer, in accordance with the tenets
510	458		and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination, for
511	459		the treatment or cure of disease or remedial care in accordance with
512	460		the practices of or express consent of the vulnerable adult.
513	461		SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
514	462		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -104 of Title 43A, unless
515	463		there is created a duplication in numbering, re ads as follows:
516	464		A. A claim for elder neglect, exploitation, or abuse, as
517	465		prescribed in this section, may be brought in any district court
518	466		within the county in the State of Oklahoma in which the vulnerable
519	467		adult lives or maintains his or her residence or w as living at the
520	468		time of the act or omission giving rise to the claim.
521	469		B. A person who commits negle ct or financial neglect against a
522	470		vulnerable adult, proven by a preponderance of the evidence, shall
523	471
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549	498		be liable for actual damages in an amount that compens ates the
550	499		vulnerable adult for the loss he or she has incurred as a result
551	500		thereof and shall be liable for punitive damages as Oklahoma law
552	501		otherwise allows.
553	502		C. A person who commits exploitation or abuse of a vulnerable
554	503		adult, proven by a preponderance of the evidence, shall be liable
555	504		for damages three (3) times the actual damages incurred by the
556	505		vulnerable adult as a result thereof and shall be liable for
557	506		punitive damages as Oklahoma law otherwise allows.
558	507		D. The prevailing party in the claims prescribed i n subsections
559	508		B and C of this section shall be entitled to recover reasonable
560	509		attorney fees and costs.
561	510		E. The claims prescribed in this section shall follow and
562	511		otherwise be subject to the general laws governing civil claims
563	512		under Oklahoma law, including, without limitation, the provisions
564	513		found in Titles 12 and 23 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
565	514		F. The claims provided for by this section may be brought by
566	515		the vulnerable adult or on behalf of the vulnerable adult by his or
567	516		her guardian, limited guardian, conser vator, agent under an
568	517		appropriate power of attorney, duly appointed representative of the
569	518		estate of the vulnerable adult, if deceased, or other legal
570	519		representative approved by the court.
571	520		G. In addition to any other documents or records to which the
572	521		vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative may be entitled
573	522
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599	549		in pursuit of the claim or claims pres cribed in this section, the
600	550		court may authorize or direct the vulnerable adult and his or her
601	551		legal representative access to and copies of financial, legal ,
602	552		mental health, and physical health records of the vulnerable adult
603	553		in the possession of any physician, hospital, other health care
604	554		provider, firm, financial institution, lawyer, accountant,
605	555		counselor, broker, caregiver, corporation, other business entity , or
606	556		other facility or party. These records, upon order of the court,
607	557		shall be produced within ten ( 10) days, unless the court orders a
608	558		shorter time, and the records shall not be disclosed for any purpose
609	559		other than the purpose for which they have been ob tained.
610	560		H. The claims provided for in this section survive the death of
611	561		the vulnerable adult.
612	562		SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
613	563		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -105 of Title 43A, unless
614	564		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
615	565		The district court in which a claim authorized in this a ct is
616	566		filed may, upon proper application, issue a restraining order or
617	567		other injunctive relief to prohibit any further violation of this
618	568		act, regardless of the existence of any other remedy at law and in
619	569		addition thereto.
620	570		SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
621	571		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -106 of Title 43A, unless
622	572		there is created a duplication in numbering, r eads as follows:
623	573
624		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2741 Page 12 1
	574	+	SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2741 SFLR Page 12
	575	+	(Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1
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649	600		Subject to a specific court order, the physician -patient
650	601		privilege nor spousal privi lege shall be grounds for excluding
651	602		evidence regarding the neglect, exploitation, or abuse of a
652	603		vulnerable adult or the cause thereof in any judicial proce eding
653	604		arising under this act.
654	605		SECTION 8. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
655		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 14th day of March, 2023.
656		-
657		-
658		-
659		-
660		-	Presiding Officer of the House
661		-
662		-	of Representatives
663		-
664		-
665		-	Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2023.
666		-
667		-
668		-
669		-
670		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
671		-
672		-
673		-
	606	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
	607	+	April 9, 2024 - DO PASS AS AMENDED