Req. No. 8707 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) HOUSE BILL 3774 By: Duel AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to civil procedure; amending 12 O.S. 2021, Section 2803.1, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 216, O.S.L. 2023 (12 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 2803.1), which relates to the admissib ility of statements of children not having attained certain age or incapacitated persons ; modifying statements that are admissible in juve nile deprived proceedings and pre-trial and post-trial criminal and juvenile delinquent proceedings; specifying types of abuse; providing governing law for notice and disclosure of statements; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA : SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 12 O.S. 2021, Section 2803.1, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 216, O.S.L. 2023 (12 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 2803.1), is amended to read as follows: Section 2803.1 A. The following statements are admissible in juvenile deprived proceedings and pre-trial and post-trial criminal and juvenile delinquent proceedings including preliminary hearings, prosecutive merit hearings, and hearings on the revocation of prohibition or acceleration of a deferred judgment: Req. No. 8707 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. A statement made by a ch ild who has not attained sixteen (16) years of age at the time the statement is made, a child sixteen (16) years of age or older who has a disability, or a person who is an incapacitated person as defined by Section 10-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, which describes any act of physical abuse, domestic abuse, neglect, enabling physical abuse or neglect against the child or incapacitated person or a ny act of sexual contact, any conduct proscribed by Sections 741, 745, 748, 843.1, 843.2, 843.3, 843.4, 843.5, or 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1119, 1123, 1124, or 1125 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, performed with or on the child or incapacitated person by another, is admissible in criminal a nd juvenile proceedings in the courts in this state if: 1. The court finds, in a hearing conducted ou tside the presence of the jury, that the time, content, and totality of circumstances surrounding the taking of the statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability to render the statement inherently trustworthy. In determining such trustworthiness, the court may consider factors including but not limited to: a. the spontaneity and consistent repetition of the statement, b. the mental state of the decla rant, c. whether the terminology used is unexpected of a child of similar age or of an incapacitated person, and Req. No. 8707 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 d. whether a lack of motive to fabricate exists; and 2. The child or incapacitated person either: a. testifies or is available to testify at the proceedings in open court or throug h an alternative method pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Child Witness Testimony by Alternative Methods Act or Section 2611.2 of this titl e, or b. is unavailable as defined in Section 2804 of this title as a witness. When the child or incapacitat ed person is unavailable, the statement may be admitted only if there is corroborative evidence of the act. B. A statement may not be admitted under th is section unless the proponent of the statement makes known to the adverse party an intention to offer the statement and the particulars of the statement at least ten (1 0) days in advance of the proceedings to provide the adverse party with an opportunity to prepare to answer the statement or any act or omission resulting in great bod ily injury to the child or incapacitated person; 2. A statement made by a child who has not attained sixteen (16) years of age at the time the statement is made, a child sixteen (16) years of age or older who has a disability, or a person who is an incapacitated person as defin ed by Section 10-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, which describes any a ct of physical abuse, neglect, or enabling physical abuse or negl ect against another c hild Req. No. 8707 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 or incapacitated person, any act of sexual contact with another child or incapacitated person, any conduct proscribed by Sections 741, 745, 748, 843.1 , 843.2, 843.3, 843.4, 843.5, or 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 111 9, 1123, 1124, or 1125 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, any a ct of domestic abuse, or any act or omission resulting in death or great bodily injury to a human being, provided that the child or incapacitated person witnessed the act or omission. B. The following statements are admissible in criminal and juvenile delinquent trials if the child or incapacitated person testifies at the trial whether in person, via videoc onferencing equipment, or other alternative mea ns; if the child or incapacitated person does not testify at the trial and is unavailable as defined by subsection A of Section 2804 of this title and the requirements for admissibility pursuant to subsection B of Section 2804 of this title are satisfied; or if the child or incapacitated person does not testify at the trial and the court determines that the stateme nt is nontestimonial: 1. A statement made by a child who has not attained sixteen (16) years of age at the time the statement is made, a child sixteen (16) years of age or older who h as a disability, or a person who is an incapacitated person as defined by Section 10-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, which describes any act of physical abuse, domestic abuse, neglect, enabling physical ab use or neglect against Req. No. 8707 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the child or incapacitated person or any act of sexual contact, any conduct proscribed b y Sections 741, 745, 748, 843.1, 843.2, 843.3, 843.4, 843.5, or 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1119, 1123, 1124, or 1125 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, performed with or on the child or incapacitated person by another, or any act or omission resulting in gr eat bodily injury to the child or incapacitated person; and 2. A statement made by a child who has not attained s ixteen (16) years of age at the time the statement is made, a c hild sixteen (16) years of age or older who has a disability, or a person who is an incapacitated person as defined by Section 10 -103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, which describes any act of physical abuse, neglect, or enabling physical abuse or n eglect against another child or incapacitated person, any act of sexual conduct with another child or incapacitated person, any co nduct proscribed by Sections 741, 745, 748, 843.1, 843.2, 843.3 , 843.4, 843.5, or 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 11 18, 1119, 1123, 1124, or 1125 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statute s, any act of domestic abuse, or any act or omission resulting in death or great bodily injury to a human being, provided that the child or incapacitated person witnessed the act or omission. C. The provisions of the Oklahoma Criminal Discovery Code, Section 2002 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall govern the Req. No. 8707 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 disclosure and notice require ments of statements offered pursuant to this section. C. D. As used in this section, "disability" means a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the child or the child is regarded as having such an impairment b y a competent medical professional. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-8707 AO 12/29/23