Req. No. 2667 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) SENATE BILL 1471 By: Weaver AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to child abduction prevention; creating the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act; providing short title; defining te rms; providing for cooperation and communication among courts; authorizing order or petition for abduction prevention measures; authorizing certain warrant; clarifying jurisdiction over certain matters; establishing requirements for certain petition; specifying required contents of certain petition; establishing factors to determine risk of child abduction; authorizing court to consider certain evidence; requiring abduction prevention order to contain certain information; authorizing certain provisions to prevent abduction of child; authorizing order to impose certain conditions on custody or visitation; authorizing certain actions to prevent imminent abduction of child; providing for cumulat ive remedies; authorizing ex parte warrant for certain purposes; requiring hearing within specified tim e period; specifying required contents of c ertain warrant; authorizing order for certa in search; requiring service at certain time; clarifying enforceability of certain warrants; allow ing court to authorize law enforceme nt to take certain actions; authorizing award of costs and fees under certain circumstances; specifying duration of certain order; providing for uniformity of application and construction; clarifying applic ation to certain federal acts; providing for codif ication; and providing an effective date . Req. No. 2667 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 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEO PLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-1 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act ”. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Se ction 561-2 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, re ads as follows: As used in this act: 1. “Abduction” means the wrongful removal or wrongful retention of a child; 2. ”Child” means an unemancipated individual who is less than eighteen (18) years of age; 3. “Child custody determination ” means a judgment, decree, or other court order providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child. The te rm includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and m odification order; 4. “Child custody proceeding” means a proceeding in which l egal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is at issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, dissolution of marriage, separation, neglect, abu se, dependency, guardianship, Req. No. 2667 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 paternity, termination of parental rights, or protection from domestic violence; 5. “Court” means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modif y a child custody determination ; 6. “Petition” includes a motion or its equivalent ; 7. “Record” means information that is inscr ibed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form ; 8. “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation; 9. “Travel document” means records relating to a travel itinerary, including travel tickets, passes, reservations for transportation, or accommodations. The term does not include a passport or visa; 10. “Wrongful removal” means the taking of a child that breaches rights of custody or visitati on given or recognized under the laws of this state; and 11. “Wrongful retention” means the keeping or concealing of a child that breaches rights of custody or visitation given or recognized under the law s of this state. Req. No. 2667 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 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Sectio n 561-3 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: The provisions of the Uni form Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act as provided in Sections 551-110, 551-111, and 551- 112 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall apply to cooperation and communications among courts in proceeding s under this act. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-4 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. A court on its own motion may order abduction prevention measures in a child custody proceeding if the court finds that the evidence establishes a credible risk of abduction of the child. B. A party to a child custody determination or another individual or entity having a right under the law s of this state or any other state to seek a child custody determination for the child may file a petition seeking abduction prevention meas ures to protect the child under this act. C. As authorized by Section 551 -315 of Title 43 of the Okla homa Statutes, a district attorney may seek a warrant to take physical custody of a child pursuant to Section 9 of this act, or to take other appropriate prevention measures. Req. No. 2667 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 SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-5 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, read s as follows: A. A petition under this act may be filed only in a cour t that has jurisdiction to make a child custody determination with respect to the child at issue under Article 2 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, Section 5 51-201 et seq. of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. A court of this state has temporary emergency jurisdiction under Section 551-204 of Title 43 of the Ok lahoma Statutes if the court finds a credible r isk of abduction. SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Sect ion 561-6 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A petition under this act shall be verified and include a copy of any existing child custody determination, if available. The petition shall specify the risk factors for abduction, including the relevant factors described in Section 7 of this act. Subject to the subsection E of Section 5 51-209 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes, if reasonably ascertainable, the petitio n shall contain: 1. The name, date of birth , and gender of the child; 2. The customary address and current physical location of the child; Req. No. 2667 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 3. The identity, customary address, and current physical location of the respon dent; 4. A statement of whether a prior action to prevent abduction or domestic violence has been filed by a party or other individual or entity having custody of the child, and the date, location, and disposition of the action; 5. A statement of whether a party to the proceeding has been arrested for a crime related to domestic vi olence, stalking, or child abuse or neglect, and the date, location, and disposition of the case; and 6. Any other information required to be submitted to the court for a child custody determination pursuant to Section 551-209 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Sta tutes. SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-7 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplica tion in numbering, reads as follows: A. In determining whether there is a cred ible risk of abduction of a child, the court shall consider any evidence that the petitioner or respondent: 1. Has previously abducted or attempted to abduct the child; 2. Has threatened to abduct the child; 3. Has recently engaged in activities that may indicate a planned abduction including but not limited to: a. abandoning employment, Req. No. 2667 Page 7 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 b. selling a primary residence, c. terminating a lease, d. closing bank or other financial management accounts, liquidating assets, hiding or destroying financial documents, or conducting any unusual financial activities, e. applying for a passport or visa or obtaining travel documents for the respondent, a family member, or the child, or f. seeking to obtain the child ’s birth certificate or school or medical records; 4. Has engaged in domestic violence, stalk ing, or child abuse or neglect; 5. Has refused to follow a child custody determination; 6. Lacks strong familial, financial, emotional, or cultural ties to the state or the United States; 7. Has strong familial, f inancial, emotional, or cultural ties to another state or country; 8. Is likely to take the child to a country that: a. is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and does not provide for the extradition of an abducting parent or for the return of an abducted child , Req. No. 2667 Page 8 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 b. is a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction but: (1) the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is not in force between the United States and that country , (2) is noncompliant according to the most recent compliance report issued by the United States Department of State, or (3) lacks legal mechanisms for immediately and effectively enforcing a return order under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction , c. poses a risk that the child ’s physical or emotional health or safety would be endangered in the country because of specific circumstances relating to the child or because of human ri ghts violations committed against children, d. has laws or practices that would: (1) enable the respondent, without due cause, to prevent the petitioner from contacting the chil d, (2) restrict the petitioner from freely traveling to or exiting from the country because of the petitioner’s gender, nationality, marital status, or religion, or Req. No. 2667 Page 9 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 (3) restrict the child’s ability to legally leave the country after the child reaches the a ge of majority because of a child ’s gender, nationality, or religion , e. is included by the United States Department of State on a current list of state sponsors of terrorism , f. does not have an official United States diplomatic presence in the country , or g. is engaged in active military action or war, including a civil war, to whic h the child may be exposed; 9. Is undergoing a change in immigration or citizenship status that would adversely affect the re spondent’s ability to remain in the United States legally; 10. Has had an application for United States citizenship denied; 11. Has forged or presented misleading or false evidence on government forms or supporting documents to obtain or attempt to obtain a passport, a visa, travel documents, a Social S ecurity card, a driver license, or other government -issued identification card or has made a misrepresentation to the United States government; 12. Has used multiple names to attempt to mislead or defraud; or 13. Has engaged in any other conduct the cour t considers relevant to the risk of abduction. Req. No. 2667 Page 10 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 B. In the hearing on a petition under this act, the court shall consider any evidence that the respondent believed in good faith that the respondent’s conduct was necessary to avoid imminent harm to the child or respondent and any other evidence that may be relevant to whether the respondent may be permitted to remove or retain the child. SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be cod ified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-8 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows : A. If a petition is filed under this act, the court may enter an order that shall include: 1. The basis for the cou rt’s exercise of jurisdiction; 2. The manner in which not ice and opportunity to be heard were given to the persons entitled to notice of the proceeding; 3. A detailed description of each party ’s custody and visitation rights and residential arrangements for the child; 4. A provision stating that a violation of the order may subject the party in violation to civil and criminal penalties; and 5. Identification of the child ’s country of habitual residence at the time of the issuance of the order. B. If, at a hearing on a petition under this act or on the court’s own motion, the court after reviewing the evidence finds a credible risk of abduction of the child, the court shall enter an abduction prevention order. The order shall include the provisions Req. No. 2667 Page 11 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 required by subsection A of this section and measures and conditions, including provisions in subsections C, D, and E of this section, that are reasonably calculated to prevent abduction of the child, giving due consideration to the custody and visitation righ ts of the parties. The court shall consider the age of the child, the potential harm to the child from an abduction, the legal and practical difficulties of returning the child to the jurisdiction if abducted, and the reasons for the potential abduction, includin g evidence of domestic violence, stalking, or chil d abuse or neglect. C. An abduction prevention order may include one or more o f the following: 1. An imposition of travel restrictions that require that a party traveling with the child outside a designated geographical area provide the other par ty with the following: a. the travel itinerary of the child , b. a list of physical addresses and telephone numbers at which the child can be reached at specified times , and c. copies of all travel documents; 2. A prohibition of the respondent directly or indirect ly: a. removing the child from this state, the United States, or another geographic area without permission of the court or the petitioner ’s written consent, b. removing or retaining the child in vi olation of a child custody determination, Req. No. 2667 Page 12 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 c. removing the child from school or a child -care or similar facility, or d. approaching the child at any location other than a site designated for supervised visitation; 3. A requirement that a party register the order in another state as a prerequisite to allowing the child to travel to that state; 4. With regard to the child ’s passport: a. a direction that the petitioner place the child’s name in the United States Department of State ’s Child Passport Issuance Alert Program, b. a requirement that the respondent surrend er to the court or the petitioner ’s attorney any United States or foreign passport issued in the child ’s name, including a passport issued in the name of both the parent and the child , and c. a prohibition upon the respondent from applying on behalf of the child for a new or replacement passport or visa; 5. As a prerequisite to exer cising custody or visitation, a requirement that the respondent provide: a. to the United States Department of S tate Office of Children’s Issues and the relevant foreign consula te or embassy, an authenticated copy of the order Req. No. 2667 Page 13 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 detailing passport and travel restrictions for the child, b. to the court: (1) proof that the respondent has provided the information in subparagraph a, and (2) an acknowledgment in a record from the releva nt foreign consulate or embassy that no passport application has been made, or passport issued, on behalf of the child, c. to the petitioner, proof of registration with the United States Embassy or other United States diplomatic presence in the destination country and with the Central Authority for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, if that Convention is in effect between the United States and the destination country, unless one of the parties objects, and d. a written waiver under the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a, as amended, with respect to any document, application, or other information pertaining to the child authorizing its disclosure to the court and the petitioner; and 6. Upon the petitioner’s request, a requirement that the respondent obtain an order from the relevant foreign country Req. No. 2667 Page 14 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 containing terms identical to the child custody determination issued in the United States. D. In an abduction prevention order, the court may impose conditions on the exerc ise of custody or visitation that: 1. Limit visitation or require that visitat ion with the child by the respondent be supervised until the court finds that supervision is no longer necessary and or der the respondent to pay the costs of supervision; 2. Require the respondent to post a bond or provide other security in an amount sufficient to serve as a financial deterrent to abduction, the proceeds of which may be used to pay for the reasonable expenses of recovery of the child, including reasonable attorney fees and costs if there is an abduction; and 3. Require the respondent to o btain education on the potentially harmful effects to the child from abduct ion. E. To prevent imminent abduction of a child, a court may: 1. Issue a warrant to take physical c ustody of the child under Section 9 or the law s of this state other than this act; 2. Direct the use of law enforcement to take any action reasonably necessary to locate the child, obtain return of the child, or enforce a custody determination under this act or the laws of this state other than this act; or 3. Grant any other relie f allowed under the law s of this state other than this act. Req. No. 2667 Page 15 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 F. The remedies provided in this act are cumulative and do not affect the availability of other remedies to prevent abduction. SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-9 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. If a petition under this act contains allegations, and the court finds that there is a credibl e risk that the child is imminently likely to be wrongfully removed, the court may issue an ex parte warrant to take physical custody of the child. B. The respondent on a petition under subsection A of this section shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard at the earliest possible time after the ex parte warrant is executed, but not later than the next judicial day unless a hearing on that date is impossible. In such event, the court shall hold t he hearing on the first judicial day possible. C. An ex parte warrant under subsection A of this section to take physical custody of a child shall: 1. Recite the facts upon which a determination o f a credible risk of imminent wrongful removal of the chil d is based; 2. Direct law enforcement officers to take physical custody of the child immediately; 3. State the date and time for the hearing on the petition; and 4. Provide for the safe interim placement of the child pending further order of the court. Req. No. 2667 Page 16 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. If feasible, before issuing a warrant and before determining the placement of the child after the warrant is executed, the court may order a search of the relevant databases of the National Crim e Information Center system a nd similar state databases to determine if either the petitioner or respondent has a history of domestic violence, stalking, or child abuse or neglect. E. The petition and warrant shall be served on the respondent when or immediately after the child is taken into physical custody. F. A warrant to take physical custody of a child, issued by this state or another state, is enforceable throughout this state. If the court finds that a less intrusive remedy will not be effective, it may authorize law enforcem ent officers to enter private property to take physical custody of the child. If required by exigent circumstances, the court may authorize law enforce ment officers to make a forcible entry at any hour. G. If the court finds, after a hearing, that a petitioner sought an ex parte war rant under subsection A of this section for the purpose of harassment or in bad faith, the court may award the respondent reasonable attorney fees, costs, and expenses. H. This act does not affect the availability of relief al lowed under the laws of this state other than this act. SECTION 10. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-10 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Req. No. 2667 Page 17 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 An abduction prevention order remains in effect until the earliest of the: 1. Time stated in the order ; 2. Emancipation of the child; 3. Child’s attaining 18 years of age; or 4. Time the order is modified, revoked, vac ated, or superseded by a court with jurisdiction under Sections 551-201 through 551-203 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes or other applicable laws of this state. SECTION 11. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-11 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: In applying and constru ing this uniform act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. SECTION 12. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 561-12 of Title 43, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: This act modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001, et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of the act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), of that act or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b). Req. No. 2667 Page 18 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 SECTION 13. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-2667 TEK 12/15/2023 5:55:58 PM