Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1566 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

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29		-	SENATE FLOOR VERSION
30		-	April 15, 2025
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33	28		ENGROSSED HOUSE
34	29		BILL NO. 1566 By: Duel and Stark of the House
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36	31		and
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38	33		Weaver of the Senate
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43	40		An Act relating to mental health; creating Neil's
44	41		Law; creating the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and
45	42		Abuse Act; declaring purpose and intent; defining
46	43		terms; providing for civil actions; providing for
47	44		venue; providing for relief; providing who may bring
48	45		a claim; authorizing the court to grant access to
49	46		certain records; providing that claim survives death
50	47		of vulnerable adult; providing that certain
51	48		privileged relationships are not grounds for
52	49		excluding evidence; providing for noncodification;
53	50		providing for codification; and providing an
54	51		effective date.
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59	56		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
60	57		SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new sec tion of law not to be
61	58		codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
62	59		This act shall be known and may be cited as "Neil's Law".
63	60		SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
64	61		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -101 of Title 43A, unless
65	62		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
66	63		Sections 2 through 7 of this act shall be known and may be cite d
67	64		as the "Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act".
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95	91		SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
96	92		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -102 of Title 43A, unless
97	93		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
98	94		A. The purpose of the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act
99	95		is to promote the general welfare of all c itizens by establishing a
100	96		civil action for incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults which
101	97		provides for the protection of their rights and affo rds them a right
102	98		of civil action against those who neglect, exploit, or abuse them.
103	99		B. The purpose of the Okla homa Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act
104	100		is to allow incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults, through
105	101		their legal representatives, to pursue claims against persons who
106	102		neglect, exploit, or abuse the incapacitated person or vulnerable
107	103		adult if he or she la cks the capacity to pursue such claims on his
108	104		or her own behalf.
109	105		C. The Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act does not
110	106		preclude an individua l's mandatory responsibility to report to Adult
111	107		Protective Services or law enforcement if there is reasonable c ause
112	108		to believe a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or
113	109		exploited.
114	110		D. It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature:
115	111		1. That the district court shall exercise the authority
116	112		conferred by the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act to
117	113		encourage the development of maximum self -reliance and independence
118	114		of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults and make appointive
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146	141		and other orders onl y to the extent necessitated by the mental and
147	142		adaptive limitations of other conditions of the incapacitated or
148	143		partially incapacitated person warranting the action; and
149	144		2. That in performing their duties and exercising their powers,
150	145		legal representatives bringing claims under this act for
151	146		incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults shall:
152	147		a. assure, to the extent reasonably possible, that the
153	148		rights of the persons for whom they are appointed are
154	149		protected, and
155	150		b. encourage, to the extent reasonably possib le,
156	151		incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults to
157	152		participate to the maximum extent of their abilities
158	153		in all decisions which affect them concerning the
159	154		claims afforded them under this act.
160	155		SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
161	156		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -103 of Title 43A, unless
162	157		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
163	158		A. When used in the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act:
164	159		1. "Abuse" means causing or permitting:
165	160		a. the infliction of physical pain, injury, sexual abuse,
166	161		sexual exploitation, unreasonable restraint or
167	162		confinement, mental anguish or personal degradation,
168	163		or
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196	190		b. the deprivation of nutrition, clothing, shelter,
197	191		health care, or other care or services without which
198	192		serious physical or mental injury is likely to occur
199	193		to a vulnerable adult by a caretaker or other person
200	194		providing services to a vulnerable adult;
201	195		2. "Caretaker" means a person who has:
202	196		a. the responsibility for the care of a vulnerable adult
203	197		or the financial management of the resources of a
204	198		vulnerable adult as a result of a family relationship,
205	199		b. assumed the responsibility for the care of a
206	200		vulnerable adult voluntarily, by contract, or as a
207	201		result of the ties of friendship, or
208	202		c. been appointed a guardian, limited guardian, or
209	203		conservator pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardianship and
210	204		Conservatorship Act;
211	205		3. "Exploitation" or "exploit" means an unjust or improper use
212	206		of the resources of a vulnerable adult for the profit or advantage,
213	207		pecuniary or otherwise, of a person other than the vulnerable adult
214	208		through the use of undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress,
215	209		deception, false representation or false pretense;
216	210		4. "Financial neglect" means repeated instances by a caretaker,
217	211		or other person, who has assumed the role of financial management,
218	212		of failure to use the resources available to restore or maintain the
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246	239		health and physical well-being of a vulnerable adult, including, but
247	240		not limited to:
248	241		a. squandering or negligently mismanaging the money,
249	242		property, or accounts of a vulnerable adult,
250	243		b. refusing to pay for necessities or utilities in a
251	244		timely manner, or
252	245		c. providing substandard care to a vulnerable adult
253	246		despite the availability of adequate financial
254	247		resources;
255	248		5. "Incapacitated person " means:
256	249		a. any person eighteen (18) years of age or older:
257	250		(1) who is impaired by reason of mental or physical
258	251		illness or disability, dementia or related
259	252		disease, developmental or intellectual disability
260	253		or other cause, and
261	254		(2) whose ability to receive and evaluate inform ation
262	255		effectively or to make and to communicate
263	256		responsible decisions is impaired to such an
264	257		extent that such person lacks the capacity to
265	258		manage his or her financial resources or to meet
266	259		essential requirements for his or her mental or
267	260		physical health or safety without assistance from
268	261		others, or
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296	288		b. a person for whom a guardian, limited guardian, or
297	289		conservator has been appointed pursuant to the
298	290		Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act;
299	291		6. "Indecent exposure" means forcing or requiring a vulnerable
300	292		adult to:
301	293		a. look upon the body or private parts of another person
302	294		or upon sexual acts performed in the presence o f the
303	295		vulnerable adult, or
304	296		b. touch or feel the body or private parts of another;
305	297		7. "Neglect" means:
306	298		a. the failure to provide protection for a vulnerable
307	299		adult who is unable to protect his or her own
308	300		interest,
309	301		b. the failure to provide a vulnerable adul t with
310	302		adequate shelter, nutrition, health care, or clothing,
311	303		or
312	304		c. negligent acts or omissions that result in harm or the
313	305		unreasonable risk of h arm to a vulnerable adult
314	306		through the action, inaction, or lack of supervision
315	307		by a caretaker providing direct services;
316	308		8. "Personal degradation " means a willful act by a caretaker
317	309		intended to shame, degrade, humiliate , or otherwise harm the
318	310		personal dignity of a vulnerable adult, or where the caretaker knew
319	311		or reasonably should have known the act would cause sha me,
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347	338		degradation, humiliation , or harm to the personal dignity of a
348	339		reasonable person. Personal degradation includes the taking,
349	340		transmitting, or displaying of an electronic image of a vulnerable
350	341		adult by a caretaker, where the caretaker 's actions constitute a
351	342		willful act intended to shame, degrade, humiliate or otherwise harm
352	343		the personal dignity of the dependent adult, or where the caretaker
353	344		knew or reasonably should have known the act would cause shame,
354	345		degradation, humiliation or harm to the personal di gnity of a
355	346		reasonable person. Personal degradation does not include:
356	347		a. the taking, transmitting, or displaying of an
357	348		electronic image of a vuln erable adult for the purpose
358	349		of reporting vulnerable adult abuse to law
359	350		enforcement, the Department of Human Se rvices or other
360	351		regulatory agency that oversees caretakers or enforces
361	352		abuse or neglect laws or rules,
362	353		b. the taking, transmitting, or displaying of an
363	354		electronic image of a vulnerable adult for the purpose
364	355		of treatment or diagnosis, or
365	356		c. the taking, transmitting, or displaying of an
366	357		electronic image of a vulnerable adult as part of an
367	358		ongoing investigation;
368	359		9. "Sexual abuse" means:
369	360		a. oral, anal, or vaginal penetration of a vulnerable
370	361		adult by or through the union with the sexual organ of
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398	388		a caretaker or other person providing services to the
399	389		vulnerable adult, or the anal or vaginal penetration
400	390		of a vulnerable adult by a caretaker or other person
401	391		providing services to the vulnerable adult with any
402	392		other object, or
403	393		b. for the purpose of sexual gratification , the touching,
404	394		feeling or observation of the body or private parts of
405	395		a vulnerable adult by a caretaker or other person
406	396		providing services to th e vulnerable adult, or
407	397		c. indecent exposure by a caretaker or other person
408	398		providing services to the vulnerable adult;
409	399		10. "Sexual exploitation" includes, but is not limited to, a
410	400		caretaker's causing, allowing, permitting , or encouraging a
411	401		vulnerable adult to engage in prostitution or in the lewd, obscene,
412	402		or pornographic photographing, filming , or depiction of the
413	403		vulnerable adult as those acts are defined by state law;
414	404		11. "Verbal abuse" means the use of words, sounds, or other
415	405		communication including, but not limited to, gestures, actions , or
416	406		behaviors, by a caretaker or other person providing services to a
417	407		vulnerable adult that are likely to cause a reasonable person to
418	408		experience humiliation, intimidation, fear, shame , or degradation;
419	409		and
420	410		12. "Vulnerable adult" means an individual who is an
421	411		incapacitated person or who, because of physical or mental
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449	438		disability, including persons with Alzheimer 's disease or other
450	439		dementias, incapacity, or other disability, is substantially
451	440		impaired in the ability to pr ovide adequately for the care or
452	441		custody of himself or herself, or is unable to manage his or her
453	442		property and financial affairs effectively, or to meet essential
454	443		requirements for mental or physical health or safety, or to protect
455	444		himself or herself from abuse, neglect, or exploitation without
456	445		assistance from others .
457	446		B. Nothing in this section shall be construed t o mean a
458	447		vulnerable adult is abused or neglected for the sole reason the
459	448		vulnerable adult, in good faith, selects and depends upon spiritual
460	449		means alone through prayer, in accordance with the practices of a
461	450		recognized religious method of healing, for the t reatment or cure of
462	451		disease or remedial care, or a caretaker or other person
463	452		responsible, in good faith, is furnishing such vulnerable adult
464	453		spiritual means alone through prayer, in accordance with the tenets
465	454		and practices of a recognized church or religio us denomination, for
466	455		the treatment or cure of disease or remedial care in accordance with
467	456		the practices of or express consent of the vulnerable a dult.
468	457		SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
469	458		in the Oklahoma Statutes a s Section 14-104 of Title 43A, unless
470	459		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
471	460		A. A claim for elder neglect, exploitation, or abuse, as
472	461		prescribed in this section, may be brought in any district court
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500	488		within the county in the State o f Oklahoma in which the vulnerable
501	489		adult lives or maintains his or her residence or was living at the
502	490		time of the act or omission giving rise to the claim.
503	491		B. A person who commits neglect or financial neglect against a
504	492		vulnerable adult, proven by a prepon derance of the evidence, shall
505	493		be liable for actual damages in an amount that compensates the
506	494		vulnerable adult for the loss he or she has incurred as a result
507	495		thereof and shall be liable for punitive damages as Oklahoma law
508	496		otherwise allows.
509	497		C. A person who commits exploitation or abuse of a vulnerable
510	498		adult, proven by a preponderance of the evidence, shall be liable
511	499		for damages three times the ac tual damages incurred by the
512	500		vulnerable adult as a result thereof and shall be liable for
513	501		punitive damages as O klahoma law otherwise allows.
514	502		D. The prevailing party in the claims prescribed in subsections
515	503		B and C of this section shall be entitled to recover reasonable
516	504		attorney fees and costs.
517	505		E. The claims prescribed in this section shall follow and
518	506		otherwise be subject to the general laws governing civil claims
519	507		under Oklahoma law, including, without limitation, the provisions
520	508		found in Titles 12 and 23 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
521	509		F. The claims provided for by this section may be brought by
522	510		the vulnerable adult or o n behalf of the vulnerable adult by his or
523	511		her guardian, limited guardian, conservator, agent under an
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551	538		appropriate power of attorney, duly appointed representative of the
552	539		estate of the vulnerable adult, if deceased, or other legal
553	540		representative approved b y the court.
554	541		G. In addition to any other documents or records to which the
555	542		vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative may be entitled
556	543		in pursuit of the claim or claims prescribed in this section, the
557	544		court may authorize or direct the vulnerable a dult and his or her
558	545		legal representative access to and copies of financial, legal,
559	546		mental health, and physical health records of the vulnerable adult
560	547		in the possession of any physician, hospital, other health care
561	548		provider, firm, financial institution, law yer, accountant,
562	549		counselor, broker, caregiver, corporation, other business entity, or
563	550		other facility or party. These records, upon order of the court,
564	551		shall be produced within ten (10) days, unless the court orders a
565	552		shorter time, and the records shall no t be disclosed for any purpose
566	553		other than the purpose for which they have been obtained.
567	554		H. The claims provided for in this section survive the death of
568	555		the vulnerable adult.
569	556		SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
570	557		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 14 -105 of Title 43A, unless
571	558		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
572	559		The district court in which a claim authorized in this act is
573	560		filed may, upon proper application, issue a restraining order or
574	561		other injunctive relief to prohibit any further violation of this
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602	588		act, regardless of the existence of any other remedy at law and in
603	589		addition thereto.
604	590		SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
605	591		in the Oklahoma Statutes as S ection 14-106 of Title 43A, unless
606	592		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
607	593		Subject to a specific court order, the physicia n-patient
608	594		privilege nor spousal privilege shall be grounds for excluding
609	595		evidence regarding the neglect, exploi tation, or abuse of a
610	596		vulnerable adult or the cause thereof in any judicial proceeding
611	597		arising under this act.
612	598		SECTION 8. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
613		-	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE O N JUDICIARY
614		-	April 15, 2025 - DO PASS
	599	+	Passed the House of Representatives the 13th day of March, 2025.
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	604	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	605	+	of Representatives
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	608	+
	609	+	Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2025.
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	614	+	Presiding Officer of the Senat e