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28	28	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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30	30	1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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32	32	HOUSE BILL 1967 By: Williams
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38	38	AS INTRODUCED
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40	40	An Act relating to guardian and ward; provi ding for
41	41	appointment of guardians by a court for a minor;
42	42	providing who may petition the cou rt for a
43	43	guardianship; providing what must be included in the
44	44	petition; providing for a home study; providing who
45	45	shall pay for the home study; providing who shall
46	46	conduct the home study; providing exemption for home
47	47	study requirement; prohibiting the remo val of a minor
48	48	residing in a domestic violence shelter; requiring
49	49	background checks for guardians before appointment;
50	50	providing requirements of background check; providing
51	51	for certain notice; providing requirements for
52	52	service of notice; defining term; pro viding for
53	53	mandatory reporting in certain circumstances;
54	54	requiring investigation and protective measures for
55	55	certain reports; providing for collaboration between
56	56	law enforcement and the Oklahoma Department of Human
57	57	Services in certain instances; providing for
58	58	notification to the court; repealing 30 O.S. 2021,
59	59	Section 2-101, which relates to court appointed
60	60	guardianships of minors; providing for codification;
61	61	and providing an effective date.
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66	66	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
67	67	SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
68	68	in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2 -101.1 of Title 30, unless
69	69	there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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96	96	A. When a court of any county determines whether it is
97	97	necessary or convenient for the welfare of a minor, the court shall,
98	98	with due regard for the child 's best interests, appoint a guardian
99	99	or guardians for the person or estate of the minor, or both, in
100	100	accordance with the provisions of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes
101	101	and consistent with the protection of vulnerable children.
102	102	B. Such an appointment may be made on the verified petition of
103	103	a relative or another person acting on behalf of the minor.
104	104	Petitions shall clearly outline the reasons for guardian ship and
105	105	demonstrate that it is in the best interest of the child, ensuring
106	106	that all other legal avenues have been exhausted before seeking
107	107	guardianship.
108	108	C. 1. Before appointing a guardian, the court shall receive an
109	109	investigation and report regarding th e background and home of the
110	110	prospective guardian. The investigation shall meet the requirements
111	111	of the Oklahoma Adoption Code. In considering whether a home study
112	112	is necessary, the court shall prioritize the protection of the
113	113	minor, ensuring that the en vironment is conducive to their safety
114	114	and well-being.
115	115	2. The cost of the hom e study shall be assessed against the
116	116	party responsible, whether the private child -placing agency, the
117	117	legal custodian of the child, or the prospective guardian.
118	118	3. For children in the custody of the Department of Human
119	119	Services (DHS) or the Office of Juvenile Affairs, the applicable
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146	146	Department or Office shall conduct or provide for the home study as
147	147	required by the Oklahoma Children 's Code or the Oklahoma Juvenile
148	148	Code.
149	149	4. The Department of Human Services or the Office of Juvenile
150	150	Affairs shall not be co mpelled by any court order to conduct or
151	151	provide a home study for any child not in their legal custody.
152	152	D. 1. No child temporarily residing in a licensed, certified
153	153	domestic violence shelter, whether in this state or another, shall
154	154	be subject to removal by an ex parte order or without proper notice
155	155	for an evidentiary hearing regarding custody modification, ensuring
156	156	that the child's immediate safety remains the court 's primary
157	157	concern.
158	158	2. No child temporarily residing in a licensed, certified
159	159	domestic violence shelter shall be removed under a guardianship
160	160	custody order if a valid protective order has been issued for the
161	161	custodial parent of the child. This provision is establishe d to
162	162	prevent any disruption of protective measures and ensure the
163	163	continued safety of both the child and the custodial parent.
164	164	E. In the interest of child safety and due diligence, before
165	165	appointing a guardian, the court shall require a comprehensive
166	166	background check for the prospective guardian and all household
167	167	members aged eighteen (18) or older. This check shall include a
168	168	national fingerprint -based criminal background check, a review of
169	169	the Sex Offenders Registration Act, and a search of the Child Abuse
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196	196	and Neglect Information System (CANIS). This requirement shall not
197	197	be waived except in emergency placements where it is not possible to
198	198	obtain such a search in a timely manner, and the court deems that
199	199	waiving the requirement is necessary to prevent ha rm to the minor.
200	200	F. 1. Before appointing a guardian, the court shall notify the
201	201	minor, if the minor is aged fourteen (14) or older, of the hearing
202	202	on the petition for guardianship. The minor shall also be afforded
203	203	an opportunity to voice their concerns or preferences, which the
204	204	court shall consider as part of its deliberation process.
205	205	2. Notice of the guardianship petition and hearing shall be
206	206	provided to the parents or other legal custodians of the minor .
207	207	This notice ensures that all parties with a le gitimate interest in
208	208	the welfare of the minor are informed and can participate in the
209	209	proceedings.
210	210	3. Notice and a copy of the petition shall be personally served
211	211	at least ten (10) days before the hearing. In circumstances where
212	212	expedited action is neces sary for the welfare of the minor, the
213	213	court may authorize a shorter notice period, provided that all
214	214	reasonable efforts are made to ensure that notice is still effective
215	215	and that the rights of all parties are protected.
216	216	G. For the purposes of this sectio n, a child shall be
217	217	considered abandoned if:
218	218	1. The parent, legal guardian, o r custodian has willfully left
219	219	the child without provision for adequate care or supervision.
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246	246	2. The abandonment extends beyond the timeframes specified in
247	247	Section 1-1-105 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which defines
248	248	abandonment as the willful desertion of a child for a period of at
249	249	least thirty (30) days without making adequate arrangements for the
250	250	child's care.
251	251	H. 1. Any individual, agency, or shelter that becomes aware of
252	252	a potential abandonment case shall:
253	253	a. report the abandonment to the Oklah oma Department of
254	254	Human Services (DHS) within twenty-four (24) hours of
255	255	discovering the situation ,
256	256	b. file a police report with the local law enforcement
257	257	agency within twenty-four (24) hours to ensure timely
258	258	investigation and coordination with DHS.
259	259	2. Upon receipt of a report, DHS shall investigate the
260	260	circumstances of the alleged abandonment in accordance with Section
261	261	1-2-105 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, prioritizing th e
262	262	safety and welfare of the child. Furthermore, law enforcement shall
263	263	collaborate with DHS to determine if the situation warrants
264	264	immediate protective custody or intervention under Section 1-4-201
265	265	of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which governs emerge ncy
266	266	custody of abandoned children.
267	267	3. DHS shall notify the court of any abandonment investigation
268	268	and file a report outlining the child 's current status and
269	269	recommendations for guardianship or other protective measures.
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296	296	The court shall prioritize hearings for cases involving
297	297	abandonment to ensure that the child 's safety and well-being are
298	298	addressed promptly.
299	299	4. Any person or agency required to report under this section
300	300	who knowingly fails to do so may be subject to penalties under
301	301	Section 1-2-101 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which outlines
302	302	the obligations of mandatory reporters in cases of child abuse,
303	303	neglect, or abandonment.
304	304	SECTION 2. REPEALER 30 O.S. 2021, Section 2 -101, is
305	305	hereby repealed.
306	306	SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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308	308	60-1-10852 JL 12/16/24

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1967 Compare Versions