Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 187 By: Pederson
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to children; providing access to
7 certain counseling services for foster parents and
8 certain children subject to specified condition;
8 stating purpose; providing for reimbursement of
9 contracted providers; making counseling optional;
9 prohibiting certain penalties and discrimination;
10 providing for establishment of certain
10 qualifications; directing provision of certain
11 information to foster parents; providing for
11 codification; providing an effective date; and
12 declaring an emergency.
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15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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16 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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17 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-9-126 of Title 10A, unless
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18 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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19 A. Subject to availability of funding, foster parents and
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20 children in the home other than foster children shall have access to
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21 not less than six (6) hours annually of counseling services provided
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22 by licensed mental health providers contracted with the Department
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23 of Human Services.
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Req. No. 136 Page 1
1 B. The purpose of providing the counseling services is to
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2 retain safe, loving, and supportive foster homes for children in the
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3 custody of the State of Oklahoma.
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4 C. The counseling services shall be provided at no cost to the
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5 foster parent or child, and the mental health provider shall be paid
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6 a rate for such services by the Department in an amount determined
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7 by the Department.
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8 D. The counseling services provided under this section shall be
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9 optional for foster parents and children. Foster parents shall not
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10 be penalized or discriminated against for seeking or receiving
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11 counseling services under this section.
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12 E. All licensed mental health providers who provide counseling
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13 services under this section shall meet such qualifications as may be
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14 established by the Director of Human Services. Such qualifications
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15 shall include, but not be limited to, training in the Flash
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16 Technique.
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17 F. Prior to or upon placement of a child in a foster home, the
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18 Department shall provide information on the counseling services
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19 described in this section to the foster parents, including how to
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20 seek such services.
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21 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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22 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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23 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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Req. No. 136 Page 2
1 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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2 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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4 60-1-136 DC 12/30/2024 1:56:24 PM
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Req. No. 136 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.