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 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1909 By: Jett
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Children's Code;
7 requiring certain selection process for medical
8 evaluators; directing the Office of the
8 Administrative Director of the Courts to implement
9 certain system and policies; requiring maintenance of
9 certain audit system; authorizing civil, criminal,
10 and administrative enforcement; requiring certain
10 annual review and certification; amending 10A O.S.
11 2021, Section 1-4-603, which relates to order of
11 adjudication finding child to be deprived; modifying
12 certain standard; providing for codification; and
12 providing an effective date.
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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 1-3-105 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. To promote fair and objective determinations in cases
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20 involving allegations of child abuse or neglect and prevent
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21 potential bias or doctor shopping by the Department of Human
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22 Services, all proceedings under the Oklahoma Children's Code that
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23 necessitate a medical evaluator shall use a blind, randomized
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24 selection process for medical evaluators.
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1 B. The Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts
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2 shall establish a blind, randomized selection process for medical
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3 evaluators. The office shall implement a blind, random assignment
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4 system from a statewide pool of qualified, independent medical
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5 professionals, including consulting pediatricians and child abuse
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6 specialists. The office shall implement policies and procedures to
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7 ensure impartial evaluations and unbiased medical findings.
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8 C. The Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts
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9 shall maintain a comprehensive audit system documenting all
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10 interactions between Department of Human Services personnel,
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11 consulting pediatricians, and child abuse specialists. This shall
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12 include records of consultation frequency, instances where medical
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13 opinions supported the Department's positions versus parental
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14 defenses, and justifications for any deviations from randomization.
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15 D. The Attorney General shall investigate violations of the
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16 blind, randomized selection process, may bring civil actions to
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17 enforce this section, and may criminally prosecute violations of
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18 this section. In addition to civil and criminal penalties, the
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19 court may impose sanctions to enforce this section. Licensure
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20 boards may impose disciplinary action on licensees who violate this
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21 section.
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22 E. All medical evaluators involved in child abuse evaluations
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23 shall complete annual review and certification by the Office of the
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24 Administrative Director of the Courts, to include a course
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Req. No. 3518 Page 2
1 emphasizing the paramount importance of parental rights, the
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2 seriousness of arbitrary or capricious child removals, and adherence
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3 to evidence-based practices that prioritize family preservation when
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4 safe and appropriate.
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5 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-4-603, is
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6 amended to read as follows:
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7 Section 1-4-603. A. If the court finds that:
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8 1. The factual allegations in a petition filed by the state
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9 alleging that a child is deprived are supported by a preponderance
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10 of the evidence proof beyond a reasonable doubt;
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11 2. Such allegations are sufficient to support a finding that
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12 the child is deprived; and
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13 3. It is in the best interests of the child that the child be
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14 declared to be a deprived child and made a ward of the court,
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15 then the court shall sustain the petition, and shall make an order
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16 of adjudication finding the child to be deprived and shall adjudge
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17 the child as a ward of the court.
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18 B. The order of adjudication shall include a statement that
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19 advises the parent that failure to appear at any subsequent hearing
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20 or comply with any requirements of the court may result in the
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21 termination of parental rights to the child.
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22 C. When a child has been adjudicated deprived, the court shall
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23 enter a dispositional order pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-
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24 4-707 of this title.
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1 D. When a child has been adjudicated deprived, the parent or
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2 other legal custodian shall register with the court clerk within two
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3 (2) days of the adjudication and provide a valid, current address or
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4 other place where the parent or other legal custodian may be served
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5 with a summons. In the event that the address or place where the
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6 parent or legal custodian may be served a summons changes during the
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7 course of the litigation, the parent or other legal custodian shall
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8 have the obligation of filing a change of address form with the
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9 clerk. In the event that an amended petition or motion is filed,
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10 the address listed on the form of the court clerk shall constitute
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11 the last-known address of the parent or other legal custodian unless
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12 the state has actual knowledge of the parent or other legal
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13 custodian's location.
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14 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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16 60-2-3518 DC 1/15/2026 8:44:08 AM
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Req. No. 3518 Page 4Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.