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 803 By: Jett
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5 AS INTRODUCED
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6 An Act relating to parental rights; creating the
6 Parental Rights Protection Act; providing short
7 title; stating purpose of act; establishing certain
7 rights; providing certain penalties and immunities;
8 establishing the Parental Rights Review Board for
8 certain purpose; describing membership; specifying
9 duties; providing for noncodification; providing for
9 codification; providing an effective date; and
10 declaring an emergency.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
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14 codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
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15 A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Parental
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16 Rights Protection Act".
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17 B. The purpose of this act is to ensure that the rights of
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18 parents, as outlined in the Parents' Bill of Rights, are fully
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19 protected and to establish clear consequences for any violation of
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20 those rights by state agencies, officials, or individuals acting in
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21 an official capacity.
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22 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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23 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2010 of Title 25, unless there
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24 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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1 The Parents' Bill of Rights is hereby amended to include the
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2 following provisions:
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3 1. Right to Due Process: Parents have the right to be notified
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4 in writing of any allegations or concerns regarding their parental
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5 rights or the welfare of their child, with clear details of the
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6 allegations, evidence, and specific actions required of the parent
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7 to resolve the issues;
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8 2. Right to Family Reunification: Parents shall have the right
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9 to a fair and unbiased process for reunification with their child,
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10 including a clearly defined and transparent timeline for
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11 reunification, unless there is clear and convincing evidence of
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12 immediate harm to the child. The Department of Human Services or
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13 any state agency shall make all reasonable efforts to place children
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14 with relatives or family members before placing them in foster care;
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15 3. Right to Appeal: Parents have the right to appeal any
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16 decisions related to the removal of their child or any actions that
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17 limit their parental rights. Appeals shall be handled in a timely
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18 manner and in accordance with due process;
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19 4. Right to Access to Evidence: Parents have the right to
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20 access all evidence, records, and reports used to make decisions
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21 affecting their parental rights, including access to child welfare
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22 records, medical reports, and other relevant documentation. The
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23 Department of Human Services or any state agency shall not withhold
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24 or redact evidence unless specifically authorized by law; and
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1 5. Right to Fair Investigation: Investigations regarding
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2 allegations of child abuse or neglect shall be conducted fairly,
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3 transparently, and in the best interest of the child, with all
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4 parties (including both parents, guardians, and relevant
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5 professionals) having the opportunity to present evidence,
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6 testimonies, and challenge accusations.
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7 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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8 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2011 of Title 25, unless there
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9 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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10 A. Any state agency or official including, but not limited to,
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11 employees of the Department of Human Services, law enforcement, or
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12 judicial officers found to have willfully violated the rights of
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13 parents as enumerated in the Parents' Bill of Rights, shall be
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14 subject to the following consequences:
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15 1. Monetary penalties: The violating agency or official shall
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16 be subject to fines, with amounts determined based on the severity
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17 of the violation, to be paid into a fund for the support and
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18 reintegration of affected families;
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19 2. Civil liability: The agency or official may be held liable
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20 for damages caused to the affected parent or family, including
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21 emotional distress, financial losses, and attorney's fees. Parents
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22 may file a civil lawsuit to seek redress for violations;
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23 3. Suspension or removal from office: State officials who are
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24 found to have knowingly violated the rights of parents or engaged in
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1 misconduct, including fraudulent reporting, failure to provide due
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2 process, or retaliatory actions, may be subject to suspension or
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3 removal from office, in accordance with applicable state laws and
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4 procedures; or
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5 4. Mandatory training and re-education: Any state employee
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6 found to have violated the Parents' Bill of Rights shall be required
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7 to complete mandatory training on parental rights, due process, and
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8 ethical conduct, before returning to their duties.
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9 B. Judges or court officials who violate the rights of parents
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10 by failing to follow due process or by making rulings without
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11 sufficient evidence shall be subject to disciplinary action by the
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12 Council on Judicial Complaints. This may include suspension,
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13 removal, or other penalties as determined by the Council.
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14 C. Any employee or official within a state agency who reports
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15 violations of the Parents' Bill of Rights, in good faith, shall be
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16 protected from retaliation. Retaliatory actions, including
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17 demotion, dismissal, or harassment, shall be subject to disciplinary
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18 action.
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19 SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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20 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2012 of Title 25, unless there
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21 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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22 A Parental Rights Review Board shall be established to monitor
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23 compliance with the Parents' Bill of Rights. The Board shall
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24 consist of members appointed by the Governor to include legal
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1 experts, social workers, family advocates, and other relevant
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2 stakeholders, and shall:
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3 1. Review complaints submitted by parents and families
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4 regarding violations of their rights;
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5 2. Investigate claims of violations by state agencies or
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6 officials;
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7 3. Recommend actions, including disciplinary measures,
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8 penalties, and reforms to improve the protection of parental rights;
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9 and
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10 4. Electronically submit an annual report to the Governor,
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11 Legislature, and the public on the status of parental rights
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12 protections in Oklahoma.
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13 SECTION 5. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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14 SECTION 6. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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15 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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16 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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17 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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19 60-1-940 DC 1/19/2025 5:43:38 AM
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Req. No. 940 Page 5Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.