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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
HOUSE BILL 3637 By: Lawson
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to children; amending 10A O.S. 2021,
Sections 1-9-102, 1-9-103, 1-9-104, 1-9-104a, and 1-
9-104b, which relate to the Oklahoma Children's Code;
providing that the lead agency for child abuse
multidisciplinary review team shall be certified or
qualified; providing that the district attorney shall
choose and the team shall provide input and consent
for the lead agency; providing duties for the team;
updating references; providing that law enforcement
and staff shall conduct joint investigations;
modifying team functions; directing an entity to
review the teams; directing the Department of Human
Services to work in partnership with designated
entity; modifying terms relating to the Child Abuse
Multidisciplinary Team Account; authorizing certain
entity to administer certain funds; authorizing the
Department to contract with qualifying entity;
modifying who may promulgate rules; creating the
Oklahoma Multidisciplinary Team Council; providing
for membership; providing requirements for
membership; providing duties of Council; directing
Council to elect chair and vice-chair; providing that
a quorum of the Council may carry out business;
repealing 10A O.S. 2021, Sections 1-9-103a and 1-9-
103b, which relate to the Child Abuse
Multidisciplinary Team Account Fund; repealing 63
O.S. 2021, Section 1-227.9, which relates to the
Child Abuse Training and Coordination Council;
providing for codification; and providing an
effective date.
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-9-102, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-9-102. A. 1. In coordination with the Oklahoma
Commission on Children and Youth, each Each district attorney shall
develop a child abuse multidisciplinary child abuse review team in
each district attorney's respective county of the district attorney
or in a contiguous group of counties.
2. The lead agency for the team shall be a certified child
advocacy center or another qualified agency chosen by the members of
the team district attorney with input and consent from the child
abuse multidisciplinary team members. The team shall review,
provide input, and intervene in reports involving child sexual abuse
or child physical abuse or neglect.
B. The child abuse multidisciplinary child abuse team members
shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Mental health professionals licensed pursuant to the laws of
this state or licensed professional counselors;
2. Police officers or other law enforcement agents with a role
in, or experience or training in child abuse and neglect
investigation;
3. Medical personnel with experience in child abuse and neglect
identification;
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4. Child protective services workers within the Department of
Human Services;
5. Multidisciplinary child Child abuse multidisciplinary team
coordinators, or Child Advocacy Center personnel; and
6. The district attorney or assistant district attorney.
C. 1. To the extent that resources are available to each of
the various multidisciplinary child abuse teams throughout the
state, the The functions of the team shall include, but not be
limited to, the following specific functions:
a. whenever feasible, law enforcement and child welfare
staff shall conduct joint investigations in an effort
to effectively respond to child abuse reports, as
outlined in each written protocol in a timely manner,
into reports of child sexual and physical abuse or
neglect,
b. develop or adopt a written protocol for investigating
child sexual abuse and child physical abuse or neglect
cases and for interviewing child victims. The purpose
of the protocol shall be to ensure coordination and
cooperation between all agencies involved so as to
increase the efficiency in handling such cases and to
minimize the stress created for the allegedly abused
child by the legal and investigatory process. In
addition, each team shall develop confidentiality
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statements and interagency agreements signed by member
agencies that specify the cooperative effort of the
member agencies to the team,
c. increase communication and collaboration among the
professionals responsible for the reporting,
investigation, prosecution and treatment of child
abuse and neglect cases,
d. eliminate duplicative efforts in the investigation and
the prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases,
e. identify gaps in service or all untapped resources
within the community to improve the delivery of
services to the victim and family develop or adopt a
written protocol for interviewing children involved in
investigations and the use of child advocacy centers
for forensic interviews,
d. develop or adopt confidentiality statements and
interagency agreements signed by member agencies that
specify the cooperative effort of the member agencies
to the team,
e. identify gaps in service or all untapped resources
within the community to improve the delivery of
services to the victim and family,
f. encourage the development of develop expertise through
training. Each team member and those conducting child
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abuse investigations and interviews of child abuse
victims shall be trained in the multidisciplinary team
approach, conducting legally sound and age-appropriate
interviews, effective investigation techniques and
joint investigations as provided through the State
Department of Health, the Commission on Children and
Youth a nationally accredited state chapter of
Oklahoma Children's Advocacy Centers, or other
resources as approved by the Child Abuse
Multidisciplinary Team Council,
g. formalize adopt a standardized case review process and
provide data as requested to the Commission for
freestanding teams, and
h. standardize investigative procedures for the handling
of child abuse and neglect cases provide data as
requested to the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team
Council.
2. All investigations of child sexual abuse and child physical
abuse or neglect and interviews of child abuse or neglect victims
shall be carried out by appropriate personnel using the protocols
and procedures specified in this section.
3. If trained personnel are not available in a timely fashion
and, in the judgment of a law enforcement officer or the Department
of Human Services, there is reasonable cause to believe a delay in
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investigation or interview of the child victim could place the child
in jeopardy of harm or threatened harm to a child's health or
welfare, the investigation may proceed without full participation of
all personnel. This authority applies only for as long as
reasonable danger to the child exists. A reasonable effort to find
and provide a trained investigator or interviewer shall be made.
4. Freestanding multidisciplinary child Child abuse
multidisciplinary teams shall be approved by the Commission an
entity identified as a nationally accredited state chapter of
Oklahoma Children's Advocacy Centers in partnership with the Child
Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council. The Commission shall conduct
an An annual review of freestanding child abuse multidisciplinary
teams shall be conducted to ensure that the teams are functioning
effectively. Teams not meeting the minimal standards as promulgated
by the Commission Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council shall
be removed from the list of functioning teams in the state.
D. 1. A multidisciplinary child abuse team may enter into an
agreement with the Child Death Review Board within the Oklahoma
Commission on Children and Youth and, in accordance with rules
promulgated by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth,
conduct case reviews of deaths and near deaths of children within
the geographical area of that multidisciplinary child abuse team.
2. Any child abuse multidisciplinary child abuse team reviewing
deaths and near deaths of children shall prepare and make available
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to the public, on an annual basis, a report containing a summary of
the activities of the team relating to the review of the deaths and
near deaths of children and a summary of the extent to which the
state child protection system is coordinating with foster care and
adoption programs and whether the state is efficiently discharging
its child protection responsibilities. The report shall be
completed no later than December 31 of each year.
E. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of hospital
team reviews for client-specific purposes and multidisciplinary
teams, either of which were in existence prior to July 1, 1995;
provided, however, such teams shall not be subject to the provisions
of paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section.
F. 1. Child advocacy centers shall be classified, based on the
child population of a district attorney's district, as follows:
a. nonurban
1. Nonurban centers in districts with child populations that
are less than sixty thousand (60,000),;
b. midlevel
2. Midlevel nonurban centers in districts with child
populations equal to or greater than sixty thousand (60,000), but
not including Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties,; and
c. urban
3. Urban centers in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties.
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2. The multidisciplinary child abuse team used by the child
advocacy center for its accreditation shall meet the criteria
required by a national association of child advocacy centers and, in
addition, the team shall:
a. choose a lead agency for the team,
b. intervene in reports involving child sexual abuse and
may intervene in child physical abuse or neglect,
c. promote the joint investigation of child abuse reports
between law enforcement and child welfare staff, and
d. formalize standardized investigative procedures for
the handling of child abuse and neglect cases.
G. Multidisciplinary child abuse Child abuse multidisciplinary
teams and child advocacy centers shall have full access to any
service or treatment plan and any personal data known to the
Department which is directly related to the implementation of this
section.
H. Each member of the team shall be responsible for protecting
the confidentiality of the child and any information made available
to such person as a member of the team. The child abuse
multidisciplinary team and any information received by the team
shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections 301 through 314 of
Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Sections 24A.1 through 24A.31
of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
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SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-9-103, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-9-103. A. 1. There is hereby created in the
Department of Human Services a revolving fund to be designated the
"Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account".
2. The account shall be a continuing fund, not subject to
fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by
the Department pursuant to the provisions of this section and
Section 1-9-104 of this title.
3. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby
appropriated and shall be budgeted and expended by the Department
for the purposes provided in Sections 1-9-102 and 1-9-104 of this
title.
4. Expenditures from the account shall be made upon warrants
issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by
law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
Services for approval and payment.
B. The account shall be administered by the Department for the
benefit of children of Oklahoma and made available to eligible:
1. Coordinated Functioning multidisciplinary child abuse teams;
2. Nonurban child advocacy centers;
3. Mid-level Midlevel nonurban child advocacy centers; and
4. Urban child advocacy centers.
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C. 1. The Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account shall consist
of:
a. all monies received by the Department pursuant to the
provisions of Section 1-9-104 of this title,
b. interest attributable to investment of money in the
Account, and
c. money received by the Department in the form of gifts,
grants, reimbursements, or from any other source
intended to be used for the purposes specified or
collected pursuant to the provisions of this section
and Section 1-9-102 of this title.
2. The monies deposited in the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary
Account shall at no time become monies of the state and shall not
become part of the general budget of the Department or any other
state agency. Except as otherwise authorized by this section and
Section 1-9-104 of this title, no monies from the Account shall be
transferred for any purpose to any other state agency or any account
of the Department or be used for the purpose of contracting with any
other state agency or reimbursing any other state agency for any
expense.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-9-104, is
amended to read as follows:
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Section 1-9-104. A. The Department of Human Services, in
partnership with a designated entity, shall allocate monies
available in the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account (CAMA) to:
1. The Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Account (CAMTA) Fund
created by Section 1-9-103a of this title. Monies made available to
the CAMTA shall be used for the purposes of funding one One
functioning freestanding child abuse multidisciplinary child abuse
team in each county of this state, utilizing the funding
distributions as provided in subsection B of this section, certified
by the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council;
2. One hospital team pursuant to subsection E of Section 1-9-
102 of this title; and
3. One child advocacy center, accredited by the National
Children's Alliance, per district attorney's district. A child
advocacy center shall:
a. be eligible for Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account
(CAMA) funding upon accreditation by the National
Children's Alliance,
b. secure a third-year interim review to determine
whether the child advocacy center continues to meet
the National Children's Alliance standards in effect
at the time of its last accreditation. If a child
advocacy center fails the third-year review, the
center shall remain eligible for CAMA funding, but
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shall have another review conducted in the fourth
year. If the child advocacy center fails the fourth-
year review, the center shall be ineligible to receive
CAMA funding until such time as the center receives
reaccreditation from the National Children's Alliance,
and
c. remain the center for the district attorney's district
as long as the center is accredited and eligibility is
maintained pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-9-
102 of this title. If a center does not remain
eligible pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-9-102
of this title, endorsement by the district attorney as
the child advocacy center for the district may be
sought by any entity beginning with the calendar year
after the center is determined to be ineligible. The
two centers in district number (4) and district number
(13) that were accredited as of May 17, 2005, shall
continue to receive funding at the nonurban level.
Should one of the exempted centers close or no longer
meet the criteria for a child advocacy center pursuant
to the provisions of Section 1-9-102 of this title,
the center shall not be allowed to reopen in that
district or to receive CAMA funds. The remaining
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center shall become the sole child advocacy center for
the district attorney's district.
B. Funding distribution pursuant to the provisions of this
section shall be determined:
1. By multiplying the number of applicants in each category by
the corresponding weight as follows:
a. freestanding functioning child abuse multidisciplinary
child abuse team - 1,
b. hospital team - 1,
c. nonurban centers – 4,
d. mid-level midlevel nonurban centers – 6, and
e. urban centers – 24;
2. Adding together the weighted results for all categories;
3. Dividing the weighted result for each category by the sum of
the weighted results for all categories; and
4. Equally distributing funding to each applicant in the
corresponding category based on the amounts obtained by multiplying
the total available funding by the calculated percentages. The
total amount for all freestanding multidisciplinary teams as
determined by the formula provided in this subsection shall be
transferred to the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Account
(CAMTA) Fund established by Section 1-9-103a of this title and
contracts with each freestanding multidisciplinary team shall be
completed no later than January 1 of each year.
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During state fiscal year 2019, the Oklahoma Commission on
Children and Youth may disburse to each freestanding
multidisciplinary team the remaining contracted amount of the
freestanding multidisciplinary team award. The freestanding
multidisciplinary team shall provide the Commission with monthly
documentation of expenses as well as activity data and continue
providing such documentation thereafter. Beginning January 1, 2020,
and each year thereafter, the Commission may disburse the contracted
amount at the beginning of the calendar year to freestanding
multidisciplinary teams that are functioning effectively as
determined by the Commission pursuant to Section 1-9-102 of this
title.
C. By January 31, 2003 2027, and by January 31 of each year
thereafter, the Department shall partner with a designated entity to
disburse monies from the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Account to
eligible child abuse multidisciplinary teams and child advocacy
centers. A child abuse multidisciplinary team or child advocacy
center shall be in compliance with the provisions of Section 1-9-102
of this title to be eligible for Child Abuse Multidisciplinary
Account funding. The disbursement shall be a single, annual
disbursement, for the collection period of the preceding year
beginning October 1 through September 30.
D. A report issued by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and
Youth to the Oklahoma Legislature outlining performance measures for
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all multidisciplinary teams, including those associated with child
advocacy centers, and recommendations on the funding formula
provided for in this section shall be transmitted to the Oklahoma
Legislature no later than December 31, 2017. The Department, the
Commission, and the Children's Advocacy Centers of Oklahoma, Inc.,
and the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council shall meet
annually to review and certify the amount of CAMA and CAMTA funds to
be disbursed.
E. A child advocacy center may carry over funding for a period
of one (1) year after allocation, such one-year period to begin in
January and end in December of the same year; provided, however,
funds not used within twenty-four (24) months of the original
allocation will be deducted from the contract amount for the next
contract year. If a center is ineligible for funding in an upcoming
year, unused funds from the current or previous years shall be
returned to the CAMA Fund for use in subsequent years. Funds not
used by a freestanding team by the end of the contract period shall
revert to, and be deposited in, the CAMA Fund A child abuse
multidisciplinary team or child advocacy center may carry over
funding for a period of one (1) year after allocation, with such
one-year period to begin in January and end in December of the same
year; provided, however, funds not used within twenty-four (24)
months of the original allocation shall be returned to the CAMA
account. If a child abuse multidisciplinary team or child advocacy
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center is ineligible for funding in an upcoming year, unused funds
from the current or previous years shall be returned to the CAMA
account for use in subsequent years.
F. The Commission is hereby authorized to receive five percent
(5.0%) in administrative costs from the CAMTA Fund. The Department
of Human Services is hereby authorized to receive one-half of one
percent (0.5%) in administrative costs from the CAMA fund. In
partnership with the Department, an eligible entity identified as a
nationally accredited state chapter of Oklahoma Children's Advocacy
Centers is hereby authorized to administer the CAMA fund.
SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-9-104a,
is amended to read as follows:
Section 1-9-104a. The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
shall Department of Human Services is hereby authorized to contract
with a qualifying entity identified as a nationally accredited state
chapter of Oklahoma Children's Advocacy Centers to administer Child
Abuse Multidisciplinary Account funds and a qualifying entity
identified as a nationally accredited state chapter of Oklahoma
Children's Advocacy Centers is authorized to contract with eligible
providers as authorized by this act.
SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-9-104b,
is amended to read as follows:
Section 1-9-104b. The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
and the Department of Human Services Child Abuse Multidisciplinary
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Team Council shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of
this act.
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-9-102b of Title 10A, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary
Team Council.
B. The Oklahoma District Attorneys Council shall appoint a
Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council which shall be composed
of nine (9) members, as follows:
1. One member shall be the child welfare director within the
Department of Human Services;
2. One member shall be a district attorney;
3. One member shall be a representative of the Council on Law
Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET);
4. One member shall be a representative of an entity identified
as a nationally accredited state chapter of Oklahoma Children's
Advocacy Centers;
5. One member shall be a representative of a statewide medical
association and shall be a member of a state chapter of a national
academy of pediatrics;
6. One member shall be a representative of the Oklahoma Indian
Child Welfare Association;
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7. One member shall be a representative of an advisory task
force on child abuse and neglect;
8. One member shall be a representative of the Oklahoma
Commission on Children and Youth; and
9. One member shall be a person with lived experience of the
child welfare system in Oklahoma as appointed by the Attorney
General.
C. Each member of the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team
Council is authorized to have one designee.
D. The appointed members shall be persons having expertise in
multidisciplinary team joint investigation and the dynamics,
identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and child
sexual abuse.
E. The Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council shall:
1. Establish objective criteria and guidelines for
multidisciplinary investigations and, as appropriate for each
discipline, discipline-specific training on child abuse and neglect
for professionals with responsibilities affecting children, youth,
and families;
2. Review curricula and make recommendations to state agencies,
professional organizations, and associations regarding available
curricula and curricula having high standards of professional merit;
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3. Review curricula regarding child abuse and neglect used in
law enforcement officer training by CLEET and make recommendations
regarding the curricula to CLEET;
4. Cooperate with and assist professional organizations and
associations in the development and implementation of ongoing
training programs and strategies to encourage professionals to
participate in such training programs;
5. Make reports and recommendations regarding the continued
development and improvement of multidisciplinary team joint
investigations to the Oklahoma Legislature;
6. Prepare and issue a model protocol for multidisciplinary
teams regarding the investigation and prosecution of child sexual
abuse, child physical abuse, and neglect cases;
7. Review and approve protocols prepared by the local child
abuse multidisciplinary teams;
8. Advise multidisciplinary teams on team development;
9. Determine data collection protocol and collect data on the
operation and cases reviewed by the child abuse multidisciplinary
teams;
10. Collect data from the Oklahoma Commission on Children and
Youth Child Death Review Board and Post Adjudication Review Board;
11. Issue annual reports;
12. Annually approve the list of functioning multidisciplinary
teams in the state; and
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13. Meet annually with the Department, Children's Advocacy
Centers of Oklahoma, Inc., and the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary
Team Council to review and certify the amount of CAMA funds to be
disbursed.
F. The Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Council shall elect a
chair and vice-chair at every first annual meeting.
G. Five members of the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team
Council shall constitute a quorum and may carry out any business by
a simple majority vote of a quorum.
SECTION 7. REPEALER 10A O.S. 2021, Sections 1-9-103a and
1-9-103b, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 8. REPEALER 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-227.9, is
hereby repealed.
SECTION 9. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
60-2-13989 CMA 12/15/25