Psychological autopsy; terms; psychological autopsy examiner; pilot psychological autopsy service; report; Commissioner of Health; promulgation of rules; State Department of Health; effective date.

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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3901 By: Hefner, Roe, West (Josh),
and McCane of the House

and

Stanley of the Senate

[ psychological autopsy - Commissioner of Health -
psychological autopsy examiner - pilot
psychological autopsy service - report - exchange
of information - rules - State Department of Health
– codification - effective date ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 956 of Title 63, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this act:
1. "Psychological autopsy" means a retrospective investigative
method of gathering data to reconstruct the mental state,
perspectives, and motivations of a deceased person, often used for
equivocal deaths like suicide, to help understand an individual's
final days and possible influences in his or her death; and

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2. "Psychological autopsy examiner" means a mental health
professional who conducts psychological autopsies to help determine
systemic influences in cases of death that are ambiguous, including,
but not limited to, suicide.
B. The Commissioner of Health shall appoint a full-time
psychological examiner to establish a pilot psychological autopsy
service.
C. An annual progress report covering discipline appropriate
plans based upon best practices, targets, and demonstrable data
along with any deliverables such as operating manuals shall be
submitted to the Commissioner to be included in his or her annual
report.
D. The pilot program shall terminate no later than November 1,
2031, before which time a recommendation for permanency or closing
of the service shall be made by the State Board of Health.
E. The psychological autopsy examiner may coordinate with the
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to share data, share results,
and establish protocols for psychological autopsies. Other
appropriate flows of information may be established to ensure
psychological autopsy results inform suicide prevention or policy
decision-making.

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F. The State Department of Health may promulgate rules
necessary to accomplish the goals of the pilot psychological autopsy
service.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of February,
2026.

Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives

Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2026.

Presiding Officer of the Senate