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An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4302 By: Norwood of the House
and
Gillespie of the Senate
An Act relating to children; amending 10 O.S. 2021,
Section 601.6, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 178,
O.S.L. 2025 (10 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 601.6),
which relates to the Office of Juvenile System
Oversight; authorizing the release of certain
information for certain purposes; prohibiting
disclosure to any other person or entity; providing
exception; and providing an effective date.
SUBJECT: Children
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10 O.S. 2021, Section 601.6, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 178, O.S.L. 2025 (10 O.S. Supp. 2025,
Section 601.6), is amended to read as follows:
Section 601.6. A. For purposes of this section, the term
"children and youth service system" shall have the same meaning as
it is defined in Section 600 of this title.
B. The Office of Juvenile System Oversight shall have the
responsibility of inspecting and investigating misfeasance and
malfeasance within the children and youth service system, as
directed by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, to
ascertain compliance with established responsibilities.
C. The Office shall conduct not less than one but not more than
two regular, periodic, unannounced inspections of state-operated
children's institutions and facilities annually. The Office is
ENR. H. B. NO. 4302 Page 2
further authorized to inspect privately operated children's
institutions and facilities that receive state or federal funding,
on a periodic basis or as needed.
D. The Office shall investigate complaints filed with the
Office regarding the children and youth service system.
E. The Office of Juvenile System Oversight shall have the
authority to:
1. Access all facilities within the children and youth service
system for the purpose of conducting inspections and investigations;
2. Examine and copy all records and budgets pertaining to the
children and youth service system and to review inspection reports
of the State Fire Marshal, State Department of Health, and any other
agency that accredits such institutions and facilities;
3. Interview the residents of institutions and facilities
within the children and youth service system;
4. Subpoena witnesses and hold public hearings;
5. Establish, in accordance with the Dispute Resolution Act,
Sections 1801 through 1813 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a
voluntary program for foster parents to mediate complaints
concerning the rights of foster parents, as provided for in Section
1-9-119 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, that relate to
certain actions, inactions or decisions of the Department of Human
Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or child-placing
agencies that may adversely affect the safety and well-being of
children in the custody of the state;
6. Receive any complaint alleging that an employee of the
Department of Human Services or a child-placing agency has
threatened a foster parent with removal of a child from the foster
parent, harassed a foster parent, or refused to place a child in a
licensed or certified foster home, or disrupted a child placement as
retaliation or discrimination towards a foster parent who has:
a. filed a grievance pursuant to Section 1-9-120 of Title
10A of the Oklahoma Statutes,
b. provided information to any state official or
Department employee, or
ENR. H. B. NO. 4302 Page 3
c. testified, assisted, or otherwise participated in an
investigation, proceeding, or hearing against the
Department or child-placing agency.
The Office of Juvenile System Oversight shall forward the
complaints to the Office of Client Advocacy for investigation
pursuant to subsection D of Section 1-9-112 of Title 10A of the
Oklahoma Statutes. The Office of Juvenile System Oversight shall
work with the Office of Client Advocacy to ensure the complaints are
investigated and resolved in accordance with the grievance
procedures provided in Section 1-9-120 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma
Statutes. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any
complaint by a foster parent regarding the result of a criminal,
administrative, or civil proceeding for a violation of any law,
rule, or contract provision by that foster parent, or the action
taken by the Department or a child-placing agency in conformity with
the result of any such proceeding;
7. Issue reports to the Governor, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, any appropriate
prosecutorial agency, the director of the agency under
consideration, and other persons as necessary and appropriate; and
8. Provide recommendations to the Oklahoma Commission on
Children and Youth on or before May 1 of each year.
F. The Office of Juvenile System Oversight shall not release
information that would identify a person who makes a complaint to
the Office, unless a:
1. A court of competent jurisdiction orders release of the
information for good cause shown; or
2. The disclosure of such information is made to an appropriate
law enforcement agency when necessary to protect the safety of
others after a complainant communicates a threat against an
individual or entity that a reasonable person would interpret as a
serious expression of intent to commit an act of unlawful violence.
Such information shall not be disclosed to any other person or
entity except pursuant to an order of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
ENR. H. B. NO. 4302 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 5th day of May, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 29th day of April, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________