HB 1734 Summary

• Exempts shelters managed by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth from child care facility licensing requirements under the Department of Human Services.

• Establishes a centralized statewide hotline for reporting child abuse and neglect, requiring all reports to be referred to the hotline and mandating training for hotline workers.

• Implements a joint response system between law enforcement and the Department for children taken into protective custody, including safety evaluations at scene or reception centers within 23 hours before emergency custody is assumed.

• Creates the Children's Services Oversight Committee to monitor implementation of recommendations and reforms, requiring biannual reporting on progress through December 2011.

• Requires comprehensive background checks including national criminal history records searches based on fingerprints for all adults in foster homes, with procedures for emergency placements pending completion of checks.