OK HB2500

Amends 12 O.S. 2011, Section 2803.1 regarding admissibility of hearsay statements from children and incapacitated persons in criminal and juvenile proceedings.

Raises the age threshold for statements from children from 13 years old to 18 years old describing acts of physical or sexual abuse.

Requires courts to find statements sufficiently reliable based on time, content, circumstances, spontaneity, mental state, terminology, and lack of fabrication motive.

Permits admission only if the child or incapacitated person testifies, is available to testify, or is unavailable with corroborating evidence of the act.

Effective date: November 1, 2012.