SB 1449 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with designated youth services agencies or child-placing agencies to manage and operate the Pauline Mayer Children's Shelter in Oklahoma City and the Laura Dester Children's Shelter in Tulsa.

• Prohibits placement of children six years of age or younger in shelter care after June 30, 2013, and prohibits placement of children thirteen years of age or younger in shelter care after June 30, 2014, requiring use of kinship care homes and emergency foster care homes instead when suitable placements are available.

• Requires the Department to monitor and report monthly to the Legislature and Governor on daily average shelter population, number of kinship care homes utilized, and total emergency foster care homes available by county.

• Mandates that contractors providing group home services complete continuing education on cultural competency, including instruction on race and gender-based disparities faced by youth in group homes.

• Effective date: November 1, 2014.