SB 776 Summary

• Amends the Oklahoma Children's Code definition of "abandonment" to include failure to maintain significant parental relationship with a child through visitation or communication, where incidental or token visits are not considered significant.

• Broadens the definition of "sexual exploitation" to include allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in lewd, obscene, or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child by a person responsible for the child's health, safety, or welfare.

• Modifies sibling placement provisions in foster care by adding a new condition allowing siblings to be separated if it is in the best interests of the child to remain in the current foster family home placement.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2017, with an emergency clause allowing immediate effect upon passage and approval.