HB 1835 Summary

• Defines "Oklahoma's Protection and Advocacy System" in the Protective Services for Vulnerable Adults Act as a protection and advocacy system established under Section 143 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to forward copies of all initial abuse/neglect/exploitation reports to Oklahoma's Protection and Advocacy System and directs medical examiners to report suspicious deaths of vulnerable adults to the same system.

• Amends the Nursing Home Care Act to add the same "Oklahoma's Protection and Advocacy System" definition and requires facilities to mail initial incident reports (within 5 working days) and final reports to both the Department and the Protection and Advocacy System.

• Maintains existing protections including immunity for good faith reporters, civil liability for false reports, prohibition on employer retaliation, and requirements that nursing home administrators report abuse/neglect/exploitation to the Department within 24 hours.

• Effective date: November 1, 2025.