HB 1967 Summary

• Courts may appoint guardians for minors upon verified petition by relatives or other persons, requiring petitions to clearly outline reasons and demonstrate the child's best interest while exhausting all other legal options first.

• Before appointing a guardian, courts must require a comprehensive background check of the prospective guardian and all household members aged 18 or older, including national fingerprint-based criminal checks, sex offender registry review, and Child Abuse and Neglect Information System search; this requirement can only be waived in emergency placements.

• Courts must order home studies meeting Oklahoma Adoption Code requirements to assess the prospective guardian's environment and safety, with costs assessed against the responsible party (private agency, legal custodian, or prospective guardian); DHS and Office of Juvenile Affairs must conduct studies for children in their custody but cannot be compelled to do so for children not in their legal custody.

• Children temporarily residing in licensed domestic violence shelters cannot be removed by ex parte order or guardianship custody order if a valid protective order exists for the custodial parent; courts must provide proper notice and evidentiary hearings with at least 10 days' notice, though expedited timelines are permitted for minor welfare.

• Abandonment must be reported to DHS within 24 hours of discovery and to law enforcement within 24 hours; DHS must investigate and notify the court with recommendations for guardianship or protective measures, with courts prioritizing abandonment case hearings.