HB 2207 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma Children's Code definitions in Title 10A O.S. 2021, Section 1-1-105, to comprehensively define 75 terms related to child welfare, including abandonment, abuse, neglect, dependency, and various types of custody and care arrangements.

• Permits parents to use ordinary force as discipline (spanking, switching, paddling) and clarifies that children engaging in age-appropriate independent activities cannot be classified as neglected unless the responsible person willfully disregards harm.

• Creates new law allowing qualified residential treatment programs to file protective order petitions on behalf of children in their care against third parties posing threats to the child's physical or emotional well-being.

• Effective date of July 1, 2025, with emergency clause allowing immediate effect upon passage and approval.