Oklahoma lawmakers advanced a proposed bill that would help in protecting victims of child abuse and neglect across the state.
The bill, which was drafted by Rep. Collin Duel and the District Attorney's Council, would require referrals that the Department of Human Services (DHS) hotline receives that allege abuse or neglect towards a child to be immediately reported to the appropriate local law enforcement entity.
Protecting Oklahoma Children
Duel said that House Bill 1565's top priority is protecting Oklahoma children by getting law enforcement involved right from the moment that a claim of abuse or neglect is made. This saves valuable time in making sure that kids are safe and that official investigations of abuse or neglect are appropriately conducted.
The Republican noted that right now, the law only stipulates that DHS is required to report to law enforcement at some point during their investigation if they suspect child abuse or neglect. The legislation changes this so that a criminal investigation can happen at the same time as the DHS investigation, according to Fox25.
The proposed bill passed the House with a unanimous 88-4 vote and will now move to the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Darrell Weaver. Duel is chair of the House Civil Judiciary Committee and also the vice chair of the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee.
If the proposed bill is signed into law, the measure itself and its provisions would take effect on Nov. 1, 2025, the Oklahoma House of Representatives reported.
In addition to House Bill 1565, the state of Oklahoma is also considering implementing tougher penalties for serious offenses, including child abuse. One such bill is Senate Bill 599, which received approval from the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Punishing Child Sexual Abuse Offenders
Under the bill, any individual who is convicted of child abuse crimes against kids under 14 years old will face life without parole or even the death penalty, even if it was their first offense. This is a significant jump from existing legislation that reserves such harsh penalties for repeat offenders.
Sen. Warren Hamilton said that there should be no reason for a convicted individual who committed child sexual abuse to be allowed to return to the community. He added that offenders who are found guilty should be met with uncompromising criminal punishments that reflect the severity of their actions.
Another bill seeks to safeguard due process for law enforcement officers who are placed on a Brady-Giglio list. Senate Bill 461 was designed to remove any uncertainty from the process by providing officers with clear criteria and an opportunity for reconsideration upon being listed, as per Hoodline.
