New law will help Oklahoma kids establish permanency more efficiently

Senate Bill 706 by Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, will help Oklahoma children establish permanency more efficiently when it takes effect on July 1. Gov. Stitt approved the bill Wednesday that will require a jury trial for parental rights termination proceedings to have a scheduling order issued within 30 days of the demand for a trial. There will then be a six-month period in which the trial must take place.

“In Fiscal Year 2022, over 3,300 children in Oklahoma entered out-ofhome care such as foster care, trial reunification or other settings. The goal with SB 706 is that having a set time frame for these jury trials will help these cases move through the process more efficiently and get children in safe, permanent placements as soon as possible,” Pederson said.

All trials will take place within the allotted six-month period unless exceptional circumstances warrant a delay, or all parties involved agree to the extension.

“I greatly appreciate all who supported this legislation, including my Senate colleagues, the bill’s House principal author, Representative Randleman, as well as the governor for signing it into law,” Pederson said. “I hope that this will help many kids across the state in their journey to reunification or adoption.”