1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE BILL 1677 By: Daniels
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5 AS INTRODUCED
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6 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Children’s Code;
6 prohibiting certain actions by the Department of
7 Human Services; providing certain construction;
7 authorizing certain claim in specified proceedings;
8 providing for codification; and providing an
8 effective date.
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11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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12 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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13 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-8-113 of Title 10A, unless
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14 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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15 A. The Department of Human Services shall not:
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16 1. Require, as a condition for eligibility to foster or adopt,
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17 any current or prospective adoptive or foster parent to affirm,
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18 accept, or support any government policy regarding sexual
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19 orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parent’s
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20 sincerely held religious or moral beliefs;
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21 2. Deny a current or prospective adoptive or foster parent any
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22 authorization necessary to be eligible to foster or adopt based, in
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23 whole or in part, upon the parent’s sincerely held religious or
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24 moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity; or
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 1 3. Establish or enforce any standard, rule, or policy that
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2 precludes consideration of a current or prospective adoptive or
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3 foster parent for any particular placement based, in whole or in
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4 part, upon the parent’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs
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5 regarding sexual orientation or gender identity. Such beliefs shall
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6 not create a presumption that any particular placement is contrary
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7 to the best interest of the child.
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8 B. Nothing in this section shall:
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9 1. Preclude the Department from taking into account the
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10 religious or moral beliefs of a particular adoptive or foster child,
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11 or his or her family of origin, when determining the most
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12 appropriate placement for the child; or
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13 2. Be construed to prohibit the Department from making, or
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14 relieve the Department of its duty to make, individual placements
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15 consistent with the best interests of the child as otherwise
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16 required by law.
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17 C. A current or prospective adoptive or foster parent aggrieved
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18 by a violation of this section may raise a claim in a judicial or
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19 administrative proceeding and seek injunctive relief, compensatory
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20 damages, reasonable attorney fees, or other appropriate relief.
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21 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
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23 59-2-2783 DC 1/16/2024 2:23:20 PM
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