Bill No. 970, introduced by Senator Weaver and Representative West, amends child custody laws in Oklahoma by requiring that custodial parents be notified when a noncustodial parent is unable to fulfill court-ordered visitation or other requirements due to in-patient treatment. Specifically, the bill mandates that the noncustodial parent or their representative must inform the custodial parent if the noncustodial parent is receiving treatment at a facility within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or a certified facility.

This new provision will be codified as Section 4-107b of Title 43A in the Oklahoma Statutes and is set to take effect on November 1, 2025. The bill aims to ensure that custodial parents are kept informed about the circumstances affecting visitation and custody arrangements, thereby promoting better communication and understanding between parents in custody situations.