House Bill No. 1863 amends the Oklahoma Children's Code to enhance the functions of multidisciplinary child abuse teams. The bill directs these teams to review cases of child sexual abuse and physical abuse or neglect, replacing the previous language that allowed them to merely intervene in reports. It mandates that team members, which include law enforcement, medical personnel, and child protective services workers, conduct joint investigations and develop written protocols for these investigations. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to create and maintain a secure database for case information, which will facilitate case management and improve the reporting and evaluation of child abuse cases.

The new provisions also emphasize the importance of collaboration among professionals involved in child abuse cases, aiming to eliminate duplicative efforts and improve service delivery to victims and their families. The bill outlines the responsibilities of the Commission in overseeing the effectiveness of these teams and mandates annual reporting on their activities. The effective date for this legislation is set for November 1, 2025.