Children the focus of many approved interim studies

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL — Ninety-three separate interim studies were requested by state representatives this year. House Speaker Jeff Hickman approved eighty-three studies this week. Sixty-one separate studies are available to be scheduled between August 5 and November 12 because twenty-two of the approved studies were combined with similar studies. Ten requests were not approved. 

One-third of the approved studies will address issues related to children. Studies of the repeal of the Common Core State Standards earlier this year and the potential benefits of medical marijuana for children are among the 28 studies approved that concern children. Below is a list of these interim studies:

Related to adoption and foster care: 

• 14-047 requested by Rep. Ann Coody was combined with 14-054 seeks to explore “Reuniting foster children with biological families and other possible solutions in seeking their optimal welfare” including “the best possible solution in finding a permanent home environment for foster children.” 

• 14-048 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study “the necessity of an additional background check for certified educators who work in DHS before- and after-school programs.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-054 requested by Reps. Sean Roberts and Wade Rousselot will consider reforms to the state’s adoption laws. Assigned to the Human Services Committee.

Related to child trafficking and sexual abuse:

• 14-014 requested by Rep. Lee Denney will examine Erin’s Law, a “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education” program. Assigned to the Human Services Committee. 

• 14-055 requested by Rep. Sean Roberts will study child trafficking by studying “ways to combat the crime of human trafficking and identifying services available to victims.” Assigned to the Public Safety Committee.

Related to Common Core and academic standards:

• 14-049 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will consider the question, “After Common Core – what next? A study of the possible solutions in developing and implementing rigorous educational standards for Oklahoma’s students.” Assigned to the House Common Education Committee. 

• 14-059 requested by Rep. Ann Coody was combined with 14-049 and will explore the “impact of HB3399 on Oklahoma’s schools and steps which should be taken to mitigate the concerns of Oklahoma’s schools, administrators, teachers and students.  Costs and process for writing new standards.” 

• 14-064 requested by Rep. David Brumbaugh was combined with 14-049 and seeks to study “Common Ed testing.” 

• 14-076 requested by Rep. Jadine Nollan will study “The Transferability of High School Credits between Schools and its Effects on Student Graduation. The study would examine the standards and procedures for which public high schools accept transfer credits, as many transfer students fail to graduate on time due to insufficient credits.  A review of the different graduation credit requirements by school district should be included in the study.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-092 requested by Reps. Joe Dorman, Donnie Condit, Curtis McDaniel and Dustin Roberts was combined with 14-049 and seeks to study “Education Standards, Assessments and Testing” including “Developing Age-appropriate Oklahoma Standards, Reviewing Standards Associated with Common Core, NCLB, and other Programs; What is Necessary to keep NCLB Waiver.”

Related to student testing: 

• 14-025 requested by Rep. Leslie Osborn was combined with 14-049 will study state and federal student testing policies. Specific issues to be reviewed include: “duplicative testing, testing alignment status, costs, use of tests to evaluate teacher effectiveness, testing special ed students, test results as a true criterion result, possible other testing options to meet career & academic guidelines, testing vendors and accountability on the product.” 

• 14-068 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study “Proper Transition from K-12 to Higher Education / Career Technology” including “End of Instruction Exams” and “Alabama’s Experiment with ACT Aspire.” Assigned to the Higher Education Committee. 

• 14-070 requested by Rep. Jadine Nollan will study the “Implications of High-Stakes Testing for Students with Learning Disabilities. The study would address the most significant risks posed by high-stakes for students with learning disabilities, as well as the barriers to success on high-stakes testing for students with learning disabilities.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to education funding:

• 14-004 requested by Rep. Dan Fisher will study “Funding for schools that find themselves surrounded by federal property and thus have their tax base greatly reduced and suffer from reduced operating funds to no fault of their own. We would like to add the 12 districts / schools that are affected by this issue at a later date.” Assigned to the Appropriations and Budget Committee. 

• 14-067 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study the “State Funding Formula Weights for Special Education. What state/federal legal hurdles stand in the way of necessary data collection? How would Oklahoma update its school funding formula for special education weighting?” Assigned to the Appropriations and Budget Committee. 

• 14-089 requested by Reps. Joe Dorman, Donnie Condit, Curtis McDaniel and Dustin Roberts was combined with 14-004 and seeks to study “Education Funding for Per Pupil Spending and Adequate Resources for Classrooms.” 

Related to schools:

• 14-016 requested by Rep. Lee Denney will explore the future of K8 school districts. Assigned to the Common Education Committee. 

• 14-069 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will study the “Effectiveness of Oklahoma’s Public Charter Schools” and “What effective strategies are taking place in Oklahoma’s public charter schools that can be replicated in the k-12 setting?” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to student support: 

• 14-071 requested by Rep. Emily Virgin will study “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and CareerTech.” Assigned to the Higher Education Committee.

Related to teachers:

• 14-046 requested by Rep. Ann Coody will explore preparing teachers and prospective teachers to recognize symptoms of dyslexia in students including the “role of higher education teacher preparation programs and professional development.” Assigned to the Common Education Committee.

Related to health:

• 14-043 requested by Rep. Dan Kirby will consider the “benefits of Athletic trainer required at youth sporting events in Oklahoma.” Assigned to the Public Health Committee. 

• 14-063 requested by Rep. Jon Echols will study “Allowing medical trials in the state of Oklahoma for the use of non-intoxicating CBD Oil for severe seizure disorders in children.” Assigned to the Public Health Committee.  

• 14-085 requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen was combined with 14-063 and seeks to study “Medical Marijuana for Children. The study would take a narrow look at the medical use of marijuana in childhood disorder; seizures, etc. Included would be experts in the field, parents, law enforcement, and pediatricians.”  

• 14-091 requested by Rep. Joe Dorman was combined with 14-063 and seeks to study “Medical Treatments for Children with Seizures & Regulation of Experimental Medicines.”

Related to Marriage and Families:

• 14-012 requested by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel was combined with 14-023. Rep. McDaniel seeks to “examine the cost and benefit to the state and its citizens concerning the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative.”  

• 14-023 requested by Reps. Mark McCullough, Lee Denney, Jason Nelson and Jadine Nollan will examine “Effective Interventions for the Potential Negative Impacts on Learning in Children from Single Parent, Divorced and Dysfunctional Homes.” Combined with 14-012 and assigned to the Human Services Committee.

Related to juvenile justice: 

• 14-065 requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen will study “Juvenile offender rehabilitation programs and incarceration options with low recidivism rates. The goal is to take a long term view of where we are currently in dealing with Juvenile offenders and evaluate effective options to be considered for the future.” 

• 14-075 requested by Reps. Seneca Scott and Kevin Matthews was combined with 14-065 and will explore “Ongoing data collection in Juvenile Justice and effective use of research and evaluation findings.” The study will “Gather and analyze data to document system problems and identify potential solutions based on available research regarding what may and may not work to reduce Disproportionate Minority Contact.” 

A study of “Educational Benefits of a Broad Education Focus” requested by Rep. Todd Thomsen was one of the ten requests not approved. The request described the study as, “an in-depth look at all programs including extra-curricular activities and elective classes such as music, art, sports that strengthen the education of a child.  Is the current direction of education promoting these important components of education?  What can be done to improve these aspects in the focus of education.  To include art educators, music educator, coaches.” 

Each approved interim study was assigned to a standing committee. The chairpersons of the committees to which studies were assigned will work with the requesting members to schedule hearings for each interim study. Questions about specific interim studies should be directed to the members requesting the study.  

Link to list of all approved studies: http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/ShowInterimStudies.aspx

Link to related story: 2014 House Interim Studies Announced

Fallin Signs Extradition Order for Dusten Brown

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed the

extradition order for Dusten Brown, the biological father of “Baby Veronica.”

Brown is contesting Veronica’s adoption to Matt and Melanie Capobianco of Charleston, South Carolina. His arguments have now been rejected by the United States Supreme Court as well as courts in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley requested Brown’s extradition from Oklahoma to South Carolina on August 13. Brown, who has refused to release Veronica to her adopted parents, faces charges of custodial interference in South Carolina.

Brown’s extradition does not affect the current placement of Baby Veronica.

“My goal in the Baby Veronica case has been to encourage both Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family to reach a quick settlement and come to an agreement that protects Veronica’s best interests,” Fallin said. “I said previously that I was willing to delay Mr. Brown’s extradition to South Carolina as long as all parties were working together in good faith to pursue such a settlement. I also outlined parameters for what I believe to be acting in ‘good faith:’ both Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family should be able to see Veronica; both parties should continue meeting to pursue a resolution outside of court; and both parties must obey the courts and the rule of law.

“Unfortunately, it has become clear that Dusten Brown is not acting in good faith. He has disobeyed an Oklahoma court order to allow the Capobianco’s to visit their adopted daughter and continues to deny visitation. He is acting in open violation of both Oklahoma and South Carolina courts, which have granted custody of Veronica to the Capobianco’s. Finally, he has cut off negotiations with the Capobianco’s and shown no interest in pursuing any other course than yet another lengthy legal battle.

“As governor, I am committed to upholding the rule of law. As a mother, I believe it is in the best interests of Veronica to help end this controversy and find her a permanent home. For both of these reasons, I have signed the extradition order to send Mr. Brown to South Carolina.”

Child Advocacy Group Praises DHS Reform Efforts

Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy Executive Director Linda Terrell expressed support last week for a slate of DHS reforms passed by the Legislature during the 2012 session. 

“The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy fought hard to demand bold reforms at DHS to fix the broken child welfare system this legislative session and Oklahoma lawmakers delivered,” Terrell said. "The reforms that passed the Legislature send a strong message: It's unacceptable for a system created to protect children to fail in that mission, and it's time for change.”

Governor to hold public bill signing of DHS reforms

Governor Mary Fallin will hold a public bill signing ceremony and press conference tomorrow afternoon to sign DHS reform legislation. I know many of you are interested in these reforms so I wanted to make sure you were aware of the plans and I hope you are able to attend. 

Thursday, May 31

3:30 p.m.  

Governor’s Blue Room

The reform bills include:

• HB3133 – Any individual who knowingly provides false information in a deprived child proceeding commits a felony. 
• HB3134 – DHS to eliminate the Field Operations Division and to vertically integrate all program divisions and staff; field operations and programs shall no longer be separated into different divisions. 
• HB3135 – Allows for DHS to release certain information when a child death has occurred.
• HB3137 – Gives the Governor authority to select the DHS Director, subject to confirmation from the Senate. Creates citizen advisory panels to evaluate core areas of DHS. 
• HJR1092 – Refers to the vote of the people a constitutional amendment which would delete the DHS Commission and allow the department to be administered under the Governor’s purview. (Included in the reform measures is HJR1092 that sends State Questions 765 to a vote of the people this fall. HJR1092 does not require the governor’s signature).

OKDHS Recognizes National Adoption Month; Stresses Need for Adoptive Families

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) commemorates November as “National Adoption Awareness Month,” participating in a special celebration Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center, 13301 S. Pennsylvania in Oklahoma City, beginning at 2 p.m. 

“Many Oklahomans never realize how these children yearn for families of their own,” said Deborah Goodman, OKDHS Program Administrator.  “One look in their eyes and you can see the hope they have written on their hearts.  They simply want what a lot of us take for granted, and that’s a family to love them and for them to love in return.”

Last year OKDHS SWIFT Adoption Services authorized 1,382 children for adoption placement.  More than 57 percent of those children were siblings who found an adoptive home with their brothers and sisters.  According to Goodman, hundreds more children are still waiting for a permanent home.

“Every child deserves a family,” Goodman said.  “I know many potential adoptive parents are looking for smaller children; but many teens are still out there as well, just hoping to find a life-long family to call their own.”

The public is invited to attend the adoption celebration on Nov. 17.  OKDHS SWIFT Adoption representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide details on adoption, and services available to help prospective adoptive parents.

For additional information on OKDHS SWIFT Adoptions and Adoption Awareness Month, phone Deborah Goodman at (918) 794-7544.

UPDATED ADVISORY: Speaker DHS announcement WEDNESDAY

WHO: House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, House members who are reviewing the state Department of Human Services, DHS leaders, incoming DHS Commission Chairman Brad Yarbrough, and an Oklahoma Public Employees Association representative.

WHAT: Press conference to discuss strategies the House will use to improve DHS.

WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19

WHERE: Governor's Blue Room, 2nd Floor Broadcast Press Room, Room 432-B, State Capitol

Speaker Steele and other House members will unveil the House’s strategy to produce better outcomes for those who come into contact with DHS, particularly children in state custody. The representatives will unveil an aggressive, four-pronged strategy to improve DHS through significant reforms to governance structure, agency structure, personnel policy and resource allocation. Steele will outline plans to work with DHS officials, commissioners and others in effort to improve the agency and increase accountability.


STATEMENT: Speaker comments on Ahonesty Hicks

According to a report by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 17-month-old Ahonesty Hicks died May 3 from abuse. In the weeks preceding Ahonesty’s death, DHS officials decided against removing Ahonesty from her mother’s custody despite knowing her mother had recently tested positive for PCP and been involved in a domestic dispute with her boyfriend. Ahonesty’s mother’s boyfriend has been charged with Ahonesty’s murder.

“Ahonesty’s tragic and untimely death is another indication of the need to reform the policy, infrastructure and delivery of services at DHS. These outcomes must end. The House has been and will remain fully engaged in working with DHS officials at every level of the agency to identify better methods to protect our children and all our vulnerable citizens.” – House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee

Adoption Reform Amendment Filed, Scheduled for Committee Hearing Monday

The work product of the Adoption Review Task Force is scheduled to be heard in the House Human Services Committee this Monday beginning at 3 p.m. or right after session adjourns.


I just filed the Committee Substitute to Senate Bill 510 which the committee will consider at its last meeting of this legislative session.

Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt Honors Work to Strengthen Families

Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services highlighted for valuable service to pregnant women and families.

Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt today presented a check for $1,000 on behalf of Blue Bell Creameries for Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services (DPAS).

“It is an honor to present this check on behalf of Blue Bell Creameries in support of the valuable services DPAS provides women and families,” Pruitt said. “Thousands of Oklahomans have been enriched and blessed by the generosity of DPAS and the dedicated people who care about strengthening families throughout the state.”

Deaconess executive director Dierdre McCool accepted the check during a ceremony at the service’s headquarters in northwest Oklahoma City.

“We deeply appreciate the generous contribution from Attorney General Pruitt,” McCool said. “Financial support is a crucial component for our agency to continue its life-altering services to the children, women and families of Oklahoma.”

Founded in 1900 on the unsettled plains of Indian Territory, Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services is the premier, care-oriented adoption agency in the Oklahoma City area. Serving the entire state of Oklahoma, the service has helped more than 10,000 women in crisis and has created more than 5,000 new families through adoption.

Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services helps women in crisis pregnancy, aids couples through adoption and works with adopted children to reconnect with their birth families.

For more information on Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services, go online to www.deaconessadoption.org or call (405) 949-4200, (800) 567-6631.

Location:NW 58th St,Oklahoma City,United States

Adoptions and birth certificates

(This letter was forwarded to me recenly via email and I'm posting it here for informational purposes. I understand that it was printed by the Tulsa World on August 28, 2010. I have not taken a position on this proposal. I do welcome your thoughts and suggestions. The reference to the work being done by me and Sen. Russell is refering to the two of us co-chairing the Adoption Review Task Force. The goal, in part, of the Task Force is to review all state laws related to the adoption of minors and make suggestions to the Legislature that will reduce fraud.)



Letter to the Editor by: Samantha Franklin, Bixby
Saturday, August 28, 2010

As an adult adoptee I appreciate the work Sen. Steve Russell and Rep. Jason Nelson are doing to better ensure more ethical adoption in Oklahoma.

When a child is born in Oklahoma and adopted, the birth certificate is sealed, and a new, amended birth certificate is created. Children born after 1997 have the right to obtain their original birth certificate upon adulthood. Adoptees born before 1997 can obtain it if a judge rules "good cause."

There is no law in Oklahoma that mandates adoption professionals to ensure the children they work with even have a factual, unfalsified original birth certificate. Please help ensure that our original birth certificates are factual and unfalsified.

This should be a situation that all Oklahomans, including adoptive parents, should take notice of if they think ethical adoption is important. Adoptees are considered as perpetual children in the eyes of the law and are being denied their medical and genealogical histories and truth. This is a generational issue, for all adoptees, their families (both by birth and adoption) and their children after them.

Unfortunately, many unethical practices are being hidden behind archaic "sealed records" laws. Even district attorneys' hands are tied to properly investigate because all adoption proceedings are sealed upon completion. Oklahoma needs to take a serious look at the states that have passed legislation restoring the right of adult adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates.

DHS Audit Recommendations Implementation Showing Results, House Committee Members Told

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 24, 2010) —Officials with the Department of Human Services today presented evidence to a House committee of progress made by the agency since the passage of legislation implementing recommendations from a groundbreaking audit of the department.

House Bill 1734, authored by Rep. Ron Peters, was signed into law last year. The legislation implemented many of the recommendations of an audit of the Department of Human Services, including a requirement that law enforcement consult with DHS before removing a child; the creation of a passport program to allow information about a child’s physical and behavioral health and educational needs to be available electronically; implementation of a phase-out of public shelters; establishment of a centralized statewide hotline for all reports of abuse and neglect of children; and a reorganization of the department offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties.

Human Services officials testified today to the Children’s Services Oversight Committee that progress has been made in all of those areas of state-based care.

Some of the significant progress seen at DHS includes:

• Record level of adoptions in the last two federal fiscal years and an all-time high finalized adoptions for a state fiscal year
• Reduction of over 3,700 children in out-of-home care since July 2007
• Worker retention continues to increase
• Lowest number of children per responsible worker in years
• Lowest average daily shelter population in years
• Established 449 agreements with law enforcement agencies for joint response
• Oklahoma County Human Service Center reorganized in Oct. 2009
• Tulsa County Human Service Center was reorganized in May, 2009
• Round-the-clock centralized hotline roll-out began in Nov. 2009 and is expected to extend statewide by the end of 2010.
• Official development of a medical health passport (which is an accessible and comprehensive medical and educational record for all children placed in out-of-home care through DHS) began in Feb. 2010

Too Much to Handle: Mom fights to return adopted son to state care

Good Morning America news story from December 22, 2009

I will be working with DHS, the Department of Mental Health and the Adoption Review Task Force to help these families find some relief. I continue to take comments regarding these cases so please feel free to contact my office if you would like to share your thoughts or experiences.

The current budget crises will make it difficult to adequately address these cases until state revenue begins to increase. It’s important to understand these types of cases are not limited to adopted children and a more comprehensive solution is needed to protect families and society.

Adoption Review Task Force To Meet

The Adoption Review Task Force is scheduled to meet this Friday, May 15, 2009 at 1 PM in Room 412C of the State Capitol. This meeting is open to the public.

Oklahoman Runs Story on Problems at Yukon Adoption Agency

Yukon adoption agency faces complaint (link to story)

YUKON — Adoptive couples who used a Yukon agency could be owed thousands of dollars in refunds, a complaint to the state Department of Human Services alleges.

The complaint filed April 15 requests an investigation of ABC’s of Adoption. The agency’s former accountant filed it.

--------------------------------------------------------------

(OKLAHOMA CITY) State Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, issued the following statement in response to a story in today's Oklahoman ("Adoption agency faces complaint") detailing allegations that the ABC's of Adoption agency in Yukon has failed to refund money to adoptive parents.

"I believe this story represents the tip of the iceberg," said state Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. "Every time a news story runs regarding the adoption reform efforts at the Capitol, I receive calls and emails from people who have experienced what is wrong with the system. I think there must be many more people who have had terrible experiences, but are too concerned about potential negative consequences to their adoptions to speak up. These types of issues cause families to think twice about adoption, and that is not good for these vulnerable children.

"The Adoption Reform Task Force needs to hear these stories," said Nelson. "We are working to recommend changes in the state's adoption code that we hope will dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, these kinds of negative stories. There are many ethical adoption agencies and attorneys, but we have to address those bad actors who take advantage of families under the cloak of confidentiality and with the threat of losing a child."

Rep. Nelson and Sen. Steve Russell are the co-chairs of the Adoption Reform Task Force that began work earlier this year on a comprehensive review of state laws regarding adoption of minors in Oklahoma. The task force will make recommendations to the legislature for consideration in the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions.

Governor Signs Major Adoption Reform Bill

The Oklahoman article regarding the signing of HB2174 by Rep. Jason Nelson:
"A measure to crack down on law firms charging excessive fees — which follows through on findings of a state grand jury three years ago — and a bill to change the way Oklahoma’s school year is calculated were signed into law during the weekend."

HB2174 is the first House Bill by Nelson to be signed into law and represents the first step toward comprehensive adoption reform in Oklahoma. SB1029, which is set to be amended in a conference committee, will follow in the next few weeks completing the reform efforts for this legislative session.

Rep. Nelson also serves as the House Co-chair of the Adoption Reform Task Force with Sen. Steve Russell. The task force was created last session by former State Rep. Susan Winchester. The task force began its work earlier this year and will likely work throughout the end of next year. Ideas for legislation developed by the task force will be considered during the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions.

Recent Press Coverage of Adoption Reform Efforts

Story by Oklahoman reporter Michael McNutt

AP Story in the Tulsa World

Adoption Reform Clears Both Chambers of Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 16, 2009) – Both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and state Senate voted today to increase financial transparency during the adoption process and prevent crooked lawyers from extorting adoptive families.

One of the measures – House Bill 2174, by state Rep. Jason Nelson – passed the state Senate today and now goes to Gov. Henry to be signed into law.

The other bill – Senate Bill 1029, by state Sen. Steven Russell and Nelson – passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives today and returns to the Senate.

"I am very pleased this legislation has received such broad bipartisan support," said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. "For too long, Oklahoma has been known as a state that does not protect adoptive parents, adoptive children or birth mothers. We have allowed unethical lawyers to sell children and it’s a black eye for the state. This legislation will help end those abuses and identify the bad actors."

House Bill 2174 would require public reporting of adoption expenses to increase transparency. The bill also requires that only one prospective adoptive family at a time may be billed for a birth mother’s expenses and that all adoptions must be conducted in one of four locations: the home county of the birth mother, the home county of the adoptive parents, or in Oklahoma or Tulsa Counties.

Senate Bill 1029 would require the courts to conduct a home study for all non-kinship adoptions to ensure adoptive parents are able to support an adoptive child.

The measure also requires that a written full-disclosure statement be provided to both the birth parent and adoptive parents by all attorneys or individuals involved in a direct-placement adoption in Oklahoma. The full-disclosure statement would include information such as the name and address of the attorney involved; the scope of services provided by the attorney; a procedure for grievances; a list of the fees charged for an adoption and refund policy; provisions informing those involved that coercion of birth parents is prohibited; provisions for avoiding conflicts of interest among birth parents, adoptive parents, and the attorney; and the specified time frame for completing an adoption.

Although the Department of Human Services has a code that adoption agencies must follow, there is currently no oversight of the attorneys involved in adoptions.

A May 2006 multicounty grand jury report found that some adoptive parents have been forced to pay for automobiles, car parts, traffic tickets, court costs in unrelated criminal cases, driver’s license reinstatement fees, television sets and utility bills – all masked as adoption costs.
According to the grand jury report, the haphazard regulation of "adoption expenses" has created an atmosphere where some women and their attorneys effectively sold children.

House Bill 2174 passed the state Senate on a 44-2 vote today and will become law with the governor’s signature.

Senate Bill 1029 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives today on an 88-10 vote. It now returns to the Senate for consideration of House amendments.

The passage of both bills comes a day before a meeting of the Oklahoma Adoption Review Task Force, which Nelson now co-chairs with Russell. The group will meet at the state Capitol at 1 p.m. on Friday.

Sunday Oklahoman Editorial on Adoption Reform

The Sunday Oklahoman main editorial focused on adoption reform efforts being advanced by me and Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City.

"One bill would halt the practice of attorneys shopping around for judges who don’t question adoption-related fees. Another would require attorneys to disclose their adoption-related expenses. Those proposals seem sensible for a reason: they are."

The editorial is refering to HB 2174 and SB 1029.

Channel 9 Coverage of Response to Opposition to Adoption Reform

Watch the Channel 9 story.

I Respond to Opposition to Adoption Reform Bill

Click the headline to link to the NewsOK story and video reporting my response to opposition to adoption reform efforts proposed by me and State Senator Steve Russell.

My goal with adoption reform is to make adoption the most attractive option to the mother of an unborn child.

Major Adoption Reform Bill By Rep. Nelson Passes House 97-0

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 10, 2009) – Legislation increasing financial transparency during the adoption process to prevent the extortion of adoptive families gained the approval of the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.

House Bill 2174, by state Rep. Jason Nelson, would require public reporting of adoption expenses to increase transparency. The bill also requires that only one prospective adoptive family at a time may be billed for a birth mother’s expenses and that all adoptions must be conducted in one of four locations: the home county of the birth mother, the home county of the adoptive parents, or in Oklahoma or Tulsa Counties.

"The adoption process should be a happy event, but it has become an emotional nightmare for too many adoptive families because of the greed of a few unscrupulous attorneys," said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. "My legislation will help protect adoptive families from financial and emotional abuse, preventing fraud and extortion."

Although the Department of Human Services has a code that adoption agencies must follow, there is no oversight of the attorneys involved in adoptions. As a result of that lax regulation, some attorneys have allegedly bilked adoptive parents out of substantial sums of money.

A May 2006 multicounty grand jury report found that families can face dramatically different expenses when going through the adoption process. In fact, the grand jury found that adoptive parents have been forced to pay for automobiles, car parts, traffic tickets, court costs in unrelated criminal cases, driver’s license reinstatement fees, television sets and utility bills – all masked as adoption costs.

According to the grand jury report, the haphazard regulation of "adoption expenses" has actually created an atmosphere where some women and their attorneys effectively sold children.

House Bill 2174 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 97-0 vote. It now proceeds to the state Senate.