ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1197	By:	McDaniel (Jeannie), Dorman, Inman, Peterson, Walker and Proctor of the House

				and

		Anderson, Johnson (Constance) and Brecheen of the Senate

An Act relating to children; creating the Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force; providing for membership; directing how vacancies should be filled; providing for subcommittees; requiring final written report; specifying date of report; providing for termination of Task Force; requiring organizational meeting; providing for selection of chair and vice-chair; specifying meeting frequency; providing for staff assistance; prohibiting travel reimbursement; permitting use of public and private resources; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

SUBJECT:  Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 601.20 of Title 10, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.  There is hereby created the Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force to recommend to the Legislature and other policymakers measures that promote the safety and well-being of children whose parents are incarcerated.

B.  The task force shall be composed of twenty-one (21) members as follows:

1.  The Director of the Department of Human Services, or designee;

2.  The Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, or designee;

3.  The State Commissioner of Health, or designee;

4.  The Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or designee;

5.  The Director of the Department of Corrections, or designee;

6.  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, or designee;

7.  The Director of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, or designee;

8.  The Executive Director of the District Attorneys Council, or designee;

9.  A judge with experience in both criminal and juvenile proceedings to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

10.  A representative of an association of sheriffs or police chiefs in the state to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

11.  A representative of a program in the eastern part of the state that provides girls an opportunity to visit their incarcerated mothers and to participate in mother-daughter meetings to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

12.  A member of the State Post Adjudication Review Board to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

13.  A representative of the Department of Commerce to be appointed by the Governor;

14.  A representative from the University of Oklahoma with expertise in the area of incarcerated individuals and their children to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

15.  A representative from Oklahoma State University with expertise in the area of incarcerated individuals and their children to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

16.  A representative of a community planning agency from the northeast quadrant of the state to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

17.  A representative of the faith community to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

18.  A mother who was incarcerated at a time when she had a young child to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

19.  A parent who has been incarcerated to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

20.  A representative of an Indian tribe to be appointed by the Governor; and

21.  A representative of the Governor’s office to be appointed by the Governor.

C.  Members of the Task Force shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.  Vacancies in a position shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

D.  The task force shall have seven subcommittees as follows:

1.  Safety protocols;

2.  Data collection;

3.  Outreach and education;

4.  Economic supports;

5.  Research;

6.  Resource clearinghouse; and

7.  Review of existing legislation affecting children of incarcerated parents.

E.  The task force shall submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report no later than January 1, 2012, that identifies services to children of incarcerated parents that promote their safety and well-being.  The task force shall terminate by operation of law on February 1, 2012.

F.  The report by the task force shall reflect the goals, outcomes, and recommendations of the seven subcommittees established in subsection D of this section.

G.  The Task Force shall hold an organizational meeting not later than September 1, 2011.  The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair at the first meeting.  The task force shall meet at least once monthly.

H.  Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

I.  Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, and shall not be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

J.  The task force may make use of any resources, both public and private, that will provide information and analysis that assists in executing its statutory mission.

SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2011.

SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

Passed the House of Representatives the 1st day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the 29th day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate