Guardian and ward; court appointed guardian; investigations; child abandonment; repealer; effective date.

HB 1967 establishes new procedures for court-appointed guardianship of minors in Oklahoma. It requires courts to conduct home studies and comprehensive background checks (including criminal history and child abuse registry checks) for prospective guardians before appointment, with costs assigned to responsible parties. The bill specifically protects children in domestic violence shelters from custody changes without proper notice or if a protective order exists, and mandates that any entity aware of potential child abandonment must report to DHS within 24 hours for investigation. These changes replace existing provisions under 30 O.S. 2021 §2-101 and take effect November 1, 2025.