Children; Accountability, Transparency, and Protection for Exploited Youth Act; report; sexual misconduct or exploitation; penalties; Office of Juvenile Affairs; Independent Oversight Committee; responsibilities; investigations; civil liability; damages; negligence; civil penalties; training; annual report; exception; Oklahoma Open Records Act; disclosure; confidentiality; judicial review; juvenile records; exception; codification; effective date.

HB 1971, the "Accountability, Transparency, and Protection for Exploited Youth Act," requires staff, volunteers, and contractors working in Oklahoma juvenile facilities (including state-run centers, group homes, and county detention facilities) to immediately report any suspected sexual misconduct or exploitation involving juveniles to both their facility supervisor and the Office of Juvenile System Oversight. Failure to report carries criminal penalties (up to 2 years in jail and $5,000 fine) and civil liability for negligence, including damages up to $50,000 per victim for entities like the Office of Juvenile Affairs or contracted facilities. The bill also mandates annual staff training on identifying and reporting misconduct, requires the Oversight Committee to submit annual reports to the legislature, and creates limited exceptions to juvenile record confidentiality to allow access to relevant files for victims, their legal representatives, or law enforcement investigating sexual violence. This law directly affects facility staff, oversight bodies, and juvenile victims in Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system.