Children; Protect Families from Government Overreach Act; purpose; Department of Human Services; custody; records; exception; emergency motion; imminent threat; report; Oklahoma Commission for Human Services; noncompliance; civil remedies; criminal penalties; agencies; audits; court; reassessment; codification; effective date.

HB 1164 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services (DHS) to return children to parents or guardians within 72 hours if criminal charges against them are dismissed, dropped, or result in a not-guilty verdict. It also mandates DHS to delete all related case records within 72 hours and prohibits keeping records of dismissed cases. Exceptions allowing continued separation are only permitted if DHS files an emergency court motion with clear evidence of an "imminent threat" to the child, requiring a court order within 72 hours. Noncompliance by DHS may trigger civil lawsuits, criminal penalties for staff, or funding audits.