Emergency custody of children; creating misdemeanor offense for filing an affidavit containing a false statement. Effective date.

SB 1773 amends Oklahoma law to address emergency child custody procedures and false statements. It creates a misdemeanor offense (fines up to $500 or 3 months in jail) for knowingly filing false sworn statements in emergency custody cases. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to conduct safety evaluations before taking a child into emergency custody, mandating that children be returned to parents if no imminent danger is found. It also establishes protocols for law enforcement and the Department to coordinate responses when children are taken into protective custody by officers. The law directly affects parents, caregivers, law enforcement, courts, and child welfare workers involved in emergency custody decisions.