Office of Juvenile Affairs; making an appropriation; accounts; deposits or transfers; procedures; reports; requiring appearance before certain joint committee; effective date; emergency.

More funding for Oklahoma juvenile affairs

The law provides up to $10 million from Oklahoma’s Statewide Recovery Fund for higher costs on an existing juvenile affairs project. This is the project funded in Section 1 of Enrolled Senate Bill 19 from the 58th Legislature’s second extraordinary session. The Office of Juvenile Affairs must follow the pandemic relief committee’s May 12, 2025 recommendations. This money supports the project, not direct household payments. The agency can keep no more than 2% for administering the funds and required programming. Those costs must be allowed under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Dedicated Treasury accounts hold only money tied to each appropriation and can continue across fiscal years. The State Treasurer sets their end dates and issues payments after claims receive state management office approval. That office must complete requested deposits or transfers within seven calendar days and confirm completion. The agency can make agreements with other state agencies for auditing, oversight, reporting, implementation, and fund management. These agreements cannot give away its control over budgeting, spending, allocating, or requesting funds. Agency rules must not conflict with or block the law. The agency must submit quarterly reports on budgeting, spending, and management, plus copies of interagency agreements and third-party contracts. It must appear before the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding within six months of the effective date and when requested. Oversight continues while funds are budgeted, spent, or managed; the Treasurer sets the end date and reports it to state leaders. The law lists July 1, 2025 as its effective date and includes an emergency clause making it effective upon passage and approval.