Task Force on Reactive Attachment Disorder in Children – Membership - Duties.

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  4. Task Force on Reactive Attachment Disorder in Children – Membership - Duties.

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A. There is hereby created to continue until December 31, 2006, the Task Force on Reactive Attachment Disorder in Children. The task force will examine this issue as it relates to children in the custody of the Department of Human Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs, and children served by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. For purposes of this section, “Reactive Attachment Disorder” means a disorder resulting from the lack of reasonable care and nurturance, usually in the early years of life, which results in an inability to establish normal, stable attachments to caregivers and others.

B. The task force shall consist of eighteen (18) members as follows:

1. The Director of the Department of Human Services, or designee;

2. The Director of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, or designee;

3. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, or designee;

4. The Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or designee;

5. The State Commissioner of Health, or designee;

6. The Administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, or designee;

7. The Director of the Oklahoma Areawide Services Information Systems, or designee;

8. The Executive Coordinator of the District Attorneys Council, or designee;

9. The Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, or designee;

10. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives shall appoint members as follows:

  • a.one member who serves on the Oklahoma House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee,
  • b.one member who is a foster-care or adoptive parent of a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, and
  • c.one member who is a mental health expert knowledgeable in treating children with Reactive Attachment Disorder;

11. The President Pro Tempore of the State Senate shall appoint members as follows:

  • a.one member who serves on the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee,
  • b.one representative of a statewide child advocacy organization, and
  • c.one member who is a practicing attorney in the area of child welfare and who is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association; and

12. The Governor shall appoint members as follows:

  • a.one member who is a pediatrician knowledgeable in the area of Reactive Attachment Disorder in children,
  • b.one member who serves on a postadjudication review board, chosen from a list of names submitted by the State Postadjudication Review Advisory Board, and
  • c.one member who is a representative of the Oklahoma Youth Services Center.

C. 1. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

2. Appointments to the task force shall be made by July 1, 2005.

3. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the members present at a meeting may act for the task force.

4. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate shall each designate a cochair from among the members of the task force.

5. The cochairs of the task force shall convene the first meeting of the task force on or before July 15, 2005, at which time a schedule of the meetings shall be determined.

6. The task force may divide into subcommittees in furtherance of its purpose.

D. 1. Staff of the Department of Human Services shall serve as primary staff for the task force with assistance from the staffs of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

2. The task force may use the expertise and services of the staffs of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate and may, as necessary, seek the advice and services of experts in the field of child welfare.

E. All departments, officers, agencies and employees of this state shall cooperate with the task force in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to, providing any information, records or reports requested by the task force.

F. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their service, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:

1. Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

2. Nonlegislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed by their appointing authorities or respective agencies for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

G. The duties and responsibilities of the Task Force on Reactive Attachment Disorder in Children shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Identifying the number of children in the custody of the Department of Human Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs or the number served by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services who have Reactive Attachment Disorder or who may have a predisposition for the disorder;

2. Assessing current resources available to families who have a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder;

3. Determining if additional services are necessary including, but not limited to, networking and support groups, treatment options, information/resource links; and

4. Determining if conferences and training sessions are needed for families who have a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

H. The task force shall publish its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2006, including recommendations for any resulting legislation.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 133, § 1, emerg. eff. May 2, 2005.


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