OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures authored by Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, aimed at improving educational access for justice-involved youth and strengthening child protection laws, have officially been signed into law.
House Bill 1940, signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 9, modifies charter school sponsorship provisions to allow the Statewide Charter School Board to sponsor charter schools when the applicant is the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) or is contracted with OJA. The bill is designed to expand educational services to youth in the custody or supervision of county juvenile justice systems. The new law will take effect July 1.
“This legislation helps ensure that youth under county or state supervision don’t fall through the cracks when it comes to education,” Sterling said. “By enabling the Statewide Charter School Board to work directly with OJA, we’re creating more opportunities for academic support and rehabilitation.”
House Bill 1935, which became law without the governor’s signature on May 8, updates the statute of limitations for the failure to report abuse or neglect. The bill stipulates that legal action must be initiated by the victim’s 45th birthday, allowing survivors more time to seek justice. The measure takes effect Nov. 1.
“Delays in reporting abuse are common, especially when the victim is a child,” Sterling said. “Many survivors don’t fully understand what happened to them until years later, or they may be afraid to speak out due to trauma, fear of retaliation or lack of support.”
According to the American Society of for the Positive Care of Children, 89% of victims are maltreated by one or both parents.
“We know that, in many cases, children are reluctant to speak out because they don’t want to ‘bite the hand that feeds them’, especially when the neglect or abuse is coming from a parent or caregiver”, Sterling said. “This change recognizes those challenges and gives survivors a more realistic window of time to process their experiences and pursue justice. It’s about creating a legal system that reflects compassion and understanding of the long-term impacts of abuse.”
Sterling, a longtime advocate for youth services and public education, said both bills reflect ongoing efforts to better serve vulnerable populations across Oklahoma.
