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SB 1597

Court-appointed special advocates; removing requirement for state association to adhere to certain national standards. Effective date.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Todd Gollihare and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma bill removes requirement for state CASA association to follow national standards, giving it autonomy over training and operational guidelines for child advocates.

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Bill Summary · SB 1597

Legislative bill overview

SB 1597 removes the requirement for Oklahoma's state association of Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to comply with certain national standards. CASAs are volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in abuse and neglect cases within the court system. The bill essentially grants the state association greater autonomy in setting its own operational and training standards.

Why is this important

CASAs play a critical role in child welfare proceedings, often serving as the only consistent adult advocate for vulnerable children in the foster care and court systems. Standards—whether national or state-level—typically establish training requirements, ethical guidelines, and quality assurance measures that affect the competency and accountability of these advocates. Changes to oversight standards can impact the protection level children receive and public confidence in the CASA program.

Potential points of contention

  • Quality assurance concerns: National standards like those from the National CASA Association typically include training, certification, and ethical requirements designed to ensure consistent quality. Removing these requirements could allow for variable standards that might reduce advocate preparedness or accountability.
  • Consistency across jurisdictions: National standards help ensure children in different states receive similarly rigorous advocacy. Decoupling from national standards may create inconsistent service quality depending on state implementation choices.
  • Cost and resources: State-specific standards may cost less to implement than national compliance, but could also reduce access to shared training resources and national best practices developed by the national organization.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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