Starting November 1, adopting a relative in Oklahoma may become easier due to new legislation known as the Shai Cooper Act (House Bill 2647). The law allows courts to waive preplacement home studies for immediate family members under certain conditions.
According to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the home study, typically required in adoption cases, is an in-depth review of the adoptive home and family. Under the new law, applicants may be eligible for a waiver if they meet the following criteria: they have been married for at least one year (if applicable), have no felony convictions, and no active protective orders. The law also applies to qualified single relatives.
House Bill 2647 was passed with unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature and became law without requiring the governor’s signature. It was authored by Rep. Erick Harris and carried in the Senate by Sen. Kristen Thompson. The bill is named after Shai Cooper, a 13-year-old adoptee, and is intended to make it easier for immediate relatives to provide permanent homes for children without unnecessary delays.
