1. A. The Department of Human Services, including, but not limited to, the Developmental Disabilities Services Division, may accept a child into voluntary foster care placement when requested by the parent having legal custody of the child or when requested by a child residing in foster care who reaches eighteen (18) years of age and wishes to continue to reside in the foster care home pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section.

2. B.

   1. 1. Any child may be accepted into voluntary foster care placement with the Department.

   2. 2. The Department shall inform a parent considering voluntary foster care placement of a child, or the child residing in foster care who attains eighteen (18) years of age and wishes to continue to reside in the foster care home, of the following as applicable:

      1. a. a parent who enters a voluntary foster care placement agreement may at any time request that the agency return the child,
      2. b. evidence gathered during the time the child is voluntarily placed in foster care may be used at a later time as the basis for a petition alleging that the child is deprived, or as the basis for a petition seeking termination of parental rights,
      3. c. the timelines and procedures for voluntary foster care placements.
   3. 3. Upon acceptance of a child into voluntary foster care placement, the Department shall prepare a notice of placement signed by the parent or the child residing in foster care who reaches eighteen (18) years of age and wishes to continue to reside in the foster care home.
   4. 4. A period of voluntary foster care placement pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not exceed ninety (90) days except as otherwise provided by the Commission for Human Services by rule.
   5. 5. Except as otherwise provided by this section or Section 7006-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, voluntary foster care placement pursuant to the conditions and restrictions of this subsection shall not constitute abandonment, or abuse or neglect as defined in the Oklahoma Children's Code.
   6. 6. The Commission shall promulgate rules for the purpose of assessing parents for the full or partial cost of voluntary foster care placement.

3. C. The Department may:

   1. 1. Participate in federal programs relating to deprived children and services for such children; and
   2. 2. Apply for, receive, use and administer federal funds for such purposes.

Added by Laws 1998, SB 1224, c. 421, § 32, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998.