1. A. In any hearing concerning the status of a child, the court, if the court determines the parent is able to pay, shall have authority to adjudge the parent, who has been served with notice of the hearing, liable and accountable for the care and maintenance of any child or children, and to:

   1. 1. Reimburse the court fund, in whole or in part, for any disbursements made from the court fund in conjunction with the case, including, but not limited to, court-appointed attorney fees, expert witness fees, sheriff's fees, witness fees, transcripts and postage;
   2. 2. Pay for the care and maintenance of the child, including, but not limited to, all or some part of placement services, medical care and mental health services, as authorized by law;
   3. 3. Reimburse the Department of Juvenile Justice, in whole or in part, for any costs and expenses incurred by the Department in providing any services or authorized actions taken pursuant to the Juvenile Justice Code for the child; and
   4. 4. Reimburse any law enforcement agency, in whole or in part, for any costs or expenses incurred by the law enforcement agency for custodial services or other authorized actions taken pursuant to the Juvenile Justice Code.

2. B.

   1. 1. If any parent is financially able but has willfully failed to pay any costs or reimbursements as ordered by the court pursuant to this section, the parent may be held in contempt of court and, upon conviction, shall be punished pursuant to Section 566 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
   2. 2. After a judicial determination that the child, the parent of the child, or both such child or parent, are able to pay the costs and reimbursements, in whole or in part, specified by this section, the court shall order the costs and reimbursements. The court may order such payments and reimbursements to be paid in installments and shall set the amount and due date of each installment.
   3. 3. Even though the court has previously found the parent indigent, if a parent is subsequently found to be financially able to pay costs and reimbursements, the court may order such payments and reimbursements paid in installments.
3. C. The court shall have all powers incident to such orders necessary for their enforcement, including the power and authority to require bond or other security for the payment of such order; and may resort to execution and the power of punishment for contempt for noncompliance with such order.

4. D.

   1. 1. The court shall have the right to increase, decrease, or otherwise modify its orders for care and maintenance, as the conditions or needs of the child or children may require and the ability of the person or persons held to pay may afford. The court may order support payments to be made direct to the person, organization or institution having the care and custody of the child or children, or directly to the clerk of the court.
   2. 2. All such funds ordered and paid to the clerk shall be accounted for; provided, that when payments are made in advance for any child, and custody of the court is terminated before the end of the period, then the clerk may refund, by proper voucher, the unused or unaccrued portion of such payment; or the refund may be authorized and paid on claim properly verified and approved by the judge.

5. E.

   1. 1. The Department may effectuate the order for payment of any costs and expenses authorized pursuant to the provisions of this section against any asset of the parent. Any assignment, attachment, garnishment, or lien against such assets shall be served upon the person in possession of the assets or shall be recorded in the office of the county clerk in the county in which the parent resides or in which the asset is located.
   2. 2. Pursuant to Section 7302-2.1 of this title, the Department may contract on a contingency fee basis with private attorneys for the collection and enforcement of orders against such assets. Any such third-party payment shall be paid directly to the Department.

Added by Laws 1995, HB 1978, c. 352, § 142, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 1996, HB 2960, c. 353, § 26, eff. November 1, 1996.