§ 63-1-740.2A. Evaluation and counseling session.

A.  Prior to the court hearing for judicial waiver pursuant to Section 1-740.3 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the court may require the pregnant unemancipated minor to participate in an evaluation and counseling session with a mental health professional from the State Department of Health.  Such evaluation shall be confidential and scheduled expeditiously.

B.  Such evaluation and counseling session shall be for the purpose of developing trustworthy and reliable expert opinion concerning the pregnant unemancipated minor's sufficiency of knowledge, insight, judgment, and maturity with regard to her abortion decision in order to aid the court in its decision and to make the resources of the state available to the court for this purpose.  Persons conducting such sessions may employ the information and printed materials referred to in Sections 1-738.2 and 1-738.3 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes in examining how well the pregnant unemancipated minor is informed about pregnancy, fetal development, abortion risks and consequences, and abortion alternatives, and should also endeavor to verify that the pregnant unemancipated minor is seeking an abortion of her own free will and is not acting under coercion, intimidation, threats, abuse, undue pressure, or extortion by any other persons.

C.  The results of such evaluation and counseling shall be reported to the court by the most expeditious means, commensurate with security and confidentiality, to assure receipt by the court prior to a hearing on the petition of the pregnant unemancipated minor.

Added by Laws 2013, c. 268, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.