Child abuse; modifying scope and penalty of certain offenses. Effective date.

SB 594 modifies Oklahoma's child abuse laws by expanding the types of statements children and incapacitated persons can provide as evidence in court. It updates rules to allow statements describing physical abuse, neglect, sexual contact, domestic abuse, or acts causing great bodily injury to be admissible in trials involving child abuse or witnessing abuse, regardless of whether the child testifies. The bill also reclassifies child abuse as a Class A3 felony (Section 843.5) and includes specific offenses like "enabling failure to protect from child abuse" under this classification. These changes directly affect child abuse victims, their abusers, and legal proceedings involving minors or incapacitated individuals.