{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-1-1972","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-1972","heading":"Companion and sitter service licensure – Requirements -","body":"Violations.\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\n1. “Companion” or “sitter” means assistance with household\n\ntasks, shopping, meal preparation or planning, and provision of\n\nfellowship and other nonpersonal care for the individual including\n\ntransportation, letter writing, socialization, and is intended to\n\nenable the individual to remain safely and comfortably in their\n\nplace of residence in exchange for consideration; and\n\n2. “Agency” means any partnership, firm, corporation,\n\nassociation, limited liability company, and any other legal entity\n\nauthorized to do business in Oklahoma.\n\nB. The State Board of Health, with the advice and consent of\n\nthe Home Health Advisory Board, is authorized to promulgate rules in\n\naccordance with the Home Care Act to cover agencies providing\n\ncompanion and sitter services that at a minimum require:\n\n1. An individual to be designated by the legal entity to\n\nprovide supervision of the companion or sitter services;\n\n2. Criminal background checks;\n\n3. Workers’ compensation coverage;\n\n4. A nonrefundable application fee of One Thousand Dollars\n\n($1,000.00) for an initial license;\n\n5. A nonrefundable renewal application fee of Five Hundred\n\n($500.00);\n\n6. Liability insurance in amounts determined by the Department;\n\nand\n\n7. A system of record keeping that shall include:\n\na. the name, address, and services provided for all\n\nclients,\n\nb. duties performed for each day of service,\n\nc. criminal background checks of companions or sitters\n\nwhich shall meet the criteria established for\n\ncertified nurse aides as provided for in Section 1-\n\n1950.1 of this title, and\n\nd. any other related information.\n\nC. The State Department of Health shall investigate complaints\n\nof noncompliance with the requirements provided in subsection B of\n\nthis section concerning agencies that provide companion or sitter\n\nservices in this state. Any agency, employer, employee, or\n\ndesignated agent thereof that provides, offers, or advertises\n\ncompanion or sitter services shall become licensed with the State\n\nDepartment of Health pursuant to the Home Care Act.\n\nD. Any agency that:\n\n1. Is represented by the title “home care agency”, without\n\nhaving first complied with the provisions of the Home Care Act;\n\n2. Otherwise offers to perform personal care or home care\n\nservices, as defined in Section 1-1961 of this title;\n\n3. Uses any other name, style, or description denoting that the\n\nagency is licensed to provide personal care or home care services;\n\nor\n\n4. Is in violation of subsection C of this section,\n\nupon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be\n\npunished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)\n\nnor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each offense, by\n\nimprisonment for a term not to exceed six (6) months in the county\n\njail, or by both fine and imprisonment.\n\nE. It shall be unlawful for any agency not licensed in\n\naccordance with the Home Care Act to advertise or otherwise offer\n\npersonal care, companion or sitter services, home care services, to\n\nuse the title “home care agency”, “home health agency”, or “senior\n\ncare agency”, or to provide personal care, companion or sitter\n\nservices, or home care services. Such action shall be subject to\n\nequitable relief in accordance with Section 1-1967 of this title.\n\nF. The provisions of this section shall not apply to those\n\npersons exempted under subsection C of Section 1-1962 of this title\n\nand any individual not employed by an agency.\n\nG. The State Board of Health shall promulgate rules necessary\n\nfor the investigation and hearing of complaints regarding a\n\ncompanion or sitter service. The rules shall include provisions for\n\na review process to be presided over by a mediator or arbitrator,\n\nacceptable to all parties, and who is not an employee of the State\n\nDepartment of Health.\noard of Health shall promulgate rules necessary\n\nfor the investigation and hearing of complaints regarding a\n\ncompanion or sitter service. The rules shall include provisions for\n\na review process to be presided over by a mediator or arbitrator,\n\nacceptable to all parties, and who is not an employee of the State\n\nDepartment of Health.\n\nH. An entity that holds a valid license as a home care agency\n\nunder the Home Care Act and meets the requirements of this section\n\nmay provide companion or sitter services in addition to home care\n\nservices under an existing license.","path":["OK Code","Title 63"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os63.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"3a265e43dffaf5da3ce5c1fb06ac83a3fb4ee814ecd2376b576d8a140e6bf2f2","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-1-1971","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-1-1973"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}