OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal agency says in a letter to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services that it could lose federal funding because of its public reports on the histories of children who are killed or nearly killed by child abuse or neglect.
State Representative Jason Nelson calls the threat "irresponsible" and says more than $50 million is at stake.
The letter from the federal Administration for Children and Families says state law allowing public disclosure of previous investigations involving suspected child abuse goes beyond what is allowed in federal law.
Nelson told The Oklahoman that less disclosure would be "a step backward" in protecting children. He's working on a bill to make even more information available.
Nelson said public disclosure has led to efforts to reform the child welfare system.
(Information in the following story is from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)