State Representative for District 30 and Sapulpan Mark Lawson stood in front of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday, April 12th to introduce what he thought was a standard resolution to designate April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Instead, he said, it “turned into a day I’ll never forget.” Surprised and moved, Lawson received the Outstanding Elected Official award for Child Abuse Prevention from Healthy Oklahoma in front of his “three favorite ladies,” wife Pam Lawson, mother Vickie Beyer, and soon-to-be-one-year-old daughter, Ivy.
“Looking at my little girl up there today changes the tone of what I wanted to say when it comes to Child Abuse Prevention month,” stated Lawson. “Becoming a dad for the first time a year ago this Saturday has really changed my life…How much I love that little girl, how much I love my wife, and how thankful I am to have a mother who always loved me.”
He continued, “I can think of no other cause than child abuse prevention that is worth our time and our efforts here as a body in the House of Representatives…Many of the issues we talk about in this body I say can be related back to the family and the home, whether that’s education outcomes, criminal justice reform, or mental health and substance abuse services—a lot of that starts at home. I think we all know that the research shows that children who are a victim of abuse and neglect are far less likely to achieve in the classroom. They’re far more likely to end up in our juvenile justice system or corrections system.”
Lawson concluded by thanking foster parents and child advocates across the state, his colleagues, and all of the organizations who support child abuse prevention efforts. “Fighting for our children and our families will always be my top priority,” he said.
Representative Carol Bush (R-Tulsa) presented Lawson with his award as he received a standing ovation from his fellow representatives, family and guests in the gallery, Joe Dorman, CEO of OICA, and Sherry Fair, Executive Director of Parent Promise.
Bush said, “You have been an amazing leader in this arena for the last 5 years and I’ve had the pleasure to work with you and alongside you with a lot of these bills. Your heart and your passion for children, not only in your district, but in the state of Oklahoma, will outlast your 12-year tenure here.”
Lawson has been an advocate for children for years, working with Youth Services of Tulsa’s Safe Place program, the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, serving as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Creek County, and he is a former chairman of the Youth Services of Creek County’s board of directors. He has also received multiple awards and accolades for his service to children and families in his time as a State Representative.
Last year he was named OICA’s 2020 Children’s Representative of the Year, in part for authoring House Bill 1282, which protects children 12 years old or younger who have been charged with a felony from being placed in a state juvenile detention facility unless all alternatives have been exhausted.
Additionally, he serves on the following House committees: Appropriations and Budget, chair of the A&B Human Services subcommittee, Children, Youth, and Family Services, County and Municipal Government, State and Federal Redistricting, and State and Federal Redistricting North Central Oklahoma subcommittee.
Lawson is currently working on several bills, but told Sapulpa Times that the one closest to his heart right now is HB2311, a companion bill to HB1282. HB2311 says that anyone under the age of 14 should not be placed in juvenile detention unless safety is an issue and all other placements are not appropriate. This has been heard in House and Senate committees and next will go to the Senate floor.
