§ 1836.Procedures - Confidentiality and Impartiality

Chapter 38A: Choice in Mediation Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026

In one sentenceRequires Choice in Mediation Act programs to adopt procedures ensuring confidentiality and mediator impartiality, letting a program satisfy that duty by adopting the District Court Mediation Act's procedures or by becoming a Dispute Resolution Act center.

Full Text of § 1836

Text size

Any program for mediation under the Choice in Mediation Act shall adopt appropriate procedures for the conduct of mediation under the program, to ensure confidentiality of proceedings and impartiality of the mediator and to encourage participation in good faith by the disputing parties. The program may comply with this provision by adopting the provisions in Section 1824 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes or by becoming a center under the Dispute Resolution Act and complying with the procedures of the Dispute Resolution Act.

Amendment History

Added by Laws 2002, HB 1939, c. 468, §16, eff. 11/1/2002.

Plain-English Summary

Section 1836 requires every Choice in Mediation Act program to adopt procedures for conducting mediation that ensure confidentiality of the proceedings, impartiality of the mediator, and good-faith participation by the disputing parties. A program can meet that requirement in either of two ways: by adopting the procedures already set out in Section 1824 for court-ordered mediation, or by becoming a center under the Dispute Resolution Act and following that act's procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every mediation program have to write its own confidentiality procedures?

No -- a program can adopt the procedures already set out in Section 1824, or become a Dispute Resolution Act center and follow its procedures instead.

What must the program's procedures accomplish?

Confidentiality of the proceedings, impartiality of the mediator, and good-faith participation by the disputing parties.

Is adopting these procedures optional for a Choice in Mediation Act program?

No -- the statute says every such program "shall adopt appropriate procedures" meeting these standards; it isn't optional.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature. Last verified August 3, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: confidentiality rules choice in mediation actborrow district court mediation act procedures12 O.S. § 1836