1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3 HOUSE BILL 1544 By: Moore
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 1-116, which relates to positions in the
8 school system; modifying definition; adding a
definition for athletic trainer; and providing an
9 effective date.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1-116, is
14 amended to read as follows:
15 Section 1-116. As used in this title:
16 1. "Teacher" means any person who is employed to serve as
17 district superintendent, principal, supervisor, a counselor,
18 librarian, school nurse, athletic trainer, or classroom teacher or
19 in any other instructional, supervisory or administrative capacity.
20 The person shall not be deemed qualified unless the person holds a
21 valid certificate issued by and in accordance with the rules of the
22 State Board of Education or the rules of the State Board of Career
23 and Technology Education, to perform the particular services for
24 which the person is employed;
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1 2. "Superintendent" or "superintendent of schools" means the
2 executive officer of the board of education and the administrative
3 head of the school system of a district maintaining an accredited
4 school, provided the person holds an administrator's certificate
5 recognized by the State Board of Education;
6 3. "Principal" means any person other than a district
7 superintendent of schools having supervisory or administrative
8 authority over any school or school building having two or more
9 teachers. A teaching principal shall be a principal who devotes at
10 least one-half (1/2) the time school is in session to classroom
11 teaching. Teaching principals shall be required to hold
12 administrative certificates;
13 4. "Teachers" means, for purposes of complying with the State
14 Aid Law and other statutes, but not any other provision of law,
15 which apportion money on the basis of teaching units or the number
16 of teachers employed or qualified, all persons holding proper
17 certificates and connected in any capacity with the instruction of
18 pupils;
19 5. "Inductee" means any certified teacher who is employed in a
20 local school to serve as a classroom teacher under the guidance and
21 assistance of a mentor teacher or teachers;
22 6. "Student teacher" means any student who is enrolled in an
23 institution of higher learning approved by the State Board of
24 Education for teacher training and who is jointly assigned by the
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1 institution of higher learning and a board of education of a school
2 district to perform practice teaching under the direction of a
3 regularly employed and certified teacher. A student teacher, while
4 serving an internship under the supervision of a certified teacher,
5 shall be accorded the same protection of the laws as that accorded
6 the certified teacher and shall be eligible to receive compensation
7 beginning on the first day of the internship for up to one full
8 school year; provided, however, that such compensation shall not be
9 considered compensation for purposes of teacher retirement or the
10 minimum salary schedule;
11 7. "School nurse" means a person employed full time by a board
12 of education who is a registered nurse licensed by the Oklahoma
13 State Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education and is
14 certified the same as a teacher by the State Board of Education.
15 Provided, that any person who is employed as a full-time school
16 nurse in any school district in Oklahoma who is not registered on
17 July 2, 1971, may continue to serve in the same capacity; however,
18 such person shall, under rules adopted by the State Board of
19 Education, attend classes in nursing and prepare to become
20 registered. A school nurse employed by a board of education shall
21 be accorded the same protection of laws and all other benefits
22 accorded as a certified teacher; and
23 8. "Athletic trainer" means a person employed full time by a
24 board of education who is a Certified Athletic Trainer with current
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1 certification from the Board of Certification of the National
2 Athletic Trainers' Association and is also currently licensed to
3 practice in the state in accordance with the Oklahoma Board of
4 Medical Licensure and Supervision. An athletic trainer employed by
5 a board of education shall be accorded the same protection of laws
6 and all other benefits as a certified teacher; and
7 9. "Support employee" means an employee who provides those
8 services which are not performed by certified teachers, principals,
9 superintendents or administrators and which are necessary for the
10 efficient and satisfactory functioning of a school district.
11 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
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13 59-1-5354 EK 12/28/22
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