1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 HOUSE BILL 3958 By: Conley
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to student communication; defining
7 terms; requiring certain communication with student
8 to include student's parent or guardian; providing an
8 exception for emergencies; requiring reasonable
9 efforts to use certain school-approved
9 communications; mandating training for school
10 personnel; directing State Department of Education to
10 develop training; providing for investigation of
11 reported violations; prescribing punishment if
11 misconduct is found; providing for codification;
12 providing an effective date; and declaring an
12 emergency.
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16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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17 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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18 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-401 of Title 70, unless there
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19 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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20 A. As used in this section:
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21 1. "Electronic or digital communication" includes, but is not
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22 limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages, direct
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23 messages, social media messages, messages sent through software
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 1 applications, and any other electronic digital means of
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2 communication; and
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3 2. "School personnel" means teachers, coaches, administrators,
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4 school bus drivers, or any other persons employed full-time or part-
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5 time by a public school or charter school.
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6 B. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital
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7 communication with a student shall include the student's parent or
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8 guardian in any electronic or digital communication.
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9 C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of this
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10 section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent
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11 notification to the parent or guardian. School personnel shall make
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12 reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or
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13 applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians
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14 in communications with students.
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15 D. Schools shall provide training, developed by the State
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16 Department of Education, for school personnel on the student
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17 communication requirements of this section.
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18 E. Any school personnel who is reported to be in violation of
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19 subsection B of this section shall be put on administrative leave
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20 while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the
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21 board of education. If the investigation finds that no misconduct
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22 occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and a written
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23 warning of the incident shall be included in the school personnel's
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24 employee file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the
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 1 school personnel's employment shall be terminated, and the incident
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2 shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to Section 1210.163 of
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3 Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
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4 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
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5 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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6 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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7 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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8 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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10 59-2-9704 EK 01/18/24
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