1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3 HOUSE BILL 2513 By: Pittman
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to schools; directing the State
Department of Education to establish a Handle with
8 Care Program; providing for coordination with the
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; subjecting
9 program to the availability of funds; describing
program purpose; requiring administration of a
10 notification system; prescribing information to be
included in notification; directing notification to
11 designated school representative; providing for
program training; specifying information to be
12 included in training; authorizing rule promulgation;
providing exception for notification that could
13 compromise an ongoing investigation; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.
14
15
16
17
18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
19 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
20 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.164 of Title 70, unless
21 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
22 A. The State Department of Education shall coordinate with the
23 Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to establish a Handle with
24 Care Program as funds become available, including public, private,
Req. No. 7039 Page 1
1 or philanthropic donations. The Handle with Care Program shall
2 enable a law enforcement officer or employee of a law enforcement
3 agency to notify the program when a child, who may attend a public
4 school in the state, is exposed to a traumatic event or other event
5 that may affect his or her ability to succeed at school including,
6 but not limited to:
7 1. Domestic violence in the presence of the child;
8 2. Death of a member of the family or household of the child;
9 3. Arrest of a parent or guardian of the child in the presence
10 of the child; or
11 4. Child abuse or neglect.
12 B. The Handle with Care Program shall administer a telephone
13 hotline or other appropriate method to allow a law enforcement
14 officer or law enforcement agency to provide the notification
15 described in subsection A of this section. Information submitted to
16 the program in the notification shall include to the extent that it
17 is available:
18 1. The name of the child;
19 2. The grade and school where the child is enrolled; and
20 3. The date of birth of the child.
21 The notification may include basic information about the traumatic
22 event if the law enforcement officer or employee reasonably believes
23 that disclosing the information is in the best interest of the child
24 or necessary for reasons related to school safety.
Req. No. 7039 Page 2
1 C. Upon receiving notification as provided in subsection B of
2 this section, the Handle with Care Program employees shall determine
3 if the child attends a public school in this state. If the child
4 attends public school in the state, the program shall notify a
5 designated representative of the school district where the child
6 attends school that the child has been exposed to a traumatic event.
7 D. The Department shall provide training regarding the Handle
8 with Care Program to:
9 1. Law enforcement agencies and their employees who may respond
10 to a traumatic event involving a child;
11 2. The board of education of a school district;
12 3. The governing board of a charter school; and
13 4. Any other entity whose employees and volunteers the program
14 determines should receive training.
15 E. The training required in subsection D of this section shall
16 include, at a minimum:
17 1. The procedure for notifying the Handle with Care Program
18 when a child who may attend a public school is exposed to a
19 traumatic event or other event that may affect his or her ability to
20 succeed at school and the information to include in the
21 notification;
22 2. Proper response to a notification received from the program,
23 including, without limitation, the manner in which to respond to
24 notification; and
Req. No. 7039 Page 3
1 3. Collaboration with teachers and other members of the staff
2 of a school, students, family members of students, and other
3 persons, as appropriate, to reduce the negative impact of the
4 traumatic event on the affected student and appropriate
5 interventions that may be available to assist the student.
6 F. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to
7 implement the provisions of this section.
8 G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a law
9 enforcement officer or employee of a law enforcement agency to
10 provide notification pursuant to this section if the disclosure of
11 information may compromise an ongoing investigation.
12 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
13
14 59-1-7039 EK 01/19/23
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Req. No. 7039 Page 4