Oklahoma House Bill HB2097

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Schools; Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; authorizing technology center school district board of education to donate certain equipment; effective date.

Impact

The proposed changes to Section 14-106 of Title 70 in Oklahoma law establish a framework for the donation of unneeded equipment. It stipulates that technology center school districts, upon determining that they possess equipment that is surplus to their requirements, can donate such equipment to other educational institutions. This process encourages a more efficient use of state resources, as it allows for redistribution rather than disposal of educational equipment, thereby potentially reducing costs for participating schools.

Summary

House Bill 2097 aims to amend existing legislation regarding the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education by allowing technology center school districts to donate obsolete or surplus equipment. This bill seeks to enhance the operational flexibility of technology centers, empowering them to contribute to the educational resources of other schools by redistributing equipment that is no longer needed for their purposes. The intent is to foster collaboration among educational institutions and facilitate the sharing of resources to benefit students and the broader community.

Contention

While the bill is generally seen as a positive step towards enhancing educational collaboration, there may be concerns regarding the oversight of equipment distribution. Stakeholders might debate the criteria for what constitutes 'obsolete' equipment and the processes involved in decision-making. Additionally, the implications of how local school boards oversee this donation process could also spark discussions, ensuring that such donations do not inadvertently disadvantage certain schools that may depend on newly available resources.