Oklahoma Senate Bill SB701

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

School support employees; directing support employees be entitled to pay for certain lost time. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The bill's enactment will amend the Oklahoma Statutes related to educational personnel benefits, which primarily impacts regulations surrounding sick leave for school support employees. Support employees will now have clearer rights regarding sick leave, as they will receive at least three days of personal business leave annually, contributing to better job security and workplace welfare. This change aims to level the benefits offered to support employees closer to those available to teachers.

Summary

Senate Bill 701 proposes amendments to existing law regarding the benefits for school support employees in Oklahoma. The intent of the bill is to ensure that support employees are entitled to compensation for lost work time during school closures due to epidemics or health officer orders. Additionally, it mandates the provision of paid sick leave for support personnel at a minimum of one day per month of employment, and allows sick leave to be transferable between school districts, up to a maximum of sixty days.

Contention

Some potential points of contention surrounding SB701 may include concerns over financial implications for school districts faced with the necessity to accommodate these changes in their budgets. Districts may argue that additional financial burdens could detract from educational resources. While supporters might view the bill as a necessary step to improve conditions for support employees and recognize their contributions, opponents might align with concerns about fiscal responsibility within educational funding.