Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB738 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/21/2021

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) 
 
SENATE BILL 738 	By: Montgomery 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to the Interlocal Cooperation 
Agreement; declaring certain entit ies organized 
pursuant to certain agreement be subj ect to insurance 
examination; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 5 -117, as 
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 149, O.S.L. 2018 
(70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 5 -117), which relates to 
power and duties of boards o f education; requiring 
certain entities organized b y interlocal agreement be 
subject to examination by the Insurance Commissioner; 
providing for codification; and providing an 
effective date. 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.    NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1009 of Title 74, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
Any entity organized by an interlocal agreement betw een two or 
more school districts or public agencies to provide insurance for 
any purpose shall be subject to examination by the Insurance 
Commissioner in the same manner and as often as licensed insurance 
companies are examined pursuant to Sections 309.1 t hrough 309.7 of   
 
 
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Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes , if the entity has received 
premiums within a twelve -month period. 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 5 -117, as 
last amended by Section 1, C hapter 149, O.S.L. 2018 (70 O.S . Supp. 
2020, Section 5-117), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 5-117. A.  The board of education of each school 
district shall have power to: 
1.  Elect its own officers; provided that the chair of the board 
authorized in Section 5 -107B of this title shall be elected by the 
electors of the scho ol district; 
2.  Make rules, not inconsistent with the law or rules of the 
State Board of Education, governing the board and the school system 
of the district, including converting all or part of a traditional 
public school to a conversion school; 
3.  Maintain and operate a complete public school system of such 
character as the board of education shall deem best suited to the 
needs of the school distri ct; 
4.  Designate the schools to be attended by the children o f the 
district; 
5. Provide and operate, when deemed advisable, cafeterias or 
other eating accommodations, thrift banks or other facilities for 
the teaching and practice of thrift and economy, b ookstores, print 
shops, and vocational and other shops;   
 
 
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6.  Provide informational material concerning schoo l bond 
elections and millage elections , including but not limited to all 
pertinent financial information relative to the bond issue, a 
statement of revenue sources necessary to retire proposed bonds, a 
statement of current bonded indebtedness of the school district, and 
a statement of proposed use of funds to be generated by the proposed 
bond issue.  The informational material shall not contain the wor ds 
“vote yes” or “vote no” or any similar words or statement a ny place 
on such informational material; 
7.  Purchase, construct or rent, and operate and maintain, 
classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, gymnasiums, stadiums, recreation 
places and playgrounds, t eacherages, school bus garages, 
laboratories, administration b uildings, and other schoolhouses and 
school buildings, and acquire sites and equipment for the operation 
of public schools or conversion schools; 
8. a. Insure the school district or its employee s against 
any loss, damage or liability as defined by Sections 
702 through 708 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes, 
or other forms of insurance provided for in Title 36 
of the Oklahoma Statutes. 
b. Subject to the restrictions of liability in the 
Governmental Tort Claims Act: 
(1) insure the school district against al l or any 
part of any liability it may incur f or death,   
 
 
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injury or disability of any person, or for damage 
to property, either real or personal, 
(2) insure any employee of the school district 
against all or any part of the employee ’s 
liability for injury or damage resulting from an 
act or omission in t he scope of employment, or 
(3) insure against the expense of defending a claim 
against the school district or its employee, 
whether or not liability exists on such claim. 
c. As used in this subsection, “employee” means any 
person who has acted in behalf of a school district, 
whether that person is acting on a permanent or 
temporary basis with or without being compensated or 
on a full-time or part-time basis.  Employee also 
includes all elected or appointed office rs, members of 
governing bodies of a school d istrict, and persons 
appointed, and other persons designated by a school 
district to act in its behalf. 
d. The cost or premium of any such insurance is a proper 
expenditure of the school district. 
e. Any insurance authorized by law to be purchased, 
obtained or provided by a school district may be 
provided by:   
 
 
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(1) self-insurance, which may be, but is not required 
to be, funded by appropriations to estab lish or 
maintain reserves for self -insurance purposes.  
Any self-insurance reserve fund shall be 
nonfiscal and shall not be considered in 
computing any levy when the school district makes 
its annual estimate for needed appropriations, 
(2) insurance in any insurer authorized to transact 
insurance in this state, 
(3) insurance secured in accordance with any other 
method provided by law, or 
(4) any combination of insurance authorized by this 
section. 
f. (1) Two or more school districts or public agencies, 
by interlocal agreement made pursuant to the 
Interlocal Cooperation Act, may provide insurance 
for any purpose by an y one or more of the methods 
specified in this section. The entity created by 
the interlocal agreement shall be subject to 
examination by the Insurance Commissioner in the 
same manner and as often as licen sed insurance 
companies are examined pursuant to S ections 309.1 
through 309.7 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes, if it has received premiums for   
 
 
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insurance it provides for any purpose within a 
twelve-month period. 
(2) The pooling of self-insured reserves, claims or 
losses among governments as authorized i n this 
section shall not be construed to be transacting 
insurance nor otherwise subject to the provisions 
of the laws of this state regulating insurance or 
insurance companies, except as to the provisions 
of Section 607.1 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes.  Two or more school districts may also 
be insured under a master policy or contract of 
insurance.  Premium costs may be set individually 
for each school district or apportioned among 
participating school districts as provided by the 
master policy or contract; 
9.  Acquire property by condemnation proceedings in the same 
manner as land is condemned for railroad p urposes.  School district 
funds may be used to erect buildings on leased land on which other 
buildings have been erected prior to April 3, 1969, or on land which 
is leased from a governmental entity; 
10.  Lease real or personal property to the state or any 
political subdivision thereof or a not-for-profit entity operating 
pursuant to Section 868 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes for 
nominal cash consideration for so long as the use of the property by   
 
 
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the lessee substantially benefits, in whole or in part , the same 
public served by the school district; 
11.  Dispose of personal or real property no longer needed by 
the district by sale, exchange, le ase, lease-purchase, sale and 
partial lease back, or otherwise.  Real property shall be conveyed 
pursuant to a public sale, public bid , or private sale; provided, 
however, unless otherwise prohibited by la w, the board of education 
of a consolidated or anne xed school district or any other school 
district may convey real property to a local political subdivision 
or to an educational institution wit hin The Oklahoma State System of 
Higher Education or to a hous ing authority formed pursuant to the 
provisions of Section 1057 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes 
without consideration.  Prior to the sale of any real property , the 
board of education shall have the real property appraised.  The 
appraisal shall be conf idential until the real property is sold.  
When the real property is sold, the board of education shall make 
the appraisal available for public inspection.  Prior to the 
conveyance of any real p roperty by private sale, the board of 
education shall have off ered the real property for sale by public 
sale or public bid.  Any conveyance of real property by private sale 
to a nonprofit organization, association , or corporation to be used 
for public purposes, unless for exchange, shall contain a 
reversionary clause which returns the real property to the board of   
 
 
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education upon the cessation of the use without profit or for public 
purposes by the purchaser or the assigns of t he purchaser; 
12.  Purchase necessary property, equipment, furniture , and 
supplies necessary to maintain and operate an adequate school 
system; 
13.  Incur all expenses, within the limitations provided for by 
law, necessary to perform all powers granted by the provisions of 
this section; 
14.  Contract with and fix the duties and compensation of 
physicians, dentists, optometrists, nurses, attorneys, 
superintendents, principals, teachers, bus drivers, janitors , and 
other necessary employees of the district; 
15.  Establish a written policy f or reimbursement of necessary 
travel expenses of employees and members of the board.  The policy 
may include in-district travel from the site of employment 
assignment which is necessary in the performance of employment 
duties.  The written policy shall spe cify procedures, contain 
documentation requirements , and may include payment of meal expenses 
during authorized travel on a per diem allowance basis rather than 
itemized documentation; 
16.  Pay necessary travel expenses and o ther related expenses of 
prospective employees for sponsored visits to the school district 
pursuant to a written policy specifying procedures co ntaining 
documentation requirements equal to or greater than the requirements   
 
 
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specified by law for state employe es in the State Travel 
Reimbursement Act; 
17.  Provide for employees ’ leaves of absence witho ut pay; 
18.  Exercise sole control over all the sch ools and property of 
the district, subject to other provisions of the Oklahoma School 
Code; 
19.  Allow district-owned school buses to be used f or 
transportation of students from other districts or educatio nal 
institutions while within the district on educa tional tours.  This 
shall not restrict the authority of the board to authorize any other 
use of such buses which may now be permitted by law or rule of the 
State Board of Education; 
20.  Enter into contrac tual agreements with the board of 
trustees of a multicounty library system, as defined in Section 4 -
103 of Title 65 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a city -county library 
commission, as defined in Sect ion 152 of Title 65 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes, or a rural singl e county library system, as defined in 
Section 1-104 of Title 65 of the Oklahoma Statutes, on such terms as 
may be mutually agreed, except no district board of edu cation may 
enter into any agree ment under which the library services for the 
school would be provided at any site other than the school site or 
which would result in library services that do not meet 
accreditation standards as required by law or rule;   
 
 
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21.  Perform all functions necessar y to the administration of a 
school district in Oklahoma as sp ecified in the Oklahoma School 
Code, and in additio n thereto, those powers necessarily implied but 
not delegated by law to any other agency or official; 
22.  Prepare and distribute at the expens e of the school 
district any and all material which has the pu rpose of informing the 
public about district activi ties; 
23.  Solicit and accept any gift, grant , or donation of money or 
property for the use of the school distri ct.  Any gift, grant , or 
donation of money may be deposited in the general fund or building 
fund of the school district; and 
24.  Pay necessary meal and lodging expenses of school district 
students and sponsors involved in authorized school -sponsored 
cocurricular activities.  The board of education shall establish a 
written policy for reimbursemen t of necessary meal and lodging 
expenses of school district students and sponsors.  The written 
policy shall specify procedures, contain documentation requirements , 
and designate the funds from which reimbursement may be made.  
Reimbursement may be made fr om the General Fund. 
B.  The board of education of any school district may rent real 
and personal property, if such items are necessary for the operation 
of the school, and pay the rental charge s for the usage during any 
fiscal year, or portion thereof, ou t of appropriations made and 
approved for current e xpense purposes during the fiscal year.  Any   
 
 
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rental contract extending beyond June 30 of the fiscal year shall b e 
void unless it contains provi sions for mutual ratification of 
renewal pursuant to the condi tions provided for in this subsection.  
It is the intent of this subsection to authorize boards of education 
to enter into lease contracts but not to incur any obl igation 
against the school dist rict in excess of the income and revenue 
provided for such pur poses for the fiscal year in which the lease 
contract is operative.  Any lease or lease -purchase agreement 
entered into by any board of education shall state the p urchase 
price of real or person al property so leased.  The lease or lease -
purchase shall not be extended so as to cause payment of more than 
the original purchase price of the real or personal property, plus 
interest not to exceed the legal rate.  When the purchase price plus 
interest has been paid, the property shall belong to the lessee and 
the lessor shall deliver a deed or bill of sale to the property to 
the lessee.  When any real or personal property has been leased or 
rented during any fiscal year pur suant to the provisions of any 
contract which permits continuance of the rental for the remai nder 
of the fiscal year, the renting or leasing of the property shall be 
continued for the remainder of the fiscal year unless the board of 
education renting or le asing the same certifies by pro per resolution 
entered in the minutes of the board of educatio n that the 
continuance of the rental is unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest.  Any lease -purchase agreement entered into shall include   
 
 
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the right of a school district to acquire buildi ngs, equipment or 
other facilities or discrete components ther eof or improve school 
sites through a lease -purchase agreement.  A school district may use 
proceeds derived from the sale of bonds as authorized by Section 26 
of Article X of the Oklahoma Consti tution to make lease -purchase 
payments, including interest, un der a lease-purchase agreement.  For 
purposes of this subsection, the term “acquired” as used in Section 
26 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution shall mean th e 
possession, control, or power to dispose of personal or real 
property. 
C.  The boards of ed ucation of two or more school districts may 
enter into cooperative agreements and maintain joint programs 
including, but not limited to, courses of instruction for 
handicapped children, courses of instruction in music and other 
subjects, practical instruct ion for trades and vocations, practical 
instruction in driver training courses , and health programs 
including visual care by persons legally licensed for such purp ose, 
without favoritism as to e ither profession.  The revenues necessary 
to operate a joint p rogram approved in cooperative agreements, 
whether from federal, state or local sources, including the 
individual contributions of participating school districts, shall be 
deposited into a fund separate from all other appropriated funds.  
The beginning fund balance each year, combined with all actual 
revenues, including collected and estimated revenues, must be   
 
 
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appropriated before being expended.  Purchase orders sh all be issued 
against available appropriations and, once goods or services have 
been received, either payable or nonpayable warrants shall be is sued 
in payment of all purchase orders.  The fund shall be reported as a 
separate appropriated fund in all the f inancial reports of the 
school district which is chosen by the other school districts to 
keep the accounting records of the joint program. 
D.  The boards of education of two or more school districts may 
enter into a mutual contract or separate contracts wi th a 
superintendent, administra tor, or teacher or with a person to 
provide support services, to serve as superintendent, administrator , 
or teacher, as appropriately qualified, or to provide support 
services, for each contracting district upon such terms an d 
conditions as the parties may agree.  Nothing in this act shall be 
construed to authorize o r require annexation or consolidation of any 
school districts or the closing of any school site except pursuant 
to law as set forth in Section 7 -101 et seq. of this title. 
E.  Any school distric t may operate or maintain a school or 
schools on any military reservation which is within the boundaries 
of the school district or which is adjacent to the school district, 
and provide the instruction in the school or schools to children of 
personnel on the military reservation and, in doing so, shall 
conform to all federal laws and requirements.   
 
 
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F.  The board of edu cation of each school district shall adopt 
and maintain on file in the office of the superintendent of schools 
appropriate personnel policy and sick leave guide.  The guide shall 
be made available to the p ublic. 
G.  The board of education of any school dis trict with an 
average daily membership of thirty thousand (30,000) or more and all 
or part of which school distr ict is located in a county havi ng more 
than five hundred thousand (500,000) population accord ing to the 
latest Federal Decennial Census may cont ract with a public or 
private nonsectarian entity for that entity to provide educational 
and administrative serv ices for the school district.  The 
educational services provided by a contracting entity may include 
but are not limited to the delivery of inst ructional service in core 
and noncore academic subjects to the students enrolled in the school 
district at one or more school sites or parts of sites within the 
district pursuant to the terms of an educati onal services contract.  
All educational service pr oviders and their employees and 
representatives and all educational and administrative services 
provided under an educational services contract shall be exempt from 
all statutes and rules relating to schoo ls, boards of education and 
school districts to the same extent that a charter school is exempt 
under the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act.  For all purposes , including 
but not limited to attendance , funding from all sources and 
accountability, all students wh o are provided services by a   
 
 
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contracting entity pur suant to an educational services contract 
shall at all times be and remain students of the school district. 
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective November 1, 20 21. 
 
58-1-1166 CB 1/21/2021 1:34:27 PM