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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
HOUSE BILL 1544 By: Moore
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 1-116, which relates to positions in the
school system; modifying definition; a dding a
definition for athletic train er; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -116, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-116. As used in this title:
1. "Teacher" means any person who is e mployed to serve as
district superintendent, principal, s upervisor, a counselor,
librarian, school nurse, athletic trainer, or classroom teacher or
in any other instructional, supervisor y or administrative capacity.
The person shall not be deemed qualified unless the person holds a
valid certificate issued by and in accordance wi th the rules of the
State Board of Education or the rules of the State Board of Ca reer
and Technology Educatio n, to perform the particular services for
which the person is employed;
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2. "Superintendent" or "superintendent of schools " means the
executive officer of the board of education and the administrative
head of the school system o f a district maintaining an accredited
school, provided the person ho lds an administrator's certificate
recognized by the State Board of Education;
3. "Principal" means any person other than a district
superintendent of schools having supervisory or admin istrative
authority over any school or school building having two or more
teachers. A teaching principal shall be a principal who devotes at
least one-half (1/2) the time school is in session to classroom
teaching. Teaching principals shall be required t o hold
administrative certif icates;
4. "Teachers" means, for purposes of complying with the State
Aid Law and other statutes, but not any other provision of law,
which apportion money on the basis of teaching units or the number
of teachers employed or qu alified, all persons holding proper
certificates and connected in any capacity with the instruction of
pupils;
5. "Inductee" means any certified teacher who is employed in a
local school to serve as a classroom teacher under the guidance and
assistance of a mentor teacher or teacher s;
6. "Student teacher" means any student who is enrolled in an
institution of higher le arning approved by the State Board of
Education for teacher training and who is jointly assigned by the
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institution of higher learning and a board of education of a sc hool
district to perform practice teachin g under the direction of a
regularly employed an d certified teacher. A student teacher, while
serving an internship under the supervision of a certified teacher,
shall be accorded the sa me protection of the laws as that accorded
the certified teacher and shall be eligible to receive compensation
beginning on the first day of the intern ship for up to one full
school year; provided, however, that such compensation shall not be
considered compensation for purposes of teacher retirement or the
minimum salary schedule;
7. "School nurse" means a person emplo yed full time by a board
of education who is a regi stered nurse license d by the Oklahoma
State Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Educ ation and is
certified the same as a teacher by the State Board of Ed ucation.
Provided, that any person who is emplo yed as a full-time school
nurse in any school distr ict in Oklahoma who is not registered on
July 2, 1971, may continue to serve in the same capacity; however,
such person shall, under rules adopt ed by the State Board of
Education, attend classes in nursing and prepare to beco me
registered. A school nurse employed by a board of education shall
be accorded the same protection of laws and a ll other benefits
accorded as a certified teacher; and
8. "Athletic trainer" means a person employed full time by a
board of education who is a Certified Athletic Trainer with current
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certification from the Board of Certification of the National
Athletic Trainers' Association and is also currently licensed to
practice in the state in accordance with the Oklahoma Board of
Medical Licensure and Supervision. An athletic trainer employed by
a board of education shall be accorded the same protection of laws
and all other benefits as a certif ied teacher; and
9. "Support employee" means an employee who provides those
services which are not perfo rmed by certified teac hers, principals,
superintendents or administrators and which are necessary for the
efficient and satisfactory functioning of a s chool district.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
59-1-5354 EK 12/28/22