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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 473 By: Paxton
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to school employees; amending Section
1, Chapter 135, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022,
Section 509.12), which relates to certain school
employee leave of absence; allowing certain school
employee to retain c ertain coverage pursuant to
certain provisions; updating statutory references;
providing an effective date; and declari ng an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 135, O.S.L.
2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 509.12), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 509.12. A. A school district board of education may
approve a request from a school distri ct employee for a leave of
absence to hold office as an officer, director, trus tee, or agent of
a national, statewide, or school district employee association. The
employee requesting the leave shall provide the school district
superintendent with proof of election and proof of the term of
office for the national, statewide, or scho ol district employee
association. Proof of election shall include but not be limited to
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certification by the national, statewide, or school distric t
employee association of the date of the election and the results of
the election. Board of education appr oval for leave requested
pursuant to this section shall have definitive beginning and end
dates.
B. Leave granted pursuant to this section shall be leave
without pay. The school employee on leave shall not be entitled to
maintain any benefits granted by the school district regardless of
whether the benefit is paid by the employee on leave or the
association for which the person is serving as an offi cer, director,
trustee, or agent may be allowed to retain insurance coverage
pursuant to Section 1308.1 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma S tatutes.
C. During the leave peri od, the school employee’s position with
the school district shall be maintained without a dvancement on the
minimum salary schedule adopted pursuant to Section 5-141 of Title
70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title and with no accrual of s ick
leave, personal business leave, or personal leave. The employee on
leave shall not accumulate service c redit within the Teachers’
Retirement System of Oklahoma. Following the term of leave granted
pursuant to the provisions of this section, the employee granted
leave may return to his or her former position or a comparable
position.
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D. A school district employee granted leave pu rsuant to the
provisions of this section shall be prohibited from accessing school
district office space .
E. If a national, statewide, or school district employee
association that serves as a school district employee organization
established pursuant to S ection 509.2 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
Statutes this title fails to comply with the provisions of this
section, the school district b oard of education shall no long er
recognize the organization as a representative of employees.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
59-1-1512 EB 1/17/2023 1:06:23 PM