An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1634 By: Staires and Davis of the
House
and
Bergstrom of the Senate
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 24-102, which relates to student searches;
updating statutory language and refe rences; allowing
for search of shoes and hand and head coverings of
students; providing an exception for religious head
coverings; authorizing superintendent to make certain
designation for purposes of transp orting certain
items; prescribing procedures; and providing an
effective date.
SUBJECT: Schools
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 24 -102, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 24-102. A. The superintendent, principal, teacher, or
security personnel of any public school in the State of Oklahoma,
upon reasonable suspicion, shall have the authority to detain and
search or authorize the search, of an y pupil or property in the
possession of the pupil wh en said the pupil is on any school
premises, or while in transit under the authority of the school, or
while attending any function sponsored or authorized by the school,
for dangerous weapons, controlle d dangerous substances, as defined
in the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, intoxicating ENR. H. B. NO. 1634 Page 2
alcoholic beverages, low-point beer, as defined by Section 163.2 of
Title 37 of the Oklahoma Statutes in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage
Control Act, or for missing or stolen property if said the property
be is reasonably suspected to have been taken from a pu pil, a school
employee or the school during school a ctivities. The search shall
be conducted by a person of the same sex as the person being
searched and shall be witnessed by at least one other authorize d
person, said person to be of the same sex if prac ticable.
B. The extent of any search conducted purs uant to this section
shall be reasonably related to the objective of the search and not
excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and
the nature of the infraction. In no event shal l a strip search of a
student be allowed. No studen t's clothing, except cold weather
outerwear, shoes, and hand and head coverings, except religious head
coverings, shall be removed prior to or dur ing the conduct of any
warrantless search.
C. The superintendent, principal, teacher, or security
personnel searching or authorizing the search shal l have authority
to detain the pupil to be searched and to preserve any dangerous
weapons, controlled dange rous substances, intoxicating alcoholic
beverages, low-point beer, or missing or stolen property that might
be in the pupil's possession including th e authority to authorize
any other persons they deem necessary to restrain such p upil or to
preserve any dangerous weapons, controlled dangerous substances,
intoxicating alcoholic beverages, low-point beer, or missing or
stolen property. Students found to be in possession of such an item
shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2 4-101.3 of this
title.
D. Pupils shall not have any reasonable expectation of priva cy
towards school administrators or teachers in the contents of a
school locker, desk, or other school property. School personnel
shall have access to school lockers, desk s, and other school
property in order to properly supervise the welfare of pupils.
School lockers, desks, and other areas of school fac ilities may be
opened and examined by school officials at any time and no reason
shall be necessary for such search. Sc hools shall inform pupils in
the student discipline code that they have no reasonabl e expectation
of privacy rights towards school offic ials in school lockers, desks,
or other school property.
E. The superintendent may designate school personnel to
transport items preserved as provided for in subsection C of this ENR. H. B. NO. 1634 Page 3
section from a school site to a centralized location within the
school district or to local law enforcement offices for lawful
disposal. While in transport, the designated school personnel shall
carry their school identification and a letter from the
superintendent confirming their authority to transport the items for
disposal. All items transported for disposal pursuant to this
subsection shall be transported in a locked container.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1634 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 10th day of May, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 17th day of April, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________