SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2260 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amend ments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION February 27, 2024 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2260 By: Sterling and Wallace of the House and Floyd and Jett of the Senate An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-101.25, which relates to recommendations of the superintendent; including additional situations related to certain recommendations for revoking licenses may be made; describing said situ ations; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA : SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-101.25, is amended to read as follows: Section 6-101.25 A. Whenever a superintendent decides to recommend that a teacher employed within the school district be dismissed or not ree mployed, the superintendent shall state the recommendation in writing, setting forth the basis for the recommendation, and shall submit such recommendation to the board of education. SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2260 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amend ments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 If the teacher subject to such recommendation is a career teacher, the recommendation shall specify the statutory grounds for which the recommendation is based. If the teacher subject to such r ecommendation is a probationary teacher, the recommendation shall s pecify the cause for which the recommendation is based. The superintendent shall also specify the underlying facts supporting the recommendation. B. If the recommendation includes grounds that could form the basis of criminal charges sufficient to result in the denial or revocation of a certificate for a reason set forth i n subparagraph a of paragraph 6 of subsection A of Section 3-104 of this title, or if the recommendation includes a reason set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 6 of subsection A of Section 3-104 of this title and is based on an agreement between the teacher and schoo l district to avoid civil litigation or a settlement of a civil action un less the court orders the terms of such settlement to be kept confidential , a copy of the recommendation shall also be forwarded to the State Board of Education after the completion o f due process procedures pursuant to Section 6-101.26 of this title or af ter the teacher resigns. Failure to forward a copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education shall not be the basis fo r any claim or action against a public school, its b oard of education, employees, agents or other representatives. If the sc hool district forwards a SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2260 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amend ments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 copy of the recommendation to the State Board of Education, the school district shall contemporaneously forward a copy to the teacher subject to such recommen dation. The teacher may provide supplementary information to the State B oard of Education. C. Only school district s may request a copy of the recommendation from the State Board of Education, and only i f a teacher is being considere d for new employment o r a teacher is currently employed by the requesting school district. The State Board of Education shall notify the teacher subject to the recommendation if such a request is made and provide the identity of the school district that m ade such request. The State Board of Education shall provide the requesting school district do cuments related to the recommendation as we ll as any supplementary information provided by the teacher subject to the recommendatio n, and copies shall be contemp oraneously forwarded t o the teacher subject to the recommendation. Records provided to a reque sting school district pursuant to this subs ection shall be kept confidential. D. Except as provided for in sub section C of this section, the State Board of Education shall keep recom mendations submitted pursuant to subsection B of this section confidentia l. Records created pursuant to this sectio n shall not be subject to disclosure under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2260 SFLR Page 4 (Bold face denotes Committee Amend ments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. If the State Board of Education or a sch ool district that generated or received documents pursuant to subsection C of this section is served a subpoena requesting disclosure of t he documents, the teacher subject to the recommendation shall immedi ately be notified and be provided the opportunity to object to the subpo ena. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION February 27, 2024 - DO PASS