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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3958 By: Conley and Banning of the
House
and
Pugh of the Senate
An Act relating to student communication; defining
terms; requiring certain communication with student
to include student's parent or guardian; providing an
exception for emergencies; requiring reasonable
efforts to use certain school -approved
communications; mandating training for school
personnel; directing State Department of Education to
develop training; providing for investigation of
reported violations; prescribing punishment if
misconduct is found; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
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 6-401 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this section:
1. "Electronic or digital communication " includes, but is not
limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages , direct
messages, social media messages, messages sent through software
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applications, and any other electronic digital means of
communication; and
2. "School personnel" means teachers, coaches, admin istrators,
school bus drivers, or any other persons employed full-time or part-
time by a public school or charter school.
B. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital
communication with a student shall include the student's parent or
guardian in any electronic or digital communication.
C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of this
section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent
notification to the parent or guardian. School personnel shall make
reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or
applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians
in communications with students.
D. Schools shall provide training , developed by the State
Department of Education, for school personnel on the student
communication requirements of this section.
E. Any school personnel who is reported to be in violation of
subsection B of this section shall be put on administrative leave
while the school district inve stigates the incident and notifies the
board of education. If the investigation finds that no misco nduct
occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and a written
warning of the incident shall be included in the sc hool personnel's
employee file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurre d, the
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school personnel's employment shall be termin ated, and the incident
shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to Section 1210.163 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
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 a pproval.
Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of March, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate