An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3958 By: Conley, Banning, Fugate,
and Davis 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 investig ation of
reported violations; prescribing punishment if
misconduct is found; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
SUBJECT: Student communication
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
applications, and any other electronic digital means of
communication; and ENR. H. B. NO. 3958 Page 2
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 n individual student shall include the student's
parent or guardian in any electronic or digital communication,
unless such communication is o n a school-approved platform and
related to school and academic communications .
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 o f 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 re ported 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 the incident
shall be noted in the school personnel's employee file. If the
investigation finds misconduct occurre d, the school personnel shall
be disciplined according to the school di strict board of education's
policy, up to and including termination of employment, 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.
ENR. H. B. NO. 3958 Page 3
Passed the House of Representatives the 7th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2024.
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: _________________________________