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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4017 By: McBride, Baker, and Waldron
of the House
and
Pugh of the Senate
An Act relating to teachers; creating the Return to
Teach Signing Bonus A ct; establishing a signing bonus
program for certain teachers ; subjecting program to
availability of funds; listing requirements for
program participants; prescribing installment
payments for bonus; setting maximum amount of bonus
per teacher; describing process for bonus payments;
directing State Department of Educatio n to verify
applicant information; excluding bonus from being
included in certain calculations; providing for
promulgation of rules; providing for codification;
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. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Return to
Teach Signing Bonus Act".
B. Beginning with the 2024 -2025 school year and subject to the
availability of funding, the State Department of Education shall
establish and administer a signing bonus program for teachers who
return to teaching in Oklahoma public schools.
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C. To participate in the signing bonus program, the applicant
shall:
1. Be a teacher with at least three (3) years of prior teaching
experience and a valid or expired teaching certificate issued by:
a. the State Board of Educatio n,
b. the education certification entity of another state,
c. the National Board for Pr ofessional Teaching
Standards, or
d. the education certification entity of another country;
2. Have not been employed by an Oklahoma public school district
within the past five (5) years at the time of applying ;
3. Agree to be a full-time public school teacher in the state
for a minimum of five (5) years;
4. Submit proof of his or her most recent teaching employment
which may include a paystub or letter from the school district
superintendent or board of education;
5. Submit proof provided by the school district where the
applicant will be employed as a full-time teacher; and
6. Any additional requir ements established by the State Boa rd
of Education.
D. The signing bonus shall be paid in five (5) equal annual
installments of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00) per year for a
period of five (5) years. The total amount of the signi ng bonus
shall not exceed Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ( $35,000.00) per
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participant. Upon verification required by subsection E of this
section, each installment of the signin g bonus shall be paid to
participants no later than September 1 of each year or within thirty
(30) days of the first day of school, whic hever is earlier. If an
applicant is approved to participate in the signing bonus program
after the school year h as started, the signing bonus shall be
prorated for the first year based on the percentage of days the
participating teacher is contracted to work.
E. 1. Prior to payment of any signing bonuses, the Department
shall verify all of the information submitted by the applicant
pursuant to subsection C of this section is accurate and confirm the
applicant is eligible to participate in the signing bonus program.
2. Prior to the beginning of each school year after the
teacher's first year participating in the signing bonus program , the
teacher shall provide verification to the Department that the
teacher continues to be eligible for the signing bonus program,
including documentation from the Oklahoma school district where the
teacher is employed full time.
F. Any signing bonus paid pursuant to the Return to Teach
Signing Bonus Act shall not be included in the calculation of salary
for purposes of meet ing the district or statutory minimu m salary
schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers ' Retirement System
of Oklahoma contributions or benefits .
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G. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement
the provisions of the Return to Teach Signing Bonus Act.
SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency i s hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof t his act shall take effect and
be in full force from and aft er its passage and approval.
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