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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE BILL 1983 By: Jett
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to students; creating the St udents’
Bill of Rights; providing short t itle; affording
certain rights to students enrolled in public school
districts or public charter schools ; allowing a
student or his or her parent or legal guardian to
submit written demand for enforcement of certain
rights; requiring response from school within certain
time period; allowing an action to be b rought to
enforce certain rights; providing for attorney fees;
prohibiting an action from being brought for
violation of certain right unless certain
notification occurs; prohibiting an action from being
brought prior to certain incident within certain tim e
period; 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 24-162 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 “Students’
Bill of Rights”.
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B. A student enrolle d in and attending a public school district
or public charter school in thi s state shall be afforded the
following rights:
1. The right to a safe learning environment including the right
to be free from bullying and threatening behavior as defined in
Section 24-100.3 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Sta tutes;
2. The right to an unbiased education that does not endorse,
favor, or promote socialism, communism , or Marxism and that is free
from anti-American bias;
3. The right to an unbiased learning environment that includes
but is not limited to:
a. the right to a classroom environment that is free from
the display of flags or prop aganda of any organization
or symbol of socialism, communism , Marxism, or anti-
American sentiment, a nd
b. the right to attend or participate in school -sponsored
or school-sanctioned events or activities that are
free from the display of flags or propaganda that are
paid for with public funds and that represent any
organization or symbol of socialism, com munism,
Marxism, or anti-American sentiment;
4. The right of self-defense if attacked on school property or
during a school event ;
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5. The right to public and free expression of religion, s peech,
and peaceable assembly including but not limited to:
a. the right to participate or lead in voluntary prayer
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11-101.1 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
b. the right to observe one minute of silence each day
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 -101.2 of
Title 70 of the Oklahoma S tatutes,
c. the right to read religious texts of his or her
choosing during free time, and
d. the right to an unbiased education that does not
endorse, favor, promote, demean, show hostility
toward, or intentionally undermine any particular
religion or nonreligious faith or religious
perspective;
6. The right to an appropriate relationship with teachers and
school employees that is free from actions that constitute a crime
or an attempted crime under state statute;
7. The right to be free from the use of vulga r language
directed toward other individuals by other students, teachers,
athletic coaches, and school district employees ;
8. The right to have a parent, legal guardian, or legal counsel
present if he or she is being questioned concerning potentially
illegal conduct; and
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9. The right to be free from punishment or penalty at school or
during school-related activities for lawfully exercising hi s or her
rights or engaging in lawful conduct outside of school hours and
outside of school property or school even ts.
C. 1. A student or the parent or legal guardian of a student
who believes the student ’s rights provided for in subsection B of
this section have been violated may submit in writing a demand for
enforcement of his or her rights. Within seven (7) business days of
receipt of the demand, the school shall submit a response in writing
admitting to or denying the allegation.
2. The student or the parent or legal guardian of the student
may file an action to enforce the rights outlined in subsection B of
this section. If the student or the parent or legal gua rdian of the
student is the prevailing party, the court shall award reasonable
attorney fees.
3. An action may not be brought for a violation of the
provisions of paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section unless a
student or the parent or legal guardian of the student has notified
the school of ongoing bullying or threatening behavior , the school
has failed to address the bullying or threatening behavior by
allowing the alleged bully to remain in contact with an alleged
victim, and the continued bullying or threatening behavior rises to
the level of continual harassment. An action may not be brought
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prior to a second or subsequent incident within twelve (12) calendar
months.
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 approval.
59-2-3009 EB 1/18/2024 2:06:47 PM