An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 429 By: Montgomery and Boren of the
Senate
and
Caldwell (Trey), Archer,
Pae, Rosecrants, Dollens,
Provenzano, Luttrell,
Ranson, Alonso-Sandoval,
Fugate, Swope, Waldron,
Deck, Bashore, Hefner,
Menz, Manger, Munson, and
Turner of the House
An Act relating to students; allowing students
enrolled in certain schools to wear tribal regalia
during graduation ceremonies; clarif ying authority of
certain personnel to regu late student behavior
pursuant to certain act; allowing a stu dent enrolled
in certain institution s to wear tribal regalia during
graduation ceremonies; allowing adoption of certain
policy; defining term; providing for codification;
providing an effective da te; and declaring an
emergency.
SUBJECT: Graduation ceremonies
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 24-160 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
A. 1. A student enrolled in a public school district, a public
charter school, or a technology center school may wear tribal
ENR. S. B. NO. 429 Page 2
regalia during the school’s official graduation ceremonies, whether
held at a public or private location .
2. Nothing in this subsection shall limit or alter the
authority of school personnel to regulate student behavior pursuant
to the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act.
B. A student enrolled in an institution within The Oklahoma
State System of Higher Education may wear tribal regalia during the
institution’s official graduation ceremonies , whether held at a
public or private lo cation.
C. A school district board of education, a gover ning board of a
charter school, a governing board of a technology center school, or
the board of regents of an institution within The Oklahoma State
System of Higher Education may adopt a policy pursuant to the
provisions of this section, which may specify the characteristics of
any garment, jewelry, other adorn ment, or object that the school or
institution finds will endanger the safety o f a student or others or
interfere with graduation ceremonies if worn by a student .
D. For the purposes of this section, “tribal regalia” means
traditional garments, jewelry, other adornments such as an eagle
feather, an eagle plume, a beaded cap , a stole, or similar objects
of cultural and religious significance worn by members of a
federally recognized Indian tribe or th e tribe of another country.
Tribal regalia does not include any firearm or other weapon. Tribal
regalia does not include any o bject that is otherwise prohibited by
federal law, except in compliance with an appropriate federal
permit.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health , or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by r eason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its pass age and approval.
ENR. S. B. NO. 429 Page 3
Passed the Senate the 22nd day of March, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 24th day of April, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
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: _______________________________ __