ENGR. S. B. NO. 528 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 528 By: Pugh of the Senate
and
Davis of the House
An Act relating to schools; creating the Early
Childhood Literacy Task Force; providing expiration
date; providing for membership; providing for
designation of chair; requiring appointments by
certain date; requiring organizational meeting by
certain date; specifying quorum; providin g for
frequency of meetings; allowing members to
participate via videoconfe rence; prohibiting
compensation or travel reim bursement for members;
providing for staff suppor t; requiring submission of
certain report by ce rtain date; 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 Sectio n 1210.508H of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. There is hereby created until November 30, 2024, the Early
Childhood Literacy Task Force to study and make recommendations
regarding the teaching of literacy to students in early childhood
and elementary grade levels.
B. The task force shall be comprised of eight (8) members to be
appointed as follows:
ENGR. S. B. NO. 528 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1. Two certified reading specialists appointed by the President
Pro Tempore of the Senate , one of whom shall be designated to serve
as chair of the task forc e;
2. One teacher certified in e arly childhood education appointed
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
3. One teacher certified in elementary education appointed by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives ;
4. One teacher certified in English as a second language
appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the S enate;
5. One teacher certified in special education appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Represen tatives;
6. One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, who shall be a dean of a college of educa tion at an
institution of higher education withi n The Oklahoma State System of
Higher Education; and
7. One member appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the
Senate, who shall be an employee of the State Department of
Education whose focus is reading and literacy.
C. Appointments to the task force shall be made within thirty
(30) days after the effective date of this act. The task force
shall conduct an organizational meeting no t later than September 1,
2023.
ENGR. S. B. NO. 528 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
D. A quorum of the task force shall be required to approve any
final action of the task force. For purposes of this section, four
members shall constitute a quorum.
E. The task force may meet as often as may be required to
perform the duties imposed upon it.
F. Task force members may participate via videoconference if
they are visible and audible to each other through a video monitor.
G. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation or
travel reimbursement.
H. The State Department of Education shall provide staff and
administrative support for the task force.
I. The task force shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations by November 30, 2024, to the Governor, the President
Pro Tempore of the S enate, the Speaker of the H ouse of
Representatives, and the chairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives education committees.
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 reason wher eof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENGR. S. B. NO. 528 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Passed the Senate the 14th day of March, 2023.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
2023.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives