Oklahoma 2025 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB411 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/07/2025

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
SENATE BILL 411 	By: Jett 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to school employees; defining term; 
requiring certain notification if an individual 
employed by certain school is being inv estigated for, 
has been arrested in relation to, or has been charged 
with certain offenses; requiring certain board of 
education to suspend the employee pending certain 
outcome; prohibiting employee from submitting 
resignation during suspension term; prohibiting 
suspension from depriving certain employee of certain 
compensation and benefits; prohibiting the employee 
from being on school premises during suspension term; 
providing for extension of suspension under certain 
circumstances; requiring certain supe rintendent to 
provide certain notification; requiring notification 
to include certain statement; providing for 
promulgation of rules; providing for codification; 
providing an effective date; and declaring an 
emergency. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOP LE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5 -144.1 of Title 70, unless 
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  As used in this s ection, “offenses against students ” means 
crimes or attempts to commit crimes provided for in Section 843.5 of 
Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes if the offense involved sexual   
 
 
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abuse or sexual exploitation as those terms are defined in Section 
1-1-105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, Section 741, 843.1, 
if the offense included sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, 865 et 
seq., 885, 888, 891, 1021, 1021.2, 1021.3, 1040.13a, 1087, 1088, 
1111.1, 1114, or 1123 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 
B.  If an individual employed by a public school district, 
public charter school, or public virtual charter school in this 
state: 
1.  Is being investigated for or has been arrested in relation 
to offenses against students; or 
2.  Has been charged with offenses agai nst students, 
the law enforcement agency involved in the investigation, arrest , or 
charging shall notify the superintendent of the employing school 
district, public charter school, or public virtual charter school 
and the members of the board of education of the employing school 
district or the members of the governing board of the employing 
public charter school or public virtual charter school. 
C.  1.  Upon receiving a notification as provided for in 
subsection B of this section, the board of education of the 
employing school district or the governing board of the employing 
public charter school or public virtual charter school shall suspend 
the school employee without notice or hearing pending the outcome of 
the law enforcement investigation.  The suspens ion shall not deprive 
the employee of any compensation or other benefits to which he or   
 
 
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she is otherwise entitled.  The employee shall not be allowed on 
school premises during the term of suspension. 
2.  In a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, the 
suspension may extend until the case for the employee is adjudicated 
at trial.  The extension shall not include any appeal process. 
3.  During the term of suspension, the employee shall be 
prohibited from submitting his or her resignation. 
D.  Upon receiving a notification as provided for in subsection 
B of this section, the superintendent of the employing school 
district, public charter school, or public virtual charter school 
shall notify the parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in 
the school district, public charter school, or public virtual 
charter school.  The n otification shall include a statement 
explaining that the school employee is presumed innocent until and 
unless proven guilty. 
E.  The State Board of Education shall promulgate r ules to 
implement the provisions of this section. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2025. 
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 this act shall take effect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 
 
60-1-1369 EB 1/7/2025 8:01:42 AM