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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL 799 By: Pederson and Bergstrom
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to students; amending Section 1,
Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
6-401), which relates to electronic or digital
communications between students and school personnel;
providing for inclusion of alternate adult in
communications with certain students; providing
exceptions; updating statutory reference; provi ding
an effective date; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 297, O.S.L.
2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6 -401), is amended to rea d as
follows:
Section 6-401. A. As used in this section:
1. “Electronic or digital communication ” includes, but is not
limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages, direct
messages, social media messages, messages sent through software
applications, and any other electronic digital means of
communication; and
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2. “School personnel” means teachers, coaches, administrators,
school bus drivers, or any other persons employed full -time or part-
time by a public school or charter school.
B. 1. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital
communication with an individual student shall include the student ’s
parent or, guardian, or alternate adult provided for in paragraph 2
of this subsection in any electronic or digital communication,
unless such communication is on a school -approved platform and
related to school and academic communications.
2. Students who are known to be homeless children and youth as
defined in Section 600 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall,
in lieu of a parent or guard ian, have an alternate adult included in
the electronic or digital communication. The alternate adult shall
be:
a. the McKinney-Vento homeless liaison of a public
school, or
b. a case manager or designated employee of a homeless
shelter, transitional livi ng program, or a continuum
of care lead agency.
C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of thi s
section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent
notification to the parent or, guardian, or alternate adult provided
for in paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section . The provisions
of subsection B of this section shall not apply to:
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1. The alternate adult provided for in paragraph 2 of
subsection B of this section ; and
2. An individual authorized in writing by a student ’s parent or
guardian to have direct communications with the student. Written
authorization provided pursuant to this paragraph shall be renewed
annually and may be withdrawn at any time .
D. School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use
school-approved platforms, systems, or applications that allow
automatic inclusion of parents or, guardians, or alternate adults
provided for in paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section in
communications with students.
D. E. Schools shall provide training, devel oped by the State
Department of Education, for school personnel on the student
communication requirements of thi s section.
E. F. Any school personnel who is reported to be in violation
of subsection B of this section shall be put on administrative leave
while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the
board of education. If the investigation finds that no misconduct
occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and the incident
shall be noted in the school personnel ’s employee file. If t he
investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall
be disciplined according to the s chool district board of education ’s
policy, up to and including termination of employment, and the
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incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuan t to Section
1210.163 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title.
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.
60-1-1669 EB 3/4/2025 12:36:17 PM