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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
March 4, 2025
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 799 By: Pederson and Bergstrom of
the Senate
and
Pae of the House
An Act relating to students; amending Section 1,
Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Sectio n
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
exception; updating statutory reference; providing 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 read 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 ele ctronic 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 guardian, have an alternat e 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 living program, or a cont inuum
of care lead agency.
C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of this
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
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of subsection B of this section shall not apply to the alternate
adult provided for in paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section.
D. School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use
school-approved platforms, system s, 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, developed by the State
Department of Education, for school personnel on the student
communication requirements of this 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 distric t investigates the incident and notifi es 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 the
investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall
be disciplined according to the school district board of education ’s
policy, up to and including termination of employment, and the
incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to Section
1210.163 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Sta tutes 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 eme rgency is hereby
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declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
March 4, 2025 - DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS