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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR ENGROSSED
SENATE BILL NO. 799 By: Pederson, Bergstrom, and
Hicks of the Senate
and
Pae of the House
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;
defining alternate adult; requiring written
verification; requiring notice of certain changes in
student circumstances; defining student; providing
for inclusion of alternate adult in certain
communications; 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:
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1. "Alternate adult" means a case manager or designated
employee of a homeless shelter, transitional living program, or a
continuum of care lead agency assigned to a student who has been
verified by the alternate adult as provided in subparagraph a of
this paragraph to be a homeless child or youth as defined in Section
600 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes without objection from the
student's parent or legal guardian.
a. Before the school shall include an alternate adult in
any electronic or digital communi cations, the
alternate adult shall:
(1) send a letter by return receipt mail to the last -
known address of the parent or legal guardian of
the student informing the parent or legal
guardian that the student may be designated as a
homeless child or youth and that an alternate
adult may be assigned to the student in school -
related communications if no response or
objection is received,
(2) allow a period of no less than fifteen (15)
business days for the parent or legal guardian to
respond or object to such de signation, and
(3) file written verification with the school that no
objection was received, reasonable efforts to
locate or contact the parent or legal guardian
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have been unsuccessful, and that the student
shall be designated as a homeless child or youth
and the alternate adult shall be included in
student-related communications.
b. The alternate adult shall promptly notify the school
if the alternate adult is no longer assigned to the
student, the student no longer meets the definition of
a homeless child or youth, a parent or legal guardian
objects to the student's designation, or any other
significant change in the student's circumstances as a
homeless child or youth.
2. "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 or digital means of
communication; and
2. 3. "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 ; and
4. "Student" means a person enrolled in a public school or
charter school in this state receiving primary or secondary
education to obtain a standard h igh school diploma or high school
equivalency diploma. Student does not mean a person who holds a
standard high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma .
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B. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital
communication with an individual stud ent shall include the student's
parent or, legal guardian, or alternate adult in any electronic or
digital communication, unless such communication is on a school -
approved platform and related to school and academic communications.
C. Exceptions to the re quirement in subsection B of this
section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent
notification to the parent or, legal guardian, or alternate adult .
D. School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use
school-approved platforms, sys tems, or applications that allow
automatic inclusion of parents or, legal guardians, or alternate
adults in communications with students.
D. E. Schools shall provide training, developed by the State
Department of Education, for school personnel on the stu dent
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 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 the
investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel s hall
be disciplined according to the school 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 pursuant 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 where of this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OVERSIGHT, dated
04/23/2025 - DO PASS, As Amended.