An act relating to schools, the official text

1                      STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2            1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 1937                  By: Sterling

4

5

6                      AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to schools; amending Section 1,

    Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section

8   6-401), which relates to student communication;

    creating an opt-out exception; providing an effective

9   date; and declaring an emergency.

10

11

12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

13  SECTION 1.         AMENDATORY  Section 1, Chapter 297, O.S.L.

14 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6-401), is amended to read as

15 follows:

16  Section 6-401. A. As used in this section:

17  1. "Electronic or digital communication" includes, but is not

18 limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages, direct

19 messages, social media messages, messages sent through software

20 applications, and any other electronic or digital means of

21 communication; and

22  2. "School personnel" means teachers, coaches, administrators,

23 school bus drivers, or any other persons employed full-time or part-

24 time by a public school or charter school.

    Req. No. 10761                                                  Page 1
1   B. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital

2 communication with an individual student shall include the student's

3 parent or legal guardian in any electronic or digital communication,

4 unless such:

5   1. Such communication is on a school-approved platform and

6 related to school and academic communications; or

7   2. The student's parent or legal guardian opted out of being

8 included in the electronic or digital communication. A student's

9 parent or legal guardian may opt out of electronic or digital

10 communications related to school or academic communications from

11 identified school personnel. The parent or legal guardian shall be

12 required to renew their opt-out selections each academic year.

13  C. Exceptions to the requirement in subsection B of this

14 section may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent

15 notification to the parent or legal guardian. School personnel

16 shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms,

17 systems, or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents

18 or legal guardians in communications with students.

19  D. Schools shall provide training, developed by the State

20 Department of Education, for school personnel on the student

21 communication requirements of this section.

22  E. Any school personnel who is reported to be in violation of

23 subsection B of this section shall be put on administrative leave

24 while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the

    Req. No. 10761                                                  Page 2
1 board of education. If the investigation finds that no misconduct

2 occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and the incident

3 shall be noted in the school personnel's employee file. If the

4 investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall

5 be disciplined according to the school district board of education's

6 policy, up to and including termination of employment, and the

7 incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to Section

8 1210.163 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title.

9   SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.

10  SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

11 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby

12 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

13 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

14

15  60-1-10761      AQH  01/14/25

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

    Req. No. 10761                                                Page 3