An act relating to schools, the official text

1                             STATE OF OKLAHOMA

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

3 HOUSE BILL 2244               By: Waldron

4

5                               AS INTRODUCED

6   An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,

    Section 13-116, which relates to corporal punishment;

7   requiring school districts to report corporal

    punishment administration annually; specifying report

8   requirements; requiring the State Department of

    Education to compile and report corporal punishment

9   data; providing an effective date; and declaring an

    emergency.

10

11

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

13  SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY  70 O.S. 2021, Section 13-116, is

14 amended to read as follows:

15  Section 13-116. A. School district personnel shall be

16 prohibited from using corporal punishment on students identified

17 with the most significant cognitive disabilities according to

18 criteria established by the State Department of Education unless

19 addressed in an annual individualized education program (IEP)

20 developed in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities

21 Education Act (IDEA).

22  B. A waiver to the provisions of subsection A of this section

23 shall be granted if the parent or legal guardian of a student

24 provides written consent.

    Req. No. 11707                                                 Page 1
1   C. As used in this section, "corporal punishment" means the

2 deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling,

3 spanking, slapping, or any other physical force used as a means of

4 discipline.

5   D. On an annual basis, each school district shall report to the

6 State Department of Education the following information:

7   1. The number of times corporal punishment was administered by

8 district personnel;

9   2. A record of the grade, age, race, gender, and disability

10 status of the student receiving corporal punishment; and

11  3. A record of the personnel administering the punishment, the

12 date and time of the incident, and the personnel who witnessed the

13 administration of corporal punishment.

14  E. On an annual basis, the State Department of Education shall

15 provide a compilation report on the administration of corporal

16 punishment to the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

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

18  SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

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

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

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

22

23  60-1-11707      SW  12/27/24

24

    Req. No. 11707                                                 Page 2