Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
2
3 SENATE BILL 1792 By: Jett
3
4
4
5 AS INTRODUCED
5
6 An Act relating to school district boards of
6 education; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 5-110,
7 which relates to instruction for board of education
7 members; removing outdated language; removing
8 language requiring certain member to agree in writing
8 to education requirements; allowing rather than
9 requiring certain instruction; changing time period
9 in which member may complete certain training;
10 reducing number of hours of instruction; removing
10 requirement for training in certain topics; removing
11 ability for certain type of organization to offer
11 certain training; removing education requirements for
12 certain incumbent board members; directing board
12 members to represent certain interests; removing
13 language regarding penalties for failing to complete
13 certain instruction; allowing a board member's
14 district to be charged for certain attendance upon
14 completion; updating statutory references; amending
15 70 O.S. 2021, Section 5-110.2, which relates to
15 attendance records of school board members; directing
16 school districts to maintain records rather than the
16 State Board of Education; requiring records to be
17 posted on certain website; removing language
17 regarding certain notification; repealing 70 O.S.
18 2021, Section 5-110.1, which relates to continuing
18 education requirements for board members; providing
19 an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
19
20
20
21
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
22
23 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 5-110, is
23
24 amended to read as follows:
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 1
1 Section 5-110. A. A school district elector who is elected or
1
2 appointed to be a member of a school district board of education
2
3 prior to January 1, 2014, shall obtain instruction on education
3
4 issues in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of
4
5 Education. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, at
5
6 the time a school district elector files a notification and
6
7 declaration of candidacy for the office of school district board of
7
8 education membership or is appointed to be a member of a school
8
9 district board of education on or after January 1, 2014, the elector
9
10 shall agree and pledge in writing that, within fifteen (15) Within
10
11 six (6) months of election or appointment as a member of the a
11
12 school district board of education, the member will may complete at
12
13 least twelve (12) three (3) hours of instruction on education issues
13
14 in the following areas: school finance; legal issues, which include
14
15 but are not limited to employment, due process, new laws, the
15
16 Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; and
16
17 duties and responsibilities, which include but are not limited to
17
18 special education and ethics, of district board of education
18
19 members. Each elector shall agree and pledge in writing to complete
19
20 at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour
20
21 of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma
21
22 Open Meeting Act, and one (1) hour of instruction in school law and
22
23 ethics. The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a two-day
23
24 workshop to be held within the state Training shall be provided by
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 2
1 the State Department of Education, by or the Oklahoma Department of
1
2 Career and Technology Education, or by attending workshops, seminars
2
3 or classes which address the above-mentioned subject matter, and
3
4 which are sponsored by any organization approved by the State Board
4
5 of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher
5
6 education. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules by
6
7 which an organization or particular courses offered by an
7
8 organization may be approved for purposes of fulfilling the
8
9 instructional requirements set out in this section.
9
10 B. When an incumbent of a district board of education files a
10
11 notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the
11
12 district board of education, the member shall be required to agree
12
13 and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete
13
14 six (6) hours of instruction, within fifteen (15) months of
14
15 election, including one (1) hour of instruction in school finance,
15
16 one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the
16
17 Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics.
17
18 The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a workshop, class
18
19 or seminar addressing the education issues set forth in subsection A
19
20 of this section. Each elected or appointed school district board of
20
21 education member shall represent the interests of his or her
21
22 constituents and hold the school district superintendent to the
22
23 same.
23
24
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 3
1 C. The State Department of Education shall, immediately after
1
2 the annual elections of various district board of education members,
2
3 determine the members of the district boards of education pledged to
3
4 complete the instructional requirements established in subsections A
4
5 and B of this section, and shall notify the members of the time and
5
6 place where training workshops, classes, and seminars are to be
6
7 conducted. Upon completion of the instructional requirements, the
7
8 certificate of completion shall be included in the public records of
8
9 the school board's minutes. Each school board member, except for an
9
10 incumbent member, shall be required within fifteen (15) months
10
11 following or preceding election to complete the workshop established
11
12 by subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of
12
13 other state workshops, classes or seminars conducted as instruction
13
14 on the subjects of school finance, legal issues, and the ethics,
14
15 duties and responsibilities of district board of education members,
15
16 including at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance,
16
17 one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the
17
18 Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics.
18
19 D. If a school board member, including an incumbent member, has
19
20 not satisfied the instructional requirements as set forth in this
20
21 section within fifteen (15) months of election, reelection or
21
22 appointment, the district board of education shall declare the seat
22
23 of the member vacant within sixty (60) days of the final date that
23
24 the member has to complete the requirements as indicated by receipt
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 4
1 of the certified notice from the State Board of Education as
1
2 provided for pursuant to Section 5-110.2 of this title and shall
2
3 fill the vacancy according to law. A school board member who is
3
4 required to vacate a school board seat pursuant to this subsection
4
5 and Section 5-110.2 of this title shall be ineligible to be
5
6 reappointed to, to run for reelection to or to hold that respective
6
7 board seat on the school district board of education or to run for
7
8 election to or to hold any other board seat on the board of
8
9 education for a two-year period.
9
10 E. All government departments, agencies, and institutions of
10
11 this state are directed to lend assistance as may be required by the
11
12 State Department of Education for the proper conduct and
12
13 administration of the workshops as authorized in subsection A C of
13
14 this section. The State Department of Education shall maintain a
14
15 permanent record of the instructional hours and continuing education
15
16 hours earned for each district board of education member.
16
17 F. E. The State Department of Education, or the Oklahoma
17
18 Department of Career and Technology Education, and, upon approval of
18
19 the State Board of Education, any organization or association
19
20 representing district boards of education in this state are
20
21 authorized to charge persons pledged to attend the school board
21
22 member's district for attendance at a training workshop, class, or
22
23 seminar for purposes of meeting the instructional requirements
23
24 components of this section, a registration fee sufficient to defray
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 5
1 the estimated costs of presenting the training workshop, class, or
1
2 seminar, and to collect the fees at the time of registration
2
3 completion of the training workshop, class, or seminar.
3
4 G. F. Any member of a school district board of education or any
4
5 individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county
5
6 election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of a
6
7 district board of education at the time of a training workshop,
7
8 class, or seminar presented by the State Board Department of
8
9 Education, or the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology
9
10 Education, or an organization or association representing district
10
11 boards of education within the state who attends and successfully
11
12 completes a workshop, class, or seminar for training as required by
12
13 subsection A or B C of this section shall be reimbursed by the
13
14 school district in accordance with the travel reimbursement policy
14
15 of the district.
15
16 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 5-110.2, is
16
17 amended to read as follows:
17
18 Section 5-110.2. The State Board of Education Each school
18
19 district shall maintain and post on its website records of
19
20 attendance by school board members at continuing education events
20
21 required pursuant to Sections the three (3) hours of training
21
22 described by subsection A of Section 5-110 and 5-110.1 of this
22
23 title. Prior to the final opportunity for each school board member
23
24 who has not completed the continuing education requirements to
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 6
1 complete the same, the Board shall notify the school board member
1
2 and the school district superintendent by mail before March 1 of
2
3 each year of any final opportunity to complete these requirements
3
4 and the consequences of not completing the requirements. Upon
4
5 determining that a school board member did not complete the
5
6 continuing education requirements of Sections 5-110 or 5-110.1
6
7 within the respective period of time, the Board shall immediately
7
8 notify by certified mail the school board member and the school
8
9 district superintendent and inform the member of the violation of
9
10 the continuing education requirements. The school board member
10
11 shall have sixty (60) days after the date of receipt of the
11
12 certified notice to complete the requirements. If the school board
12
13 member does not complete the requirements by the end of the sixty-
13
14 day time period, the school district board of education is required
14
15 to declare the seat of that member vacant.
15
16 SECTION 3. REPEALER 70 O.S. 2021, Section 5-110.1, is
16
17 hereby repealed.
17
18 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
18
19 SECTION 5. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
19
20 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
20
21 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
21
22 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
22
23
23
24 60-2-3533 BRC 1/14/2026 7:53:04 PM
24
Req. No. 3533 Page 7Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.