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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
HOUSE BILL 1179 By: Stark
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; amending Section 1,
Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
6-401), which relates to communications with
students; adding definition; adding alternate adult
to certain communication requirements; 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. "Alternate adult" means a case manager employed by a
homeless shelter, transitional living, or a continuum of care lead
agency assigned to a student who is considered homeless children and
youth as defined in Section 600 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma
Statutes;
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
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applications, and any other electronic or digital means of
communication; and
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. School personnel engaging in electronic or digital
communication with an individual student 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 requirement 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.
School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-
approved platforms, systems, or applications that allow automatic
inclusion of parents or, legal guardians, or an alternate adult in
communications with students.
D. Schools shall provide training, developed by the State
Department of Education, for school personnel on the student
communication requirements of this section.
E. 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
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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 Statutes.
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 whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-1-10655 AQH 12/04/24