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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4153 By: Hasenbeck and Wolfley of
the House
and
Pugh of the Senate
An Act relating to driver licenses; creating a
requirement to demonstrate an eighth grade reading
level for minors to obtain a driver license;
establishing criteria for satisfying reading tester
requirements for a driver license for public school
students; requiring students under eighteen to
complete a reading proficiency test; requiring a plan
of remedial reading if assessments are not
successfully completed; providing an option for
students to take alternative reading proficiency
tests if the initial assessment is unsuccessful;
allowing students to take an alternative reading test
for motorcycle licenses; establishing alternative
reading testing sites requirements; requiring school
districts to provide alternative documentation of
reading proficiency if applicable; establishing
alternative documentation requirements; allowing
students to submit reading proficiency test results
from other states; requiring the Department of
Education to approve or disapprove out-of-state test
results; creating requirement for documentation of
school enrollment, completion, or lawful excuse for
minors to obtain a driver license; requiring minors
to demonstrate reading proficiency at an eighth-grade
reading level unless excused; establishing exception
for summer months; establishing documentation
requirements for students educated by other means;
establishing misdemeanor for violations; providing
alternate route to obtain driver license for certain
employed persons under eighteen; establishing
employer fines for falsification; requiring
attendance officers to provide documentation;
requiring attendance officers to notify Service
Oklahoma of certain student withdrawals; requiring
notification of license cancellation in certain
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circumstances; providing exceptions for notice
requirements; requiring school districts to provide
documentation of reading proficiency to certain
enrolled students; defining terms; providing
exceptions to reading proficiency requirements;
requiring Service Oklahoma to approve forms;
providing for codification; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.515A of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
Section 2 of this act, any person under the age of eighteen (18)
years wishing to apply for a driver license or permit shall
successfully demonstrate a satisfactory reading ability at the
eighth-grade reading level by meeting the following criteria:
1. A student enrolled in a public school shall successfully
complete the reading portion of the statewide assessment
administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title and that is
offered in the eighth grade. Following the administration of this
assessment in the eighth grade, any student not successfully
completing the reading portion shall be assigned a plan of remedial
reading. Any student not successful in completing the reading
portion of the state assessment may take a comparable alternative
reading proficiency test in order to satisfy the criteria for a
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driver license or permit. Alternative reading proficiency tests
shall be approved by the State Department of Education. Subsequent
successful completion of an alternative reading proficiency test
shall serve to satisfy any retake requirement for the reading
portion of the state assessment in the eighth grade in the Oklahoma
School Testing Program. School districts shall notify, in writing,
each student who takes the reading portion of the state assessment
for the eighth grade or who takes an alternative reading proficiency
test and the student's parent or legal guardian of the results. If
the student fails to perform satisfactorily on the test, the notice
shall inform the student of the reading proficiency driver license
requirement and the school's remediation plan for the student. Upon
the student's successful completion of the test, the school shall
furnish the student with the documentation needed for the driver
license application in Oklahoma;
2. Unless alternatively documented according to the provisions
of subsection C of this section, students under the age of eighteen
(18) years shall successfully complete a reading proficiency test
approved by the State Department of Education; and
3. Any student who wishes to apply for a restricted license to
operate a motorcycle may take an alternative reading proficiency
test, subject to the provisions of this section.
B. Alternative reading proficiency tests shall be offered by
testing sites, which shall include the public schools at least four
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times per calendar year, and may include any of the following which
choose to participate: the technology center school districts,
Regional Education Service Centers, colleges, accredited private
schools, and other sites approved by the State Department of
Education. A student may take the test as often as wished, subject
to the provisions of this section. Testing sites shall provide the
first alternative reading proficiency test for each student at no
cost. Students may be assessed a fee not to exceed Twenty-five
Dollars ($25.00) by the testing site for each subsequent alternative
reading proficiency test taken.
C. A school district shall provide for alternative
documentation of reading proficiency for the purposes of paragraph 2
of subsection A of Section 2 of this act for any student with an
Individualized Education Program (IEP) that, at a minimum, is in an
area related to reading. The alternative documentation shall be
furnished to such student who is performing satisfactorily in
reading pursuant to the Individualized Education Program of the
student. Parents of disabled students educated pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution
may satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of subsection A of
Section 2 of this act by signing an affidavit that, based upon their
best information and belief, their child would qualify for an
Individualized Education Program that, at a minimum, is in an area
related to reading if enrolled in public school, and that in their
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judgment their child is performing satisfactorily in reading and is
therefore academically qualified to satisfy the requirement of
paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 2 of this act.
D. Any person under the age of eighteen (18) who has previously
completed and successfully passed a reading proficiency test from
another state may submit the results of such test to the State
Department of Education for verification and approval. The State
Department of Education shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of
the reading proficiency results submitted by the person to verify
that the reading proficiency requirements from the other state are
equivalent or comparable to the reading proficiency requirements
established for Oklahoma students pursuant to this section. Upon
verification and approval by the State Department of Education, the
Department shall furnish the person with the documentation needed
for the driver license application in Oklahoma. If the reading
proficiency documentation submitted by the person is disapproved by
the Department, the person may take an alternative reading
proficiency test as provided for in subsection B of this section.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-107.8 of Title 47, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Service Oklahoma shall deny a license, restricted license,
or instruction permit for the operation of a motor vehicle to any
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person under eighteen (18) years of age who does not, at the time of
application, present documentation that such person:
1. Is a student enrolled in a public or private secondary
school, including any technology center school, of this state or any
other state;
2. Has received a diploma or certificate of completion issued
to the person from a secondary school of this state or any other
state;
3. Is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a program
leading to a certificate of high school equivalency issued by the
State Department of Education, or has obtained such certificate;
4. Is excused from such requirement pursuant to a lawful excuse
as defined in subsection G of this section or due to circumstances
beyond the control of the person; or
5. Is excused from such requirement pursuant to subsection C of
this section; and
6. Has successfully passed the criterion-referenced reading
test required for all eighth grade students or an alternative
reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of
Education, pursuant to the provisions of Section 1 of this act,
demonstrating reading proficiency at the eighth-grade reading level,
unless such student is excused from such requirement pursuant to the
provisions of Section 1 of this act. Provided, during the summer
months when school is not in regular session, as established by the
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school district pursuant to Section 1-109 of Title 70 of the
Oklahoma Statutes, a person under eighteen (18) years of age may
satisfy the documentation requirement of this subsection by
providing a notarized written statement from and signed by the legal
custodial parent or legal guardian of the person to Service Oklahoma
stating that the person completed the immediately previous school
year and is enrolled or intends to enroll for the immediately
subsequent school year.
B. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who is
receiving education by other means, including education at home
pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution,
shall satisfy the documentation requirement of paragraphs 1, 2, 3,
4, and 5 of subsection A of this section by providing a written
statement from and signed by the legal custodial parent or legal
guardian of the person to Service Oklahoma stating that the person
is receiving instruction by other means pursuant to Section 4 of
Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution.
2. Any person who falsifies the information required in such
documentation, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
C. 1. A person under eighteen (18) years of age who does not
meet the requirements of paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsection A of
this section or the requirements of subsection B of this section may
retain or be issued a driver license if:
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a. the person is employed at least twenty-four (24) hours
per week, and
b. the employer of the person verifies the employment on
a form prescribed by Service Oklahoma.
2. Any person who has retained or been issued a driver license
pursuant to this subsection who leaves such employment shall have
fifteen (15) days from the date of termination of employment to
provide verification of employment from a new employer.
3. Any employer who falsifies a verification of employment
shall be subject to an administrative fine of not more than Fifty
Dollars ($50.00), to be assessed by Service Oklahoma.
D. 1. School district attendance officers, upon request, shall
provide a documentation of enrollment status form, established and
approved by Service Oklahoma, to any person under eighteen (18)
years of age who is properly enrolled in a school for which the
attendance officer is responsible, for presentation to Service
Oklahoma upon application for or reinstatement of an instruction
permit, restricted license, or license to operate a motor vehicle.
2. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, whenever
a person over fourteen (14) years of age and under eighteen (18)
years of age, who has a driver license or permit issued by Service
Oklahoma, withdraws from school, the attendance officer shall notify
Service Oklahoma of such withdrawal through a documentation of
enrollment status form.
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3. Within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of such
notice, Service Oklahoma shall provide written notice to the person,
by first class, postage prepaid mail, that the driver license of the
person will be canceled thirty (30) days following the date the
notice to the person was sent, unless documentation of compliance
with the provisions of this section is received by Service Oklahoma
before such time. After the thirty-day period, Service Oklahoma
shall cancel the driving privileges of the person.
E. When the withdrawal from school of a person under eighteen
(18) years of age is:
1. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the person;
2. Pursuant to any lawful excuse; or
3. For the purpose of transfer to another school, including
education at home pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII of the
Oklahoma Constitution, as confirmed in writing by the legal
custodial parent or legal guardian of the person,
no notice as required by subsection D of this section shall be sent
to Service Oklahoma, or, if sent, such notice shall be disregarded
by Service Oklahoma. If the person is applying for a driver
license, restricted driver license, or instruction permit, the
attendance officer shall provide the person with documentation to
present to Service Oklahoma to excuse the person from the
requirements of this section.
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F. Every school district shall, upon request, provide
documentation of reading proficiency for any person under eighteen
(18) years of age enrolled in such school district by certifying
passage of a reading examination pursuant to the provisions of
Section 1 of this act.
G. As used in this section:
1. "Withdrawal" means more than ten (10) consecutive days, or
parts of days, of unexcused absences or fifteen (15) days, or parts
of days, total unexcused absences during a single semester;
2. "Lawful excuse" means absence from school pursuant to any
valid physical or mental illness or pursuant to any legal excuse as
provided in Section 10-105 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
provided, however, the meaning of such term shall not include
marriage;
3. "Circumstances beyond the control of the person" shall not
include marriage, suspension, or expulsion from school, or
imprisonment in a jail, penitentiary, or other correctional
institution;
4. "Documentation of enrollment status form" means the document
established and approved by Service Oklahoma to substantiate
information concerning the eligibility of a person under eighteen
(18) years of age to apply for or to retain a license or permit to
drive. Such documentation shall not include any information which
is considered an education record pursuant to the Family Education
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Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C., Sections 1232g through 1232i,
unless compliance is made with the restrictions regarding disclosure
of the information; and
5. "Documentation of reading proficiency" means information
provided by a school authorized by subsection B of Section 1 of this
act to certify the eligibility of a person under eighteen (18) years
of age to apply for a license or permit based on passage of a
reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of
Education, or pursuant to the alternative documentation criteria
provided in subsection C of Section 1 of this act. Such
documentation shall not include any information which is considered
an education record pursuant to the Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C., Sections 1232g through 1232i, unless
compliance is made with the restrictions regarding disclosure of the
information.
H. The provisions of this section shall be inapplicable with
respect to any person under eighteen (18) years of age upon whom
rights of majority have been conferred pursuant to Sections 91
through 94 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
I. Service Oklahoma shall establish and approve documentation
forms and certificates required by this section for use by school
districts to comply with the provisions of this section. Upon
establishment and approval of such forms and certificates, Service
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Oklahoma shall notify each school district and the State Board of
Education of the content thereof.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. 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.
Passed the House of Representatives the 24th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate