SB 799: Students; electronic communication between students and school personnel; providing for designation of certain alternate adult; providing exception for certain communications. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House version to a Senate version with significant substantive changes. The Senate version simplifies the sponsor list, updates the bill description to emphasize exceptions and training, and adds new enforcement provisions for school personnel violations. The most notable change is the addition of Section E, which mandates training for school personnel and establishes disciplinary procedures for violations, including potential termination and law enforcement reporting.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory training requirements for school personnel and stricter enforcement mechanisms for violations of communication protocols with students.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'school personnel' was expanded to explicitly include school bus drivers alongside teachers, coaches, and administrators.

REQUIREMENT

New Section E requires the State Department of Education to develop and provide training for school personnel on student communication requirements.

The bill description was updated to emphasize providing exceptions and training, rather than focusing on verification processes.

ENFORCEMENT

New enforcement provisions mandate administrative leave for personnel in violation of communication rules, with potential termination and law enforcement reporting for misconduct.

TECHNICAL

The bill sponsor list was simplified from three sponsors to two Senate sponsors plus one House sponsor, and the committee oversight date was updated from April 23, 2025 to March 4, 2025.

Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to transition from a Committee Substitute version to a Floor (House) version, incorporating additional sponsors and updating the bill's title to reflect it as an Engrossed bill. The substantive policy content remains largely unchanged, though formatting and page numbering were adjusted to reflect the House floor version.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; primarily a procedural update reflecting House floor adoption.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill header to indicate House of Representatives Floor Version instead of Committee Substitute.

Added additional Senate sponsors (Hicks) and House sponsor (Pae) to the bill authorship line.

Changed bill title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute for Engrossed Senate Bill No. 799'.

Adjusted page numbering and formatting throughout the document to reflect House floor version.

Added committee report information indicating the bill was passed by the Committee on Education Oversight.

House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to streamline its title and description, remove the 'Engrossed' designation, and update the bill number reference. The core policy provisions regarding student communication, alternate adult inclusion, and enforcement remain substantively unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; only formatting and metadata updates.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'FOR ENGROSSED' designation and updated the bill title to reflect only 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' without the engrossed status.

Updated the bill number reference from 'SENATE BILL NO. 799' to 'SENATE BILL 799' and adjusted the sponsor attribution line.

Revised the act description to remove 'requiring written verification' and 'requiring notice of certain changes in student circumstances' from the summary, while the detailed provisions remain intact.

Updated the requirement number from 13603 to 1669, indicating a new tracking number for the committee substitute version.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 → House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the entire committee substitute version with a new House Committee Substitute that adds an emergency provision and updates the effective date. The substantive policy content regarding homeless student protections remains largely unchanged, though formatting and page numbers were adjusted.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on homeless student protections, but an emergency declaration was added to accelerate implementation.

TIMELINE

Added an emergency provision declaring the act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval instead of waiting until July 1, 2025

TECHNICAL

Updated bill title from 'PROPOSED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' to 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and adjusted page numbering and request numbers

Changed the bill header from 'Proposed Oversight Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute'

Adjusted spacing and formatting in the bill header and section numbering

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill revision strengthens protections for homeless students by clarifying how schools must communicate with them when parents cannot be reached. The changes require schools to notify parents before designating an alternate adult, establish a 15-day waiting period for parent objections, and add specific verification procedures. These updates ensure homeless students receive appropriate support while maintaining parental oversight and consent where possible.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include more rigorous verification and notification requirements for designating alternate adults in communications with homeless students.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for schools to send written notice to parents before including an alternate adult in student communications

Established a 15-day waiting period for parents to object to alternate adult designation

Added requirement for alternate adults to notify schools promptly when no longer assigned or when student circumstances change

Added requirement for schools to file written verification that no objection was received after reasonable contact efforts

DEFINITION

Revised definition of 'alternate adult' to require verification by the alternate adult rather than just school verification

Updated definition of 'electronic or digital communication' to clarify it includes various digital means

Revised definition of 'school personnel' to maintain consistency with previous version

Updated definition of 'student' to maintain consistency with previous version

TECHNICAL

Updated request number from 13498 to 13579 and changed document version from FULLPCS1 to FULLPCS2

Enrolled (final version) → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The House Committee replaced the Senate's version of SB 799 with a new version that simplifies procedures for including 'alternate adults' in communications with homeless students. The new version removes the requirement for schools to send a return receipt letter to parents before designating an alternate adult, instead requiring only written verification from the alternate adult. It also updates statutory references and adds an effective date and emergency declaration.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on electronic communications between students and school personnel, but the process for designating alternate adults for homeless students has been streamlined.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for schools to send a return receipt letter to parents/legal guardians before including an alternate adult in communications; now only requires written verification from the alternate adult.

DEFINITION

Updated the statutory reference for verifying homeless status from Section 600 of Title 10 to Section 601.6d of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

TIMELINE

Added Section 2 establishing an effective date of July 1, 2025, and Section 3 declaring an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure to include committee amendment formatting, reading clerk information, and page numbering consistent with House procedures.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 9 edits · May 19, 2025

MAJOR

The bill was finalized as Enrolled (approved by Governor) rather than Engrossed, with significant substantive changes to student communication requirements. The final version adds new definitions for 'alternate adult' and 'student', requires written verification before including alternate adults in communications, mandates notice to parents/guardians about potential homeless student designations, and expands the list of bill sponsors. The effective date remains July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional sponsors and added specific procedural requirements for designating alternate adults for homeless students, including written verification and notice requirements that were not present in the earlier version.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'alternate adult' as a case manager or designated employee of homeless services assigned to verified homeless students

Added definition of 'student' to specify enrolled students receiving primary or secondary education

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for schools to send return receipt mail to parents/guardians before designating an alternate adult

Added 15 business day response period for parents/guardians to object to alternate adult designation

Added requirement for written verification that no objection was received before including alternate adult in communications

ELIGIBILITY

Changed language from 'guardian' to 'legal guardian' for consistency throughout the statute

Students; electronic communication between students and school personnel; providing for designation of certain alternate adult; providing exception for certain communications.

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