SB 553: Schools; directing revocation of certification and dismissal for failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Effective date. Emergency. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from the House version to the Senate floor version, primarily updating formatting and adding a Senate committee substitute designation. The substantive policy content regarding school certification, criminal history checks, and teacher dismissal appears unchanged in this excerpt, though the Senate version includes additional formatting notes about committee amendments. No substantive policy changes, funding adjustments, or eligibility criteria modifications are evident in this portion of the document.

TECHNICAL

Header information changed from 'HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' to 'SENATE FLOOR VERSION' with updated date and committee designation

Formatting and page headers updated to reflect Senate floor version with committee amendment notation

Added parenthetical note indicating bold face denotes Committee Amendments

Section numbering and layout reorganized to match Senate floor formatting conventions

Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reformatted from a Committee Substitute version to a House Floor version, with line numbers adjusted and page headers updated. The substantive policy content of the bill remains unchanged, as the text between the formatting markers is identical in both versions.

TECHNICAL

Page headers and document titles were updated to reflect the House Floor version rather than the Committee Substitute version.

Line numbering and spacing were adjusted to conform to House formatting standards.

The 'Committee Substitute' designation was removed from the document title.

A note indicating that bold face text denotes Committee Amendments was added to the page header.

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

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the entire text with a committee substitute version that adds new restrictions on the State Board of Education's authority to revoke or suspend licenses, requires emergency procedures for summary revocation, and adds new reasons for certificate denial and teacher dismissal. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, but the committee version includes additional procedural requirements and clarifies certain provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on school-related laws, but the committee substitute adds specific limitations on the State Board of Education's licensing authority and introduces new requirements for emergency revocation procedures.

ENFORCEMENT

Added language limiting the State Board of Education's authority to revoke or suspend licenses or certificates, requiring emergency procedures for summary revocation, and requiring certain notice provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the bill header and metadata to reflect it as a proposed oversight committee substitute rather than the enrolled version, including committee amendment information and reading clerk details.

Added new line numbers and page references consistent with the committee substitute format, including request number 13551 and specific page numbering.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title section to indicate it is a proposed oversight committee substitute for Senate Bill 553, with added committee amendment information and reading clerk signature lines.

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill expands the scope of SB 553 from solely amending criminal history record check provisions to include multiple additional sections covering teacher certification, dismissal reasons, professional development reporting, and abuse/neglect reporting requirements. The bill adds new substantive provisions beyond the original criminal background check framework.

Scope change

The bill's scope significantly expanded from focusing only on criminal history record checks for school employment to include amendments to teacher certification, dismissal procedures, professional development programs, and mandatory abuse reporting requirements.

SCOPE

Added amendments to Section 3-104 regarding State Board of Education powers and duties, including new reasons for certificate denial or revocation.

Added amendments to Section 3-104.1 prohibiting certification of individuals convicted of certain offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for certain letters to include specific information about teacher employment status.

Added requirements for professional development programs to include information about reporting requirements under Section 6-194.

Added requirements for school employees to annually sign an attestation under Section 1210.163.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new reasons for dismissal of career teachers under Section 6-101.22.

TECHNICAL

Modified the bill format from 'Introduced' version to 'Engrossed' version with updated page numbers and sponsor information.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 3 edits · May 12, 2025

MINOR

The bill transitioned from an Engrossed version to an Enrolled final version, with the primary substantive change being the addition of a new subject line 'Schools' and the inclusion of additional sponsors (Nice of the Senate). The core legislative text regarding school board powers, certification requirements, and reporting obligations appears unchanged in content, though formatting and page numbering were adjusted for the final enrolled version.

TECHNICAL

Added 'Nice' as a co-sponsor in the Senate, changing the sponsor list from 'Pugh and Thompson' to 'Pugh, Thompson, and Nice'.

Added a new subject line 'Schools' to the enrolled version for clarity and categorization.

Page numbering and formatting were adjusted to reflect the final enrolled version, including removal of 'ENGROSSED' header and addition of 'ENROLLED' designation.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends Oklahoma education statutes to strengthen background check requirements and add new grounds for denying or revoking teaching certificates. The changes expand the list of offenses that disqualify individuals from obtaining or keeping teaching credentials, specifically adding sexual abuse crimes under Title 21 Section 843.5 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Scope change

The bill applies to all individuals seeking or holding teaching, supervisory, or administrative certificates in Oklahoma public schools, with stricter background check requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new disqualification ground: individuals convicted of crimes under Section 843.5 of Title 21 (sexual abuse offenses) cannot receive or retain teaching certificates.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded background check requirements for school employment to include specific sexual abuse offenses as grounds for certificate denial or revocation.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and markup changes from committee amendment process; substantive policy content remains consistent with original proposal.

Schools; directing revocation of certification and dismissal for failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Effective date. Emergency.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors