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 the House version to the Senate floor version, resulting in significant substantive changes to the bill's structure and content. The Senate version reorganized the definitions, removed the specific procedural steps for verifying a student's homeless status (such as sending letters and waiting periods), and added new enforcement provisions that mandate administrative leave and potential termination for school personnel who fail to include alternate adults in communications.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a detailed procedural framework for designating homeless students to a broader mandate requiring the inclusion of alternate adults in communications, with stricter enforcement penalties for non-compliance.

REQUIREMENT

Removed specific procedural requirements for designating a homeless student, including the mandate to send a return receipt letter to parents, a 15-day waiting period for objections, and filing written verification of no objection.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new enforcement measures requiring school personnel who violate communication rules to be placed on administrative leave during an investigation, with potential discipline up to termination and reporting to law enforcement if misconduct is confirmed.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and slightly modified the definitions of key terms, such as 'Electronic or digital communication' and 'School personnel', to align with the Senate's preferred structure.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the criteria for including an 'alternate adult' in communications by removing the specific objection-based verification process, effectively broadening the automatic inclusion of these adults for known homeless students.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'Committee Substitute for Engrossed' label and updated the legislative session and committee attribution to reflect the Senate floor version.

Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from a Senate Committee Substitute to the House Floor version, incorporating amendments that expand the definition of 'student' to include those pursuing high school equivalency diplomas and clarify the role of an 'alternate adult' for homeless youth. The text was reorganized to remove redundant committee headers and streamline the statutory language while maintaining the core requirement that schools include an alternate adult in communications with homeless students when parents cannot be reached.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's definition of 'student' was slightly expanded to explicitly include individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma, ensuring they are covered under the communication requirements.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'student' was updated to explicitly include persons receiving a high school equivalency diploma, broadening the group protected by the communication rules.

The definition of 'alternate adult' was refined to specify that the individual must be assigned without objection from the student's parent or legal guardian.

REQUIREMENT

The procedural steps for assigning an alternate adult were clarified, requiring the school to send a notice letter, wait at least 15 business days for a response, and file written verification of no objection before proceeding.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and structural changes were made to remove duplicate headers, correct section numbering, and align the text with the House Floor version of the bill.

House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill → Committee Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a 'House Committee Substitute' to a 'Committee Substitute' and had its page numbering updated. The substantive policy content, including definitions, requirements for including alternate adults in communications, and enforcement measures, remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

The document title was updated from 'House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill' to 'Committee Substitute', and the page numbering was changed from 13603 to 1669.

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

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the entire text with a new version that includes an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon passage rather than waiting until July 1, 2025. The substantive policy regarding homeless students remains unchanged, but the urgency of implementation has increased.

TIMELINE

Added an emergency declaration that allows the bill to take effect immediately upon passage, overriding the original July 1, 2025 effective date.

TECHNICAL

Updated page reference numbers and formatting throughout the document to reflect the new version.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to strengthen protections for homeless students by clarifying that schools must obtain written consent from parents or guardians before designating an 'alternate adult' for electronic communications. The changes also update the effective date to July 1, 2025, and reorganize the definitions to ensure clarity on who qualifies as a homeless youth and the specific duties of school staff.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding electronic communications with homeless students was narrowed to require explicit parental consent, whereas the previous version allowed designation based solely on verification of homelessness status.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that schools must send a letter to the parent or legal guardian and wait at least 15 days for an objection before including an alternate adult in electronic communications.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'alternate adult' to require that the student be verified as homeless without objection from the parent or legal guardian.

Reordered and clarified the definitions of 'school personnel' and 'student' to align with the new communication requirements.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill's version header and requirement number, though the effective date for the law remains July 1, 2025.

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

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the entire text with a new version that significantly simplifies the process for including an 'alternate adult' in communications with homeless students. The new version removes the requirement for schools to send a letter to parents and wait 15 days for an objection, instead requiring the alternate adult to file written verification directly with the school. It also adds an effective date and declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the notification process for homeless students was narrowed by removing the 15-day waiting period for parental objection, allowing for faster inclusion of alternate adults in communications.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for schools to send a return receipt letter to parents and wait 15 days for an objection before designating an alternate adult.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the verification process so the alternate adult files written verification directly with the school rather than the school verifying the lack of objection.

TIMELINE

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

DEFINITION

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

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 5 edits · May 19, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as Enrolled legislation, adding new co-sponsors and updating the effective date to July 1, 2025. The most significant change is the addition of strict procedural requirements for schools to designate an 'alternate adult' for homeless students, including mandatory written notice to parents, a 15-day objection period, and written verification before communications can occur. The bill also adds a formal definition for 'student' to clarify that it applies only to those currently enrolled and seeking a diploma.

Scope change

The scope of the bill was expanded to include a specific definition of 'student' and stricter eligibility verification procedures for the 'alternate adult' designation for homeless youth.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory process requiring schools to send written notice to parents and wait 15 days for an objection before designating an alternate adult for homeless students.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'student' to explicitly include only persons enrolled in school receiving primary or secondary education.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the criteria for including an alternate adult by requiring written verification that no objection was received from a parent or legal guardian.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from March 2025 to July 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of bill sponsors to include Moore and Pogemiller and changed the header from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled'.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions and strengthen enforcement by adding a specific definition for 'electronic or digital communication' and requiring written verification before an alternate adult can be included in communications with homeless students. It also introduces a new provision allowing schools to automatically include parents or alternate adults on approved platforms, while mandating administrative leave and potential termination for personnel who violate the communication requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly cover various forms of digital communication (emails, texts, social media) and to include a mechanism for automatic inclusion of adults on school-approved platforms.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'electronic or digital communication' to include emails, texts, instant messages, social media, and other digital means.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that school personnel must file written verification with the school confirming no objection was received before designating an alternate adult.

Added a provision allowing schools to automatically include parents or alternate adults in communications when using school-approved platforms.

Added a requirement for schools to provide training to personnel on the new communication requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Added consequences for violations, including administrative leave during investigation, potential termination of employment, and reporting misconduct to law enforcement.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 5 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions and procedures regarding the inclusion of 'alternate adults' in communications with homeless students. The House amendment adds a specific definition for 'alternate adult' and requires written verification and a 15-day objection period before a school can include one in communications. It also adds a new definition for 'student' to exclude those who already hold a high school diploma.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on student communications, but the eligibility criteria for including an alternate adult in communications were refined to require formal verification and an opportunity for parents to object.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'alternate adult' as a case manager or designated employee of a homeless service agency assigned to a verified homeless student.

Added a definition for 'student' that explicitly excludes individuals who already hold a standard high school diploma or equivalency.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for schools to send a notice by return receipt mail to parents and allow a 15-day period for them to object before including an alternate adult in communications.

Added a requirement for the alternate adult to file written verification with the school confirming no objection was received.

Updated the list of exceptions to the communication rule to include cases where a parent or legal guardian objects to the designation.

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

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