Author: Windows User
Company: Oklahoma House of Reps

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

HOUSE BILL 1907	By:	Cleveland

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; creating the Common Core Task Force; providing termination date; stating purpose of the Task Force; providing for membership; providing date for appointments and organizational meeting; providing for selection of officers; stating duties; exempting the Task Force from certain acts; providing for meetings; providing for travel reimbursement and staff assistance; requiring completion of the study by a certain date; providing for noncodification; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A.  There is hereby created until December 31, 2013, the “Common Core Task Force”.  The purpose of the Task Force shall be to study the issues involved in adopting, implementing and aligning the state subject matter curriculum in English Language Arts and Mathematics with the K-12 Common Core State Standards, developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative, as provided for in Section 11-103.6a of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B.  The Task Force shall consist of sixteen (16) members as follows:
1.  Two members of the House Common Education Committee who have a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting or who have five (5) or more years of experience in the area of business or accounting,  appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;
2.  Two members of the Senate Education Committee who have a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting or who have five (5) or more years of experience in the area of business or accounting, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate;
3.  Two members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Common Education who have a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting or who have five (5) or more years of experience in the area of business or accounting, appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;
4.  Two members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education who have a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting or who have five (5) or more years of experience in the area of business or accounting, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate;
5.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or a designee;
6.  One member who represents a statewide association of teachers, appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;
7.  One member who represents a statewide organization that represents public school superintendents, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate;
8.  One member who represents a statewide organization that represents parents of public school students, appointed the Governor; and
9.  Four members who are superintendents of a public school district in the state appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall represent a rural school district located in the eastern portion of the state, one of whom shall represent a rural school district located in the western portion of the state, two of whom shall represent an urban school district located in a county having a population of more than five hundred thousand (500,000) according to the latest Federal Decennial Census.
C.  Appointment to the Task Force shall be made by August 1, 2013.  The members of the Task Force shall select a chair and vice-chair at the first meeting of the Task Force.  The Task Force shall conduct an organizational meeting not later than August 31, 2013.
D.  The Task Force shall investigate and make recommendations regarding:
1.  The costs associated with adopting, implementing and aligning the state subject matter curriculum in English Language Arts and Mathematics with the K-12 Common Core State Standards, developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative, as provided for in Section 11-103.6a of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, including any costs associated with revising the state testing program; and
2.  Any other costs or issues associated with adopting the Common Core curriculum.
E.  The Task Force shall not be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act or to the Oklahoma Open Records Act.
F.  The Task Force shall be authorized to meet at such times as may be required in order to fulfill the duties imposed upon the Task Force by law.  Members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed for their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as follows:
1.  Members who are state employees shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act;
2.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
3.  All other members shall be reimbursed by the State Department of Education in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
G.  Staff assistance for the Task Force shall be provided by the State Department of Education.
H.  The Task Force shall complete its study not later than December 31, 2013.
SECTION 2.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 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.

54-1-6719	KB	01/17/13

Req. No. 6719	Page