ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3000	By:	Newell, Kern and Nelson of the House

			   and

		Brecheen of the Senate

An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Sections 5-110 and 5-110.1, which relate to school district board of education members; modifying registration fees for certain workshops; expanding prohibition from running for reelection or being reappointed; adding time period to prohibition from running for office; and declaring an emergency.

SUBJECT:  School district boards of education

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 5-110, is amended to read as follows:

Section 5-110.  A.  Except as provided in subsection B of this section, at the time a school district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of district board of education membership, such elector shall agree and pledge in writing that, within fifteen (15) months of election or appointment as a member of the district board of education, such member will complete at least twelve (12) hours of instruction on education issues, including school finance, Oklahoma education laws, and ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members.  This requirement may be satisfied by attending a two-day workshop to be held within the state by the State Department of Education, by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or by attending workshops, seminars or classes which address the above-mentioned subject matter, and which are sponsored by any organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher education.  The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules by which an organization or particular courses offered by an organization may be approved for purposes of fulfilling the instructional requirements set out in this section.

B.  When an incumbent of a district board of education files a notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the district board of education, the member shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subsection A of this section but shall be required to agree and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete six (6) hours of instruction within fifteen (15) months following his or her election emphasizing changes in school law, particularly changes in the areas set forth in subsection A of this section.

C.  The State Department of Education shall, immediately after the annual elections of various district board of education members, determine the members of the district boards of education pledged to attend the workshop established by subsections A and B of this section, and shall notify such members of the time and place such workshop is to be conducted.  Upon completion of the workshop, the certificate of completion shall be included in the public records of the school board's minutes.  Each school board member, except for an incumbent member, shall be required within fifteen (15) months following or preceding his or her election to complete the workshop established by subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of other state workshops conducted as instruction on the subjects of school finance, the Oklahoma School Code and related laws, and the ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members.  If a member has not satisfied the above instructional requirements within fifteen (15) months of his or her election, the district board of education shall declare the seat of such member vacant and fill the vacancy according to law.  All government departments, agencies and institutions of this state are directed to lend such assistance as may be required by the State Department of Education for the proper conduct and administration of the workshops.  The State Department of Education shall maintain a permanent record of each district board of education member who successfully completes a workshop and shall issue a certificate of completion to such member.

D.  The State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and, upon approval of the State Board of Education, any organization or association representing district boards of education in this state are authorized to charge persons pledged to attend the workshop a registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of presenting the workshop or Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) per registrant, whichever is the lesser amount, and to collect such fees at the time of registration.

E.  Any member of a district board of education or any individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of a district board of education at the time of a workshop presented by the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or an organization or association representing district boards of education within the state who attends and successfully completes such workshop as required by subsection A or B of this section shall be reimbursed by the school district in accordance with the district’s travel reimbursement policy.

SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 5-110.1, is amended to read as follows:

Section 5-110.1  A.  In addition to the requirements of Section 5-110 of this title, every member of a school district board of education elected to a full term of office of five (5) years or more shall be required to attend a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of continuing education, each member elected to a full four-year term of office shall be required to attend a minimum of twelve (12) hours of continuing education, and each member elected to a full three-year term of office shall be required to attend a minimum of nine (9) hours of continuing education, prior to the date set for filing for reelection to that respective board seat.  The continuing education courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and conventions which shall satisfy the continuing education requirement shall be approved jointly by the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

B.  Local and state continuing education programs conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be held in all regions of the state at institutions of higher learning, area technology centers or other approved sites.  Notice of such courses and seminars shall be provided to all school board members and to the public schools.

C.  This section shall not apply to those school board members who file for reelection prior to July 1, 1991.

D.  Failure by a board member to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section shall result in the ineligibility of the member to be reappointed or run for reelection to that respective board seat on the school district board of education or to run for election to any other board seat on the board of education for a three-year period for three-member boards, for a four-year period for seven-member boards or for a five-year period for five-member boards.

E.  The State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and any organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher education, may charge persons attending continuing education courses a registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of presenting the course.  The registration fees for each course shall be announced prior to the date of such course.

F.  Any member of a school district board of education who attends and completes a course which satisfies in part or in full the requirements of this section shall be reimbursed by the school district for expenses incurred.  In addition, a school district board of education may reimburse members of the board of education for expenses incurred in registering and attending board member training programs or activities approved by the board which are in addition to the minimum school board training requirements established by law.

SECTION 3.  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.

Passed the House of Representatives the 30th day of April, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the 23rd day of April, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate