STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE BILL 3416	By:	Shelton

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; 70 O.S. 2011, Section 24-100.5, as amended by Section 4, Chapter 311, O.S.L. 2013 (70 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 24-100.5), which relates to the establishment of a Safe School Committee for each public school site; requiring State Department of Education to include certain subject in list of programs to prevent student bullying; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 24-100.5, as amended by Section 4, Chapter 311, O.S.L. 2013 (70 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 24-100.5), is amended to read as follows:
Section 24-100.5  A.  Every year each public school site shall establish a Safe School Committee to be composed of at least seven (7) members.  The Safe School Committee shall be composed of teachers, parents of enrolled students, students, and a school official who participates in the investigation of reports of bullying as required by subsection A of Section 24-100.4 of this title.  The Committee may include administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies.  The Committee shall assist the school board in promoting a positive school climate through planning, implementing and evaluating effective prevention, readiness and response strategies, including the policy required by Section 24-100.4 of this title.
B.  The Safe School Committee shall study and make recommendations to the principal regarding:
1.  Unsafe conditions, possible strategies for students, faculty and staff to avoid physical and emotional harm at school, student victimization, crime prevention, school violence, and other issues which prohibit the maintenance of a safe school;
2.  Student bullying as defined in Section 24-100.3 of this title;
3.  Professional development needs of faculty and staff to recognize and implement methods to decrease student bullying; and
4.  Methods to encourage the involvement of the community and students, the development of individual relationships between students and school staff, and use of problem-solving teams and resources that include counselors and other behavioral health resources within or outside the school system.
In its considerations, the Safe School Committee shall review the district policy for the prevention of bullying and the list of research-based programs appropriate for the prevention of bullying of students at school compiled by the State Department of Education.  In addition, the Committee may review traditional and accepted bullying prevention programs utilized by other states, state agencies, or school districts.
C.  The State Department of Education shall:
1.  Develop a model policy and deliver training materials to all school districts on the components that should be included in a school district policy for the prevention of bullying; and
2.  Compile and distribute to each public school site, prominently display on the State Department of Education website and annually publicize in print media a list of research-based programs appropriate for the prevention of bullying of students, specifically including teen dating violence prevention.  If a school district implements a commercial bullying prevention program, it shall use a program listed by the State Department of Education.
D.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to technology center schools.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

54-2-8721	AM	01/06/14