STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

SENATE BILL 174	By:	Loveless

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; requiring the administrative duties of school districts that meet certain criteria to be combined; directing the State Board of Education to take certain action; requiring agreements between school districts to address certain items; defining administrative services; authorizing the Board to promulgate rules; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 7-207 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the closing of any school or school facility.
B.  Administrative services of a school district which meet the criteria established in subsection C of this section shall be combined with a contiguous school district or districts pursuant to the provisions of this section.
C.  1.  The administrative services of an independent school district shall be combined if the school district has an average daily membership of less than two hundred and fifty (250).
2.  The administrative services of an elementary school district shall be combined if the school district has an average daily membership of less than two hundred and fifty (250).
D.  The State Board of Education shall take action necessary to assist school districts which meet the criteria established in subsection C of this section to reach an agreement on combining the administrative services of the school district with one or more contiguous school districts.  If the school districts cannot agree, the Board shall formulate an agreement between the districts outlining how the administrative services will be shared and how the costs will be allocated.  Any agreement for sharing administrative services shall address the division of time of each employee, payment of benefits for each employee, contributions to the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma for each employee and how each employee will be counted for calculating certain weights for purposes of the State Aid formula as provided for in Section 18-201.1 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  The agreement shall also address payment of any employees who are employed on a continuing multi-year contract at the time administrative services are combined.
E.  If one or more school districts in a county meet the criteria established in subsection C of this section, the Board shall work with all of the school districts in the county to combine the administrative services of each school district into one countywide administrative service to be shared by all school districts in the county.
F.  For purposes of this section, "administrative services" shall mean any employee of a school district employed as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, director, coordinator, supervisor and any employee who has responsibility for administrative functions of a school district, including but not limited to human resources, purchasing, accounting and information technology.  "Administrative services" shall not mean principals or assistant principals.
G.  Money saved through administrative consolidation shall be allocated by district boards of education in one or more of the following areas:
1.  Services provided in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), P.L. No. 105-17;
2.  Reimbursement to teachers for expenses related to obtaining National Board certification;
3.  Provision of advanced placement and other gifted and talented programs; and
4.  Technology.
H.  The Board shall promulgate rules implementing the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2013.
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.

54-1-95	EB	1/8/2013 10:03:02 AM