An Oklahoma Where Everyone is Equal

TENs 2013 Legislative Priorities May 6, 2013 Safe Schools HB 1422 (Rep. Tommy Hardin, Sen. Bracheen, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Pittman) HB1422 adds intimidation, bullying, and harassment as appropriate grounds for emergency transfer. The measure allows a student who has been the victim of harassment, intimidation, and bullying to receive an emergency transfer to another school district. The receiving district must verify that the student has been a victim of harassment, intimidation or bullying and the sending school district must have been notified of the incident or incidents prior to the filing of the application for transfer. TEN SUPPORTED this bill Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Second Reading, referred to House Common Education Committee February 12 Committee Substitute introduced, House Common Education votes 16-0 to PASS bill February 26 House votes 86-5 to PASS; Rep. Nelson added as co-author, Sen. Brecheen added as principal Senate author February 27 First reading in the Senate March 6 Rep. Pittman added as co-author March 13 Referred to Senate Education Committee March 18 Senate Education Committee Votes 11-0 to PASS bill. April 16 - Senate Votes 42-0 to PASS bill. April 22 Approved by the Governor HB 1623 (Rep. Floyd, Sen. McAffrey, Rep. J. McDaniel, Rep. Sherrer)

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

HB1623 creates a new law that permits school boards to adopt policies on suicide awareness and training and the reporting of drug abuse. The law also allows each school district to provide schoolwide suicide awareness and prevention training for all staff and students in grades 9-12. Teachers, counselors, principals, and administrators shall be immune from employee discipline and any civil liability for reporting a student at risk of selfharm or harming others or for attempting to aid a student or other youth at risk of suicide. Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Second Reading, referred to House Common Education Committee February 19 Amended by Committee Substitute; House Common Education Committee votes 16-1 to PASS bill. March 14 Amended version introduced; engrossed March 14 House votes 67-20 to PASS bill. March 14 Rep. Jeannie McDaniel and Rep. Ben Sherrer added as co-authors. Sen. Al McAffrey added as principal Senator author. March 18 First Reading in the Senate March 18 Second Reading, Referred to Rules Committee March 27- Withdrawn from Rules Committee March 27 Referred to Health and Human Services April 1 Committee Substitute filed; Senate Health and Human Services Committee votes 8-0 to PASS bill. April 17 Senate Votes 42-0 to PASS bill. April 18 Senate Amendments received May 6 Senate Amendments rejected; conference requested; conferees to be named. TEN SUPPORTS this bill

HB 1661 (Rep. Denney, Sen. Halligan, Reps. Pittman, Wood, Bennett, Sherrer, Nollan, and J. McDaniel)

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

HB1661 amends the School Bullying and Prevention Act, naming it the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. Denney is adding language to the current statutes that require new procedures for reporting bullying and harassment policies and incidents. The language does not specifically include language about the LGBT community. Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Second Reading, referred to House Common Education Committee February 13 Committee Substitute introduced; House Common Education Committee votes 15-1 to PASS bill February 13 Sen. Halligan added as principal Senate author March 14 House votes 69-19 to PASS bill. March 14 Reps. Pittman, Wood, Bennett, Sherrer, Nollan, and J. McDaniel added as co-authors March 18 Engrossed, signed, sent to Senate March 18 First Reading March 18 Rep. Shelton added as co-author. March 21 Second Reading, Referred to Rules Committee March 27 Withdrawn from Rules; Referred to Senate Education Committee April 1 Committee Substitute introduced; Senate Education Committee votes 10-0 to PASS bill. April 17 General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute April 18 Senate Votes 44-0 to PASS bill. April 18 Senate Amendments received TEN SUPPORTS this bill.

HB 2278 (Rep. Pittman) HB2278 amends the School Bullying Prevention Act. The bill adds a more comprehensive definition of harassment, intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying. This piece of legislation includes language that is inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Second Reading, referred to House Rules Committee (this move effectively kills this bill for 2013). TEN SUPPORTED this bill SB 431 (Sen. Sharp) Original version sought to add language allowing schools board to grant teachers the ability to impose fines of up to $50 on students (over the age of 8) engaged in bullying. Allowed for extenuating circumstances; alternate means of paying fines; outlines an appeals process. Emergency, would go in effect on July 1, 2013. Amended version gutted all the original language and now calls for the establishment of a statewide task force to study discipline in schools. Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Second Reading, referred to Senate Education Committee. February 25 Original bill entirely gutted and replaced with a Committee Substitute calling for the establishment of a task force to study discipline in public schools; Rep. Cooksey added as co-author; Senate Education Committee reports DO PASS. TEN is no longer monitoring this bill Parental Rights HB 1384 (Rep. Sally Kern) It allows for parents to remove their students from activities, lectures, assignments, and classes that disagree with a parents beliefs on sex, morality, or religion without any negative effect on grades or graduation readiness. It also reinforces the idea that a person may not perform any medical procedures or counseling on a minor without written parental consent.

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

HB1384 also allows for parents to ignore inoculations requirements for enrollment in public schools TEN OPPOSES this bill Legislative History February 4 First Reading February 5 Referred to House Human Services Committee February 18 House Human Services Committees votes 6-3 to PASS this bill February 20 Committee Substitute introduced February 26 House Floor version introduced; Rep. Hulbert and Sen. Griffin added as co-authors.

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org