Bill > HB1013

This bill modifies the State Board of Education's authority to revoke or suspend professional licenses and certificates for educators, significantly narrowing the grounds for such actions. Under the new provisions, the State Board can only revoke or suspend a license for five specific reasons: (1) willful violation of state or federal law, (2) child abuse or neglect, (3) moral turpitude, (4) incompetency in job performance, or (5) neglect of professional duties. The bill also introduces new procedural requirements, mandating that before any revocation or suspension, the license holder and their employing school district must receive at least ten days' notice prior to filing a complaint. Additionally, the board cannot summarily revoke or suspend a license without a valid emergency as defined by the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. These changes aim to provide more procedural protections for educators by limiting the State Board of Education's discretionary power to revoke professional credentials and ensuring due process through advance notification. The bill will become effective on July 1, 2025, and is being enacted with an emergency clause, indicating its immediate importance to public education in Oklahoma.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1013&Session=2600