Oklahoma HB 2521: Schools; creating the Oklahoma Educator Loan Repayment Program; effective date.

Bill Text

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 57th Legislature (2019)

HOUSE BILL 2521 By: West (Tammy)

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; creating the Oklahoma
Educator Loan Repayment Program; directing the State
Department of Education to administer the Program;
providing educational loan repayment assistance to
certain teachers; providing repayment distribution
based on contract up to certain amount; directing the
Department to establish application process;
requiring the Department to establish performance
requirements and review certain reports for
compliance; requiring certain review for each year of
participation in the Program; providing eligibility
requirements; authorizing the Department to accept
certain funds; authorizing the Department to contract
with other entities; creating the Educator Loan
Repayment Revolving Fund; providing for
appropriations and expenditures of fund; requiring
Department to present certain report; defining term;
providing for codification; and providing an
effective date.

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 2500 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

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A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Educator Loan Repayment
Program. The State Department of Education shall administer the
Program.
B. The Program, depending upon and limited to available
funding, shall provide educational loan repayment assistance to
Oklahoma certified teachers who agree to work in a school district
located in the state designated as a comprehensive support and
improvement (CSI) school or targeted support and improvement (TSI)
school.
C. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
distributed to the sponsoring entity on behalf of the teacher at the
end of each contract year with disbursements not to exceed an amount
to be established annually by the Department based on the
availability of funds. A teacher participating in the Program is
eligible to receive awards for four (4) years.
D. The Department shall develop an application process for
teachers to apply for the Program.
E. The Department shall develop performance requirements for
teachers in the Program to ensure the participating teacher meets
the requirements set forth in this section and any additional
requirements promulgated in administrative rules. Prior to any
disbursement, the Department shall certify and review reports
submitted by the participating teacher detailing performance of
activities in accordance with the Program.

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F. The Department shall review the performance of the teacher
during each year in the Program and determine whether an award may
be granted for additional years.
G. A teacher entering the Program shall agree to be employed
and teach in a school designated as a comprehensive support and
improvement (CSI) school or targeted support and improvement (TSI)
school.
H. A teacher shall be eligible to participate in the loan
repayment program if the individual is a:
1. Teacher that holds a current Oklahoma teaching certificate;
2. Recent graduate from an Oklahoma university or college; and
3. Teacher that has met other criteria established by the
Department.
I. The Department may accept donations of public or private
funds to assist in funding the Oklahoma Educator Loan Repayment
Program. The Department may contract with other public entities and
nonprofit corporations for the endowment, management and
administration of such funds.
J. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the State Department of Education to be designated the
"Educator Loan Repayment Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a
continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall
consist of all monies received by the State Department of Education
from public and private funds. All monies accruing to the credit of

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said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended
by the State Department of Education for the purpose of providing
educational loan repayment assistance to Oklahoma certified teachers
through the Oklahoma Educator Loan Repayment Program. Expenditures
from said fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State
Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
approval and payment.
K. The Department shall present a report on the operation of
the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the
Leg