Schools; making certain whistleblower protections applicable to support employees. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 508 expands whistleblower protections in Oklahoma schools to include support employees (such as cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative staff), not just teachers. It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for disclosing violations of law, reporting wrongdoing to officials (like school boards or law enforcement), or taking such actions without prior supervisor notice. The bill requires school districts to prominently post this protection policy and clarifies it does not override student privacy laws like FERPA. Effective July 1, 2025, the law aims to safeguard employees who report safety or legal concerns.