Schools; requiring certain school district or technology center school to provide certain attestation regarding individual being considered for employment. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 588 requires Oklahoma school districts and technology centers to request written verification from previous employers about any allegations of misconduct between a job candidate and students before hiring. It mandates using a state-prescribed form and specifies that failure to request or provide this verification results in the superintendent's dismissal and board vacancies for five years. If a district fails to provide the verification and a subsequent employer faces a lawsuit over misconduct, the original district must cover 50% of settlement costs. The bill directly affects school hiring practices and aims to prevent repeat misconduct by ensuring background checks on employment history. It takes effect July 1, 2025.