Bill Text: OR SB508 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to enrollment at public charter schools that provide online courses; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-5)

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB508 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB508-Introduced.html


     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 2653

                         Senate Bill 508

Sponsored by Senators ROBLAN, KRUSE; Senators BATES, BOQUIST,
  GIROD, MONNES ANDERSON, ROSENBAUM, STARR, STEINER HAYWARD,
  Representatives BUCKLEY, CLEM, DOHERTY, GARRETT, GREENLICK,
  HOLVEY, KOMP, NATHANSON, WHISNANT, WITT

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Specifies minimum enrollment requirements for public charter
school that offers online courses.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to enrollment at public charter schools that provide
  online courses; amending ORS 338.115; and declaring an
  emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 338.115, as amended by section 9, chapter 92,
Oregon Laws 2012, is amended to read:
  338.115. (1) Statutes and rules that apply to school district
boards, school districts or other public schools do not apply to
public charter schools. However, the following laws do apply to
public charter schools:
  (a) Federal law;
  (b) ORS 30.260 to 30.300 (tort claims);
  (c) ORS 192.410 to 192.505 (public records law);
  (d) ORS 192.610 to 192.690 (public meetings law);
  (e) ORS 297.405 to 297.555 and 297.990 (Municipal Audit Law);
  (f) ORS 326.565, 326.575 and 326.580 (student records);
  (g) ORS 181.534, 326.603, 326.607, 342.223 and 342.232
(criminal records checks);
  (h) ORS 329.045 (academic content standards and instruction);
  (i) ORS 329.451 (high school diploma, modified diploma,
extended diploma and alternative certificate);
  (j) The statewide assessment system developed by the Department
of Education for mathematics, science and English under ORS
329.485 (2);
  (k) ORS 337.150 (textbooks);
  (L) ORS 339.141, 339.147 and 339.155 (tuition and fees);
  (m) ORS 339.250 (12) (prohibition on infliction of corporal
punishment);
  (n) ORS 339.326 (notice concerning students subject to juvenile
court petitions);
  (o) ORS 339.370, 339.372, 339.388 and 339.400 (reporting of
abuse and sexual conduct and training on prevention and
identification of abuse and sexual conduct);
  (p) ORS chapter 657 (Employment Department Law);
  (q) ORS 659.850, 659.855 and 659.860 (discrimination);
  (r) Any statute or rule that establishes requirements for
instructional time provided by a school during each day or during
a year;
  (s) Health and safety statutes and rules;
  (t) Any statute or rule that is listed in the charter;
  (u) ORS 339.119 (consideration for educational services); and
  (v) This chapter.
  (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a charter
may specify that statutes and rules that apply to school district
boards, school districts and other public schools may apply to a
public charter school.
  (3) If a statute or rule applies to a public charter school,
then the terms 'school district' and 'public school' include
public charter school as those terms are used in that statute or
rule.
  (4) A public charter school may not violate the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
or section 5, Article I of the Oregon Constitution, or be
religion based.
  (5)  { - (a) - }  A public charter school shall maintain an
active enrollment   { - of at least 25 students. - }  { +  as
follows:
  (a) At least 25 full-time students;
  (b) At least 25 students who receive educational services under
a cooperative agreement described in ORS 338.080; or
  (c) If the public charter school provides online courses:
  (A) At least 250 students who are enrolled in the public
charter school on a basis that is less than full-time and who
represent at least six different school districts in which the
students are resident; and
  (B) At least one percent of the total number of enrolled
students who are enrolled in the public charter school on a
full-time basis, without regard to the number of school districts
in which the students are resident. + }
    { - (b) For a public charter school that provides educational
services under a cooperative agreement described in ORS 338.080,
the public charter school is in compliance with the requirements
of this subsection if the public charter school provides
educational services under the cooperative agreement to at least
25 students, without regard to the school districts in which the
students are residents. - }
  (6) A public charter school may sue or be sued as a separate
legal entity.
  (7) The sponsor, members of the governing board of the sponsor
acting in their official capacities and employees of a sponsor
acting in their official capacities are immune from civil
liability with respect to all activities related to a public
charter school within the scope of their duties or employment.
  (8) A public charter school may enter into contracts and may
lease facilities and services from a school district, education
service district, public university listed in ORS 352.002, other
governmental unit or any person or legal entity.
  (9) A public charter school may not levy taxes or issue bonds
under which the public incurs liability.
  (10) A public charter school may receive and accept gifts,
grants and donations from any source for expenditure to carry out
the lawful functions of the school.
  (11) The school district in which the public charter school is
located shall offer a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an
extended diploma or an alternative certificate to any public
charter school student who meets the district's and state's
standards for a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an
extended diploma or an alternative certificate.

  (12) A high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended
diploma or an alternative certificate issued by a public charter
school grants to the holder the same rights and privileges as a
high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended diploma or
an alternative certificate issued by a nonchartered public
school.
  (13) Prior to beginning operation, the public charter school
shall show proof of insurance to the sponsor as specified in the
charter.
  (14) A public charter school may receive services from an
education service district in the same manner as a nonchartered
public school in the school district in which the public charter
school is located.
  SECTION 2. ORS 338.115, as amended by section 7, chapter 839,
Oregon Laws 2007, section 12, chapter 50, Oregon Laws 2008,
section 4, chapter 618, Oregon Laws 2009, section 3, chapter 53,
Oregon Laws 2010, section 3, chapter 94, Oregon Laws 2011,
section 118, chapter 637, Oregon Laws 2011, section 5, chapter
682, Oregon Laws 2011, and section 10, chapter 92, Oregon Laws
2012, is amended to read:
  338.115. (1) Statutes and rules that apply to school district
boards, school districts or other public schools do not apply to
public charter schools. However, the following laws do apply to
public charter schools:
  (a) Federal law;
  (b) ORS 30.260 to 30.300 (tort claims);
  (c) ORS 192.410 to 192.505 (public records law);
  (d) ORS 192.610 to 192.690 (public meetings law);
  (e) ORS 297.405 to 297.555 and 297.990 (Municipal Audit Law);
  (f) ORS 326.565, 326.575 and 326.580 (student records);
  (g) ORS 181.534, 326.603, 326.607, 342.223 and 342.232
(criminal records checks);
  (h) ORS 329.045 (academic content standards and instruction);
  (i) ORS 329.451 (high school diploma, modified diploma,
extended diploma and alternative certificate);
  (j) ORS 329.496 (physical education);
  (k) The statewide assessment system developed by the Department
of Education for mathematics, science and English under ORS
329.485 (2);
  (L) ORS 337.150 (textbooks);
  (m) ORS 339.141, 339.147 and 339.155 (tuition and fees);
  (n) ORS 339.250 (12) (prohibition on infliction of corporal
punishment);
  (o) ORS 339.326 (notice concerning students subject to juvenile
court petitions);
  (p) ORS 339.370, 339.372, 339.388 and 339.400 (reporting of
abuse and sexual conduct and training on prevention and
identification of abuse and sexual conduct);
  (q) ORS chapter 657 (Employment Department Law);
  (r) ORS 659.850, 659.855 and 659.860 (discrimination);
  (s) Any statute or rule that establishes requirements for
instructional time provided by a school during each day or during
a year;
  (t) Health and safety statutes and rules;
  (u) Any statute or rule that is listed in the charter;
  (v) ORS 339.119 (consideration for educational services); and
  (w) This chapter.
  (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a charter
may specify that statutes and rules that apply to school district
boards, school districts and other public schools may apply to a
public charter school.
  (3) If a statute or rule applies to a public charter school,
then the terms 'school district' and 'public school' include
public charter school as those terms are used in that statute or
rule.

  (4) A public charter school may not violate the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
or section 5, Article I of the Oregon Constitution, or be
religion based.
  (5)  { - (a) - }  A public charter school shall maintain an
active enrollment   { - of at least 25 students. - }  { +  as
follows:
  (a) At least 25 full-time students;
  (b) At least 25 students who receive educational services under
a cooperative agreement described in ORS 338.080; or
  (c) If the public charter school provides online courses:
  (A) At least 250 students who are enrolled in the public
charter school on a basis that is less than full-time and who
represent at least six different school districts in which the
students are resident; and
  (B) At least one percent of the total number of enrolled
students who are enrolled in the public charter school on a
full-time basis, without regard to the number of school districts
in which the students are resident. + }
    { - (b) For a public charter school that provides educational
services under a cooperative agreement described in ORS 338.080,
the public charter school is in compliance with the requirements
of this subsection if the public charter school provides
educational services under the cooperative agreement to at least
25 students, without regard to the school districts in which the
students are residents. - }
  (6) A public charter school may sue or be sued as a separate
legal entity.
  (7) The sponsor, members of the governing board of the sponsor
acting in their official capacities and employees of a sponsor
acting in their official capacities are immune from civil
liability with respect to all activities related to a public
charter school within the scope of their duties or employment.
  (8) A public charter school may enter into contracts and may
lease facilities and services from a school district, education
service district, public university listed in ORS 352.002, other
governmental unit or any person or legal entity.
  (9) A public charter school may not levy taxes or issue bonds
under which the public incurs liability.
  (10) A public charter school may receive and accept gifts,
grants and donations from any source for expenditure to carry out
the lawful functions of the school.
  (11) The school district in which the public charter school is
located shall offer a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an
extended diploma or an alternative certificate to any public
charter school student who meets the district's and state's
standards for a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an
extended diploma or an alternative certificate.
  (12) A high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended
diploma or an alternative certificate issued by a public charter
school grants to the holder the same rights and privileges as a
high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended diploma or
an alternative certificate issued by a nonchartered public
school.
  (13) Prior to beginning operation, the public charter school
shall show proof of insurance to the sponsor as specified in the
charter.
  (14) A public charter school may receive services from an
education service district in the same manner as a nonchartered
public school in the school district in which the public charter
school is located.
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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