Bill Summary: HB 2696

• Modifies requirements for school board members elected or appointed on or after January 1, 2014 to complete 12 hours of instruction in school finance, legal issues, and duties/responsibilities within 15 months of taking office.

• Allows school district boards of education to reduce or eliminate instructional requirements for incumbent members who have served more than 10 consecutive years, at the board's discretion.

• Reduces required instruction hours from 12 to 6 hours for incumbent board members seeking reelection, including mandatory minimum hours in school finance, Oklahoma Open Records and Open Meeting Acts, and ethics.

• Removes requirement to vacate board seat for long-serving incumbents (10+ consecutive years) who have had their instructional requirements eliminated by the board.

• Effective date: November 1, 2014.