Representative Sherrie Conley

Hi, I'm Sherrie Conley and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 20th District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Caucus Secretary

59th Legislature

News & Announcements


Jun 14, 2024
Recent Posts

Representatives Commend Governor's Line-Item Veto of Education Budget Limits Bill

A group of legislators on Friday praised the governor's line-item veto of Sections 15 and 16 of Senate Bill 1122, which would have placed spending limits on the State Department of Education (SDE) for its Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which goes into effect July 1. The statement is issued by Reps. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid; Chris Banning, R-Bixby; Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle; Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita; Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont; David Hardin, R-Stilwell; JJ Humphrey, R-Lane; Tom Gann, R-Inola; Jim Grego, R-Wilburton; Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa; Mark Lepak, R-Claremore; Cody Maynard, R-Durant; Jim Olsen, R-Roland; Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; Kevin West, R-Moore; and Rick West, R-Heavener. "We'd like to thank Governor Stitt for his thoughtful line-item veto of Sections 15 and 16 of Senate Bill 1122," they said. "These portions of the bill would have done nothing to improve the education of Oklahoma students and instead would have significantly damaged the Department of Education's ability to carry out its mission." The lawmakers said Section 15 of SB1122 would have required SDE to apply for every federal grant, while Section 16 would have included provisions that forbid SDE from using any money to secure media interviews or public relations, or for other public promotional purposes. The group noted that no other agency is subject to these restrictions. State agencies are granted the autonomy to decide which grants to apply for and almost every state agency spends money to communicate to the public about particular programs or services offered. Section 16 would have singled out and severely limited SDE in this function. The lawmakers spoke about the Teacher of the Year program, teacher recruitment efforts, certain financial disclosures, and other public relations messages that would have been hampered should this measure have been signed into law. On Friday afternoon, the governor issued Executive Order 2024-12, which prohibits all state agencies, rather than inequitably highlighting a specific agency, from entering into sole source contracts with public relations, marketing, or communications firms and vendors, as well as requires all PR vendors be procured through a 30-day request for proposal.



May 7, 2024
Recent Posts

House Approves Bill Requiring Student Communications to Include Parent

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House today adopted Senate amendments to a bill that would require school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with a student to include the student's parent or guardians. House Bill 3958, authored by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, now moves to the governor. "There have been absolutely too many reports of inappropriate digital communications shared between educators and students, whether that be inappropriate pictures or texts of a sexual nature," Conley said. "These have long-term devastating effects for young people and can ruin the lives of educators when they are wrongly accused. It's our desire that teachers and coaches be able to share homework assignments or team communications freely with their students, but including a parent or guardian protects the students and the educators from any potential impropriety. This also keeps parents fully engaged in their child's education." Exceptions may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent notification to the parent or guardian. The measure stipulates that school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians in communications with students. HB3958 specifies that schools shall provide training, developed by the State Department of Education, for school personnel on the student communication requirements within the act. Any school personnel reported to be in violation of the new act shall be put on administrative leave while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the local and state boards of education. If the investigation finds no misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated with the incident noted in the employee's file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel's employment shall be terminated, and the incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to state statute. The act would become effective July 1. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the Senate author of the measure. 



Mar 6, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill Requiring Student Communications to Include Parent

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, on Wednesday passed a bill in the House that would require school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with a student to include the student's parent or guardians. Exceptions to House Bill 3958 may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent notification to the parent or guardian. The measure stipulates that school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians in communications with students. "This protects our students from receiving anything inappropriate from an educator," Conley said. "It also protects our educators from any potential accusation of impropriety. This also ensures parents and guardians remain apprised of communications related to their child's education." HB3958 specifies that schools shall provide training, developed by the State Department of Education, for school personnel on the student communication requirements within the act. Any school personnel reported to be in violation of the new act shall be put on administrative leave while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the local and state boards of education. If the investigation finds no misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated and a written warning of the incident shall be included in the employee's file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel's employment shall be terminated, and the incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to state statute. The legislation contains an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect after being signed into law. HB3958 now moves to the state Senate where it is authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. Pugh serves as chair of the Senate Education Committee.