§ 70-24-160 — Wearing tribal regalia during official graduation

ceremonies. A. 1. A student enrolled in a public school district, a public charter school, or a technology center school may wear tribal regalia during the school’s official graduation ceremonies, whether held at a public or private location. 2. Nothing in this subsection shall limit or alter the authority of school personnel to regulate student behavior pursuant to the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. B. A student enrolled in an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education may wear tribal regalia during the institution’s official graduation ceremonies, whether held at a public or private location. C. A school district board of education, a governing board of a charter school, a governing board of a technology center school, or the board of regents of an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education may adopt a policy pursuant to the provisions of this section, which may specify the characteristics of any garment, jewelry, other adornment, or object that the school or institution finds will endanger the safety of a student or others or interfere with graduation ceremonies if worn by a student. D. For the purposes of this section, “tribal regalia” means traditional garments, jewelry, other adornments such as an eagle feather, an eagle plume, a beaded cap, a stole, or similar objects of cultural and religious significance worn by members of a federally recognized Indian tribe or the tribe of another country. Tribal regalia does not include any firearm or other weapon. Tribal regalia does not include any object that is otherwise prohibited by federal law, except in compliance with an appropriate federal permit.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 2023, c. 307, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.