SECTION 780:15-3-1. Rationale; corporation status; taxing authority

(a)   Clientele. The concept of technology centers, embraces career and technology education for all who can benefit. Specifically, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984 (PL98-524) and subsequent amendments thereto provide training for high school students; persons who have completed or left high school; persons employed but who need training or retraining to achieve stability or advancement in employment; and for persons who are academically or socioeconomically disadvantaged or who have physical or mental disabilities. Enrollment in a technology center or to specific programs shall not be contingent upon any single measure but upon a combination of factors including but not limited to achievement levels, aptitude, interest, work history, and ability to benefit in terms of employment.

(b)   Establishment. Technology center districts may be established through criteria and procedures established by the State Board and shall be operated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board [70 O.S. 2011, §14-104 and Section 9B, Article X, Oklahoma Constitution, as amended].

(c)   Official name-technology centers. Its official name shall be designated by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, in which name it may sue and be sued, and be capable of contracting and being contracted with, and holding real and personal estate [70 O.S. §14-108(B)]. The State Board shall authorize local area school districts to utilize unofficial names for marketing purposes. The State Board recognizes the term Technology Center. Any exceptions must be approved by the State Board.

(d)   Corporation status. A technology center district shall be a body corporate and shall possess the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes [70 O.S. §14-108(B)].

(e)   Operational mill levy. Constitutional authorization has been granted to vote up to five mills on the dollar valuation of the taxable property in a technology center district for operational purposes. If approved by the majority of the voting electors, it needs to be voted only once, unless there is a need to increase or decrease a millage levy currently under five mills. If the existing millage levy is less than five mills, and it is necessary to increase the millage, the question to be voted should be on the increased millage only and not on the total millage, and should be so specified on the voting ballot.

(f)   Building fund levy. Authorization has been granted to vote up to five mills on the dollar valuation of the taxable property in a technology center district for building purposes pursuant to the provisions of 70 O.S. Section 1-118.1 and Article X, Section 10, of the Oklahoma Constitution. The building fund of any technology center school district shall consist of all monies derived from the proceeds of a building fund levy not to exceed five (5) mills in any year, voted by the people of a school district pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution, monies appropriated by the state for the purpose of capital expenditures or projects, and monies donated to a school district for the purpose of capital projects or improvements and may be used for purchasing, providing, erecting, remodeling, repairing or maintaining any of the following: school buildings, furniture, computer systems and equipment, software for instructional and non-instructional purposes, energy and utility costs, telecommunications utilities and services, fire and casualty insurance premiums for school facilities, security, student transportation, grounds maintenance including parking lots and sidewalks, instructional and maintenance equipment, or for one or more, or all, of these purposes. Proceeds of the levies shall not be required to be used during the year for which a levy is made but may accumulate from year to year until adequate for the purposes intended. The building fund defined in this section is hereby declared to be a current expense fund, but shall not be considered a part of the general operating fund. No monies derived from the proceeds of the school levies made pursuant to the provisions of Section 9B of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution may be placed in the building fund provided by this section. [70 O.S. § 1-118.1, as amended.]

(g)   Local incentive levy. Authorization has been granted to vote up to five mills local incentive levy on the dollar valuation of the taxable property in a technology center district. This levy may be used for operational or capital needs purposes. This levy, when approved, shall be made each fiscal year thereafter until repealed by a majority of the electors of the technology center district voting on the question at an election called for that purpose. If the existing millage levy is less than five mills, and it is necessary to increase the millage, the question to be voted should be on the increased millage only and not on the total millage, and should be so specified on the voting ballot.

(h)   Capital outlay bonds. Authorization has been granted to vote for capital improvements (such as land, buildings, and equipment) that are financed by the issuance of the technology center district's general obligation bonds. Bonds so voted upon and approved by a majority of the votes cast, once issued, shall not cause the technology center district to become indebted in an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding five percent of the valuation of the taxable property in the technology center district.

[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2607, eff 6-25-92; Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2459, eff 6-11-93; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 2885, eff 6-13-94; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1847, eff 6-12-95; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2019, eff 5-27-97; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 3209, eff 7-12-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3281, eff 7-26-01; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2895, eff 7-11-04; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2093, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1991, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1499, eff 7-1-12; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1920, eff 9-11-16; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 2190, eff 9-14-18]