§ 70-3422. Education of dependent youths and orphans.

A.  In addition to the purposes prescribed by existing law, the Eastern Oklahoma State College located at Wilburton, Oklahoma, shall be also maintained as an institution for the care, training and education of dependent youth and orphans of this state who have attained the equivalent of a public school educational standing and who by reason of being dependent, neglected or orphaned may be unable to be cared for, trained or educated otherwise, and said institution shall provide necessary or proper care, control, training and education of all who are granted admission or enrollment therein as students or wards.

B.  In each county of the state, the associate district judge as chairman, the county superintendent of health, or the medical director of the county shall constitute a board to determine under such rules and regulations as may be adopted and prescribed by the Board of Regents of the said Eastern Oklahoma State College who shall be eligible to be admitted as students or wards and said board shall cause proper certificate of eligibility and admission to be prepared, executed and forwarded to the President of said institution, and under such rules, regulations and conditions as the said Board of Regents shall adopt, the said President, as soon thereafter as provisions can be made and facilities are available for the acceptance and enrollment of said ward, shall notify the chairman of said board, whereupon it shall be the duty of the said associate district judge to cause the said ward to be transported to said institution and upon arrival said ward shall be received and entered therein as an educational ward of the state, and the President of said College, under direction of the Board of Regents, shall be and remain in control of said ward and shall stand and be in similar relation and control as a parent.  The said ward may, for breach of rules, be expelled, suspended or transferred to one of the State Training Schools upon order of the President with the approval of two members of the Board of Regents.

Any child a ward of the state in any of its institutions may be transferred to said institution for care, training or education, when the Governor of the state shall so order, provided said child is physically, mentally or morally eligible.

No child, student or ward shall ever be admitted as a student or ward in said Eastern Oklahoma State College unless and until it is definitely determined that said student or ward is free from contagious or other disease that may be communicable in nature, and a certificate so showing shall be required before entry.  Proper precautions shall at all times be observed to protect and safeguard the health of all students or wards and for said purpose the President of said institution shall, with the approval of the Board of Regents, arrange for medical examination, care and treatment of wards.  No ward shall be admitted to said institution who is incorrigible or who stands convicted of violating any law of this state unless and until it has been determined by the Board of Regents of said institution that said ward has earned or merited classification as a morally upright and deserving ward whose presence in said institution as a ward will not tend to corrupt or improperly influence the moral tendencies of other students or wards therein.

For these purposes the Board of Regents of said college shall, with the approval of the Governor of the state, adopt such rules and regulations as it may deem proper and necessary for the regulation and control of the admission of students or wards and for their care and control after admission.

C.  In addition to such courses of instruction as have heretofore or may now be given, the said college may furnish academic courses in education together with vocational training of such character as the Board of Regents may determine to be advisable and necessary for the proper practical education and training of the students and wards in said college.

Laws 1965, c. 396, § 422; Laws 1978, c. 244, § 29, eff. July 1, 1978; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 52, eff. July 1, 1993.