AG Opinion 2023-9

Oklahoma school districts are authorized to make payroll deductions for membership dues in professional organizations that (a) collectively bargain pursuant to state, as opposed to federal, law or (b) do not collectively bargain at all. The phrase “collectively bargains on behalf of its membership pursuant to any provision of federal law” in title 62, section 34.70.1 of the Oklahoma Statutes means the organization collectively bargains “according to,” or “in conformance with,” any provision federal law. So defined, section 34.70.1 does not apply to Oklahoma school districts and their employees that either do not collectively bargain or that do so pursuant to the Oklahoma School Code (the “School Code”).