Introduced
by
To require school districts and private schools to hold in escrow the pay of any teacher or employee charged with sex crimes, drug crimes, serious crimes of violence and possibly other crimes, pending a decision by the state to revoke the person’s teaching certificate. If the certificate is revoked, the unpaid wages would be forfeited to the school. These provisions would not apply until the expiration of a current teachers’ union contract that does not allow them. The bill also prohibits reinstating the teaching certificate for teachers convicted of certain crimes; expands the list of crimes for which teacher certification revocation is mandatory, requires the Departments of Information Technology, Education and State Police to develop an automated program to regularly cross-check teacher and criminal records.
Referred to the Committee on Education
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.
The substitute passed by voice vote
Passed in the House 107 to 0 (details)
Referred to the Committee on Education
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
To replace the previous version of the bill with one that requires school employees to be fingerprinted for criminal background check purposes.
The substitute passed by voice vote
Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)
To require all school employees to be fingerprinted for criminal background check purposes, and to discontinue the pay of any teacher or employee charged with sex crimes, drug crimes, serious crimes of violence and possibly other crimes, pending a decision by the state to revoke the person’s teaching certificate. If the employess is not convicted, back-pay plus interest would be paid. The bill also prohibits reinstating the teaching certificate for teachers convicted of certain crimes; expands the list of crimes for which teacher certification revocation is mandatory; and requires the Departments of Information Technology, Education and State Police to develop an automated program to regularly cross-check teacher and criminal records.
Amendment offered
by
To clarify a statutory reference in the finger print collection provisions.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To revise details of the provision requring an automated program to regularly cross-check teacher and criminal records. Among other things, the amendment would sunset this provision at the end of 2008, and require the cross-checks be done twice a year, rather than four times a year.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Passed in the House 105 to 2 (details)
To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)
