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.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

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.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that requires school employees to be fingerprinted for criminal background check purposes.

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.

To clarify a statutory reference in the finger print collection provisions.

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.

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.