SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1985

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Requiring teachers to have professional preparation in child abuse issues.

SPONSORS:Representatives Brumsickle, Dorn, Peery, Winsley, Miller and Rasmussen; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Board of Education.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Erwin, Vice Chairman; Metcalf, Murray, Oke, Pelz, Rinehart, A. Smith, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Mich'l Prentice Needham (786-7439)

Hearing Dates:March 25, 1991; March 26, 1991; February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

In 1990, the Legislature adopted legislation that requires persons applying for an initial teaching certificate to complete a course on issues of child abuse.  The length of the course was not specified in statute.

SUMMARY:

Teacher candidates are required to complete a minimum of 10 clock hours of course work or an in-service program on child abuse issues.

The course must be taken by persons enrolled in teacher education programs, or before persons receive their continuing certificate. 

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

A technical correction is made to clarify that the 10 clock hours apply to both the course work and the in-service work.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The changes to the existing requirement clear up some confusion.  The changes have been agreed to by college deans.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Brumsickle; Marcia Costello, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction