S-1829.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5543
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey and Rinehart).
Read first time March 5, 1991.
AN ACT Relating to the professional practices office within the office of the superintendent of public instruction; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a professional practices office to receive, investigate, and process written complaints or reports of lack of good moral character and personal fitness and acts of unprofessional conduct by certificated school staff, including reports or complaints of suspected acts of child abuse and neglect by school staff on school grounds or in school facilities.
The professional practices office, under the authority of the superintendent of public instruction, shall also enforce the code of professional conduct adopted by rule by the state board of education.
(2) Any person may submit a written report or complaint to the superintendent of public instruction. The written report or complaint shall include documentation, as specified by rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction, that the person did first take the report or complaint to the local school district superintendent and school board for resolution. The professional practices office shall investigate all written reports and complaints.
(3) The superintendent of public instruction may, upon the findings of an investigation, and when appropriate, prepare cases for formal action by the attorney general of Washington state.
(4) The superintendent of public instruction may establish a panel of educators to review cases prepared by the professional practices office. The panel may review cases and make recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction regarding actions only in those instances when a formal hearing has been held by the professional practices office.
The superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee is responsible for making the final determination regarding potential actions, including but not limited to: Recommendation for suspension, letter of reprimand, certificate revocation, or request for legal action by the attorney general.
(5) The professional practices office may work with the department of social and health services or law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations.
(6) The superintendent of public instruction shall report annually to the legislature on the number of written reports and complaints received and the resolution of those complaints. The report shall include a breakdown indicating the number of reports received by parents, students, teachers, administrators, other school personnel, and others.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of five hundred sixty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of section 1 of this act.