Z-1357

AN ACT Relating to educational employees; amending RCW 28A.410.090; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.410.010; adding a new section to chapter 28A.400 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.410 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that safeguards are necessary to ensure that school districts and their contractors are informed of the existence of any criminal records of all prospective employees and school volunteers with unsupervised access to children. The legislature further finds that the results from state patrol background checks are more complete when fingerprints of individuals are provided, and that information from the federal bureau of investigation also is necessary to obtain information on out-of-state criminal records. The legislature further finds that confidentiality safeguards in state law are in place to ensure that the rights of applicants for certification or jobs and newly hired employees are protected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.400 RCW to read as follows:

School districts, educational service districts, and their contractors shall require a criminal record check through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.834 and through the federal bureau of investigation before hiring an employee. The criminal record check shall include a fingerprint check. Upon request of the applicant, the requesting entity shall provide a copy of the criminal record report to the applicant. When necessary, applicants may be employed on a conditional basis pending completion of the investigation. The school district or educational service district shall require criminal record checks of all volunteers with unsupervised access to children under the age of sixteen. If the applicant has had a criminal record check within the previous two years, the district or contractor may waive the requirement. The district or contractor hiring the employee or using volunteers shall determine who shall pay costs associated with the criminal record check.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.410.010 and 1988 c 172 s 3 and 1988 c 97 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

The state board of education shall establish, publish, and enforce rules and regulations determining eligibility for and certification of personnel employed in the common schools of this state, including certification for emergency or temporary, substitute or provisional duty and under such certificates or permits as the board shall deem proper or as otherwise prescribed by law. Except for applicants who are applying for certificates which restrict the holder of the certificate to the teaching of students who are sixteen years of age or older, the rules shall require that the initial application for certification shall require a ((~~background~~)) criminal record check of the applicant through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system and through the federal bureau of investigation at the applicant's expense. The criminal record check shall include a fingerprint check. The superintendent of public instruction may waive the criminal record check for any applicant who has had a criminal record check within the two years before application.

In establishing rules pertaining to the qualifications of instructors of sign language the state board shall consult with the national association of the deaf, "sign instructors guidance network" (s.i.g.n.), and the Washington state association of the deaf for evaluation and certification of sign language instructors.

The superintendent of public instruction shall act as the administrator of any such rules and regulations and have the power to issue any certificates or permits and revoke the same in accordance with board rules and regulations.

Sec. 4. RCW 28A.410.090 and 1990 c 33 s 408 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any certificate or permit authorized under the provisions of this chapter, chapter 28A.405 RCW, or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder may be revoked or suspended by the authority authorized to grant the same upon complaint of any school district superintendent ((or)), educational service district superintendent, or private school administrator for immorality, violation of written contract, unprofessional conduct, intemperance, or crime against the law of the state.

If the superintendent of public instruction has reasonable cause to believe that an alleged violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it has occurred, but no complaint has been filed pursuant to this chapter, and that sufficient notice of the alleged violation and opportunity to file a complaint exists, the superintendent of public instruction may cause an investigation to be made of the alleged violation, together with such other matters that may be disclosed in the course of the investigation related to certificated personnel.

(2) Any such certificate or permit authorized under this chapter or chapter 28A.405 RCW shall be revoked by the authority authorized to grant the certificate upon a guilty plea or the conviction of any felony crime involving the physical neglect of a child under chapter 9A.42 RCW, the physical injury or death of a child under chapter 9A.32 or 9A.36 RCW (excepting motor vehicle violations under chapter 46.61 RCW), sexual exploitation of a child under chapter 9.68A RCW, sexual offenses under chapter 9A.44 RCW where a minor is the victim, promoting prostitution of a minor under chapter 9A.88 RCW, the sale or purchase of a minor child under RCW 9A.64.030, or violation of similar laws of another jurisdiction. The person whose certificate is in question shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Mandatory permanent revocation upon a guilty plea or the conviction of felony crimes specified under this subsection shall apply to such convictions or guilty pleas which occur after July 23, 1989. Revocation of any certificate or permit authorized under this chapter or chapter 28A.405 RCW for a guilty plea or criminal conviction occurring prior to July 23, 1989, shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.410 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction may initiate and conduct investigations as may be reasonably necessary to establish the existence of any alleged violations of or noncompliance with this chapter or any rules adopted under it. For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this chapter, the superintendent or any officer designated by the superintendent may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records that the superintendent deems relevant and material to the inquiry.

(2) If any person fails to obey a subpoena or obeys a subpoena but refuses to give evidence, any court of competent jurisdiction, upon application by the superintendent, may issue to that person an order requiring him or her to appear before the court and to show cause why he or she should not be compelled to obey the subpoena, and give evidence material to the matter under investigation. The failure to obey an order of the court may be punishable as contempt.