SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6530

As of January 23, 2004

Title: An act relating to reporting reprimands and stayed suspensions against certificated staff.

Brief Description: Establishing requirement for reporting reprimands and stayed suspensions against certificated staff.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Schmidt, Carlson, Johnson, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Eide.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Education: 1/20/04.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff: Heather Lewis-Lechner (786-7448)

Background: Under current law, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has the authority to initiate and conduct investigations of misconduct of certificated school employees. An investigation by OSPI can result in:

      •    a dismissal of the complaint,

      •    a reprimand which leaves the certificate valid but admonishes the educator to not repeat the behavior or conduct,

      •    a stayed suspension which also leaves the certificate valid but requires the employee to abide by certain stipulations and undergo a monitoring period (like a probationary period),

      •    a suspension that invalidates the certificate for a specified time period and may have some requirements included for reinstatement,

      •    a revocation that takes the certificate away and requires the educator to prove that he or she is of good moral character and should have the certificate reinstated, and

      •    an educator voluntarily surrendering his/her certificate.

If an investigation results in having the employee's certificate invalidated through a suspension, revocation, or voluntary surrender, that information is shared by OSPI with other states through a national database. Access to the national database is restricted to members only. If the disciplinary action is a reprimand or stayed suspension, the information is not posted on the database.

Summary of Bill: OSPI must post stayed suspension information on the national database to the same extent that suspensions and revocations are posted.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.