BILL REQ. #:  S-3363.1 

Read first time 01/26/2004.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to professional conduct of certificated education professionals; adding a new section to chapter 28A.405 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.405 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) All parents and members of the community have the right to file, with the educational service district superintendent, a written and signed complaint alleging that a certificated education professional within the superintendent's educational service district is not of good moral character or personal fitness or has committed an act of unprofessional conduct. The educational service district superintendent shall provide the person filing the complaint with written notice within five working days of what actions will be taken in response to the complaint.
     (2) Any investigations by the educational service district superintendent into allegations raised by complaints filed under subsection (1) of this section must be conducted and completed within twenty-five working days of the educational service district superintendent receiving the complaint. The person filing the complaint must be sent written notice of the results of the investigation and, specifically, whether or not the complaint will be forwarded on to the superintendent of public instruction for further investigation.
     (3) If no investigation is to be conducted by the educational service district superintendent or if the complaint is not forwarded to the superintendent of public instruction, the person filing the complaint under subsection (1) of this section may file the same complaint directly with the superintendent of public instruction.
     (4) If the educational service district superintendent, the district superintendent, or the chief administrative officer of an approved private school possesses reliable information that leads him or her to believe a certified employee is not of good moral character, is not personally fit, or has committed an act of unprofessional conduct, the superintendent or officer shall file a written complaint with the superintendent of public instruction. A parent or community member may file a complaint directly with the superintendent of public instruction if he or she believes that the district superintendent or chief administrative officer has failed to comply with this provision.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     The membership of the admissions and professional conduct advisory committee created by the superintendent of public instruction must include representatives of parents and the school district's community members who are not also employees of the school district or private schools.