BILL REQ. #:  S-3720.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to information on disciplinary actions taken against school employees; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 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 it is in the best interests of Washington's children that parents, school districts, and the public in general have access to information regarding each school employee's prior disciplinary action. The legislature recognizes that this information is currently available via public disclosure requests but finds that there is a need to make this information more easily available. It is the intent of the legislature to provide parents, school districts, and the public with additional tools to ensure a safe learning environment for Washington's children.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall post on its web site a list of school employees who have had any disciplinary action taken against them and the grounds for the disciplinary action. The list shall be updated annually at a minimum and shall be available to the public. For the purposes of this section, disciplinary action includes private or public reprimand, suspension, stayed suspension, or revocation of a license. A disciplinary action shall not be posted on the web site if an appeal is still pending. A voluntary surrender of a license or a voluntary termination of employment during an investigation or a disciplinary action shall be posted on the web site as such.