Minnesota Legislature
HF 2777
as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/20/2018 10:13am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to education; expanding grounds for teacher license revocation, suspension,
or denial; expanding grounds for teacher discharge; amending Minnesota Statutes
2017 Supplement, sections 122A.20, subdivision 1; 122A.40, subdivision 13;
122A.41, subdivision 6.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.20, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Grounds for revocation, suspension, or denial.
(a) The Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School Administrators, whichever
has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, may, on the written complaint of the school board
employing a teacher, a teacher organization, or any other interested person, refuse to issue,
refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke a teacher's license to teach for any of the following
causes:
(1) immoral character or conduct;
(2) failure, without justifiable cause, to teach for the term of the teacher's contract;
(3) gross inefficiency or willful neglect of duty;
(4) failure to meet licensure requirements; or
(5) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license.
The written complaint must specify the nature and character of the charges.
(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School
Administrators, whichever has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end refuse to
issue, refuse to renew, or automatically revoke a teacher's license to teach without the right
to a hearing upon receiving a certified copy of a conviction showing that the teacher has
been convicted ofnew text begin :
new text end
new text begin
(1) a qualified domestic violence-related offense, as defined in section 609.02, subdivision
16;
new text end
new text begin (2)new text end child abuse, as defined in section 609.185deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin
(3) domestic assault under section 609.2242;
new text end
new text begin (4)new text end sex trafficking in the first degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin (5)new text end sex trafficking in the second degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1adeleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin (6)new text end engaging in hiring, or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section
609.324, subdivision 1, deleted text begin sexual abusedeleted text end new text begin 1a, or 2;
new text end
new text begin (7) criminal sexual conductnew text end under section 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451,
subdivision 3, or 617.23, subdivision 3deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin (8)new text end solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of sexually
explicit materials to children under section 609.352deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin
(9) embezzlement of public funds under section 609.54;
new text end
new text begin (10)new text end interference with privacy under section 609.746 or stalking under section 609.749
and the victim was a minordeleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin (11)new text end using minors in a sexual performance under section 617.246deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end
new text begin (12)new text end possessing pornographic works involving a minor under section 617.247deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;new text end or
new text begin (13)new text end any other offense not listed in this paragraph that requires the person to register as
a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime under a similar law of another state
or the United States.
The board deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end send notice of this licensing action to the district in which the teacher
is currently employed.
(c) A person whose license to teach has been revoked, not issued, or not renewed under
paragraph (b), may petition the board to reconsider the licensing action if the person's
conviction for child abuse or sexual abuse is reversed by a final decision of the Court of
Appeals or the Supreme Court or if the person has received a pardon for the offense. The
petitioner deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end attach a certified copy of the appellate court's final decision or the
pardon to the petition. Upon receiving the petition and its attachment, the board deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end
schedule and hold a disciplinary hearing on the matter under section 214.10, subdivision 2,
unless the petitioner waives the right to a hearing. If the board finds that, notwithstanding
the reversal of the petitioner's criminal conviction or the issuance of a pardon, the petitioner
is disqualified from teaching under paragraph (a), clause (1), the board deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end affirm
its previous licensing action. If the board finds that the petitioner is not disqualified from
teaching under paragraph (a), clause (1), it deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end reverse its previous licensing action.
new text begin
(d) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School
Administrators, whichever has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, must refuse to issue,
refuse to renew, or revoke a teacher's license to teach if the teacher has been convicted of
either a felony or a gross misdemeanor involving a minor. A person whose license to teach
has been revoked, not issued, or not renewed under this paragraph may petition the board
to reconsider for good cause shown, in accordance with procedures adopted by the board.
The board's decision to refuse to issue, refuse to renew, or revoke a license under this
paragraph is not subject to review under section 122A.188.
new text end
deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end For purposes of this subdivision, the Professional Educator Licensing and
Standards Board is delegated the authority to suspend or revoke coaching licenses.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.40, subdivision 13, is amended
to read:
Subd. 13.
Immediate discharge.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), a
board may discharge a continuing-contract teacher, effective immediately, upon any of the
following grounds:
(1) immoral conduct, insubordination, or conviction of a felony;
(2) conduct unbecoming a teacher which requires the immediate removal of the teacher
from classroom or other duties;
(3) failure without justifiable cause to teach without first securing the written release of
the school board;
(4) gross inefficiency which the teacher has failed to correct after reasonable written
notice;
(5) willful neglect of duty; or
(6) continuing physical or mental disability subsequent to a 12 months leave of absence
and inability to qualify for reinstatement in accordance with subdivision 12.
For purposes of this paragraph, conduct unbecoming a teacher includes an unfair
discriminatory practice described in section 363A.13.
Prior to discharging a teacher under this paragraph, the board must notify the teacher in
writing and state its ground for the proposed discharge in reasonable detail. Within ten days
after receipt of this notification the teacher may make a written request for a hearing before
the board and it deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end be granted before final action is taken. The board may suspend
a teacher with pay pending the conclusion of the hearing and determination of the issues
raised in the hearing after charges have been filed which constitute ground for discharge.
If a teacher has been charged with a felony and the underlying conduct that is the subject
of the felony charge is a ground for a proposed immediate discharge, the suspension pending
the conclusion of the hearing and determination of the issues may be without pay. If a
hearing under this paragraph is held, the board must reimburse the teacher for any salary
or compensation withheld if the final decision of the board or the arbitrator does not result
in a penalty to or suspension, termination, or discharge of the teacher.
(b) A board must discharge a continuing-contract teacher, effective immediately, upon
receipt of notice under section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), that the teacher's
license has been revoked due to a conviction for child abuse, as defined in section 609.185;
sex trafficking in the first degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1; sex trafficking in
the second degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1a; engaging in hiring or agreeing to
hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section 609.324, subdivision 1; sexual abuse
under section 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, subdivision 3, or 617.23,
subdivision 3; solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of
sexually explicit materials to children under section 609.352; interference with privacy
under section 609.746 or stalking under section 609.749 and the victim was a minor; using
minors in a sexual performance under section 617.246; possessing pornographic works
involving a minor under section 617.247; deleted text begin ordeleted text end any other offense not listed in this paragraph
that requires the person to register as a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime
under a similar law of another state or the United Statesnew text begin ; or any other offense not listed in
this paragraph that requires notice of a licensing action to the district in accordance with
section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b)new text end .
(c) When a teacher is discharged under paragraph (b) or when the commissioner makes
a final determination of child maltreatment involving a teacher under section 626.556,
subdivision 11, the school principal or other person having administrative control of the
school must include in the teacher's employment record the information contained in the
record of the disciplinary action or the final maltreatment determination, consistent with
the definition of public data under section 13.41, subdivision 5, and must provide the
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the licensing division at the
department with the necessary and relevant information to enable the Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board and the department's licensing division to fulfill their statutory
and administrative duties related to issuing, renewing, suspending, or revoking a teacher's
license. Information received by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
or the licensing division at the department under this paragraph is governed by section 13.41
or other applicable law governing data of the receiving entity. In addition to the background
check required under section 123B.03, a school board or other school hiring authority must
contact the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the department to
determine whether the teacher's license has been suspended or revoked, consistent with the
discharge and final maltreatment determinations identified in this paragraph. Unless restricted
by federal or state data practices law or by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement,
the responsible authority for a school district must disseminate to another school district
private personnel data on a current or former teacher employee or contractor of the district,
including the results of background investigations, if the requesting school district seeks
the information because the subject of the data has applied for employment with the
requesting school district.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.
new text end
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.41, subdivision 6, is amended
to read:
Subd. 6.
Grounds for discharge or demotion.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (b), causes for the discharge or demotion of a teacher either during or after the
probationary period must be:
(1) immoral character, conduct unbecoming a teacher, or insubordination;
(2) failure without justifiable cause to teach without first securing the written release of
the school board having the care, management, or control of the school in which the teacher
is employed;
(3) inefficiency in teaching or in the management of a school, consistent with subdivision
5, paragraph (b);
(4) affliction with a communicable disease must be considered as cause for removal or
suspension while the teacher is suffering from such disability; or
(5) discontinuance of position or lack of pupils.
For purposes of this paragraph, conduct unbecoming a teacher includes an unfair
discriminatory practice described in section 363A.13.
(b) A probationary or continuing-contract teacher must be discharged immediately upon
receipt of notice under section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), that the teacher's
license has been revoked due to a conviction for child abuse, as defined in section 609.185;
sex trafficking in the first degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1; sex trafficking in
the second degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1a; engaging in hiring or agreeing to
hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section 609.324, subdivision 1; sexual abuse
under section 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, subdivision 3, or 617.23,
subdivision 3; solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of
sexually explicit materials to children under section 609.352; interference with privacy
under section 609.746 or stalking under section 609.749 and the victim was a minor; using
minors in a sexual performance under section 617.246; possessing pornographic works
involving a minor under section 617.247; deleted text begin ordeleted text end any other offense not listed in this paragraph
that requires the person to register as a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime
under a similar law of another state or the United Statesnew text begin ; or any other offense not listed in
this paragraph that requires notice of a licensing action to the district in accordance with
section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b)new text end .
(c) When a teacher is discharged under paragraph (b) or when the commissioner makes
a final determination of child maltreatment involving a teacher under section 626.556,
subdivision 11, the school principal or other person having administrative control of the
school must include in the teacher's employment record the information contained in the
record of the disciplinary action or the final maltreatment determination, consistent with
the definition of public data under section 13.41, subdivision 5, and must provide the
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the licensing division at the
department with the necessary and relevant information to enable the Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board and the department's licensing division to fulfill their statutory
and administrative duties related to issuing, renewing, suspending, or revoking a teacher's
license. Information received by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
or the licensing division at the department under this paragraph is governed by section 13.41
or other applicable law governing data of the receiving entity. In addition to the background
check required under section 123B.03, a school board or other school hiring authority must
contact the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the department to
determine whether the teacher's license has been suspended or revoked, consistent with the
discharge and final maltreatment determinations identified in this paragraph. Unless restricted
by federal or state data practices law or by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement,
the responsible authority for a school district must disseminate to another school district
private personnel data on a current or former teacher employee or contractor of the district,
including the results of background investigations, if the requesting school district seeks
the information because the subject of the data has applied for employment with the
requesting school district.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.
new text end