HF 3124

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/07/2022 03:52pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying short-call substitute teacher requirements;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 122A.18, subdivision 7a, by adding
a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 122A.18, subdivision 7a, is amended to read:

Subd. 7a.

Permission to Lifetime substitute teach teaching license.

(a) The Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board may allow a person who otherwise qualifies for
a Tier 1 license in accordance with section 122A.181, subdivision 2, or is enrolled in and
making satisfactory progress in a board-approved teacher program and who has successfully
completed student teaching to be employed as a short-call substitute teacher.

(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board may issue a lifetime
qualified short-call or long-call substitute teaching license to a person who:

(1) was a qualified teacher under section 122A.16 while holding a Tier 3 or Tier 4
teaching license issued by the board, under sections 122A.183 and 122A.184, respectively,
and receives a retirement annuity from the Teachers Retirement Association or the St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association;

(2) holds an out-of-state teaching license and receives a retirement annuity as a result
of the person's teaching experience; or

(3) held a Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license issued by the board, under sections 122A.183
and 122A.184, respectively, taught at least three school years in an accredited nonpublic
school in Minnesota, and receives a retirement annuity as a result of the person's teaching
experience.

A person holding a lifetime qualified short-call or long-call substitute teaching license is
not required to complete continuing education clock hours. A person holding this license
may reapply to the board for either:

(i) a Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license under sections 122A.183 and 122A.184,
respectively, and must again complete continuing education clock hours one school year
after receiving the Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license; or

(ii) a Tier 1 license under section 122A.181, provided that the candidate has a bachelor's
degree, an associate's degree, or an appropriate professional credential in the content area
the candidate will teach, in accordance with section 122A.181, subdivision 2.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2022.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 122A.18, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

Subd. 7d.

Short-call substitute teaching license.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must issue a short-call
substitute teaching license to an applicant who submits a joint application with a school
district or charter school affirming that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skills
to work as a substitute teacher and:

(1) holds at least an associate's degree or equivalent;

(2) is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparatory program; or

(3) has been employed as an education support personnel or paraprofessional within the
school district or charter school for at least one school year.

(b) A short-call substitute teaching license is valid for at least one school year and
qualifies the teacher to work as a substitute teacher in any school district or charter school
in the state, subject to the school district or charter school's terms and conditions of
employment.

(c) The board may issue a license pending a background check under section 122A.18,
subdivision 8, and may immediately suspend or revoke the license based on the results of
the background check.

(d) The board may prioritize review of applications for short-call substitute teacher
licenses over review of other applications. The board must issue an application denial in
writing and must include a detailed explanation of the reason for the denial. The review and
appeal provisions of section 122A.188 apply to an application for a license under this
subdivision.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2022.

Sec. 3. SHORT-CALL SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PERMISSION.

(a) Notwithstanding any other teacher licensing requirement, a school district or charter
school may employ a person as a short-call substitute teacher if the person:

(1) meets the professional requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.181,
subdivision 2; or

(2) has been employed as an education support person or paraprofessional with the
school district or charter school for at least one school year.

(b) A school district or charter school employing a substitute teacher under this section
must report to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board all persons it
employs under this section and, for each person, must affirm that:

(1) a criminal background check consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.18,
subdivision 8, has been completed;

(2) the person meets the professional requirements in paragraph (a); and

(3) the person has the knowledge and skills to provide instruction in the content area the
person is teaching.

(c) A school district or charter school must report any complaints against a substitute
teacher hired under this section to the board which may consider the substance of the
complaint when reviewing the person's application for a license under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 122A.

(d) This section is effective for the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 school years
only. This section expires June 30, 2024.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.