SF 3968

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/15/2022 09:04am

A bill for an act
relating to education; allowing for revocation or denial of a teaching license for
certain behavior involving a student; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
122A.20, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, 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; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(5) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (6) intentional and inappropriate patting, touching, pinching, or other physical contact
with a student that is sexually motivated.
new text end

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, shall 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 of 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
harassment 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, or 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 shall 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 shall 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 shall 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 shall affirm its previous licensing
action. If the board finds that the petitioner is not disqualified from teaching under paragraph
(a), clause (1), it shall reverse its previous licensing action.

(d) 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 (e) A person whose license has been revoked, not issued, or not renewed under this
subdivision may appeal the decision by filing a written request with the Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board or the Board of School Administrators, as appropriate,
within 30 days of notice of the licensing action. The board must then initiate a contested
case under the Administrative Procedure Act, sections 14.001 to 14.69.
new text end