HB37 Summary

• State Superintendent of Education must immediately revoke teaching certificates for any person convicted of capital murder, Class A felonies, or sex offenses involving children, including rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, child pornography, and related crimes.

• Employment contracts of teachers on continuing service status, principals, and contract principals are immediately cancelled upon certificate revocation, superseding all other tenure and dismissal law protections.

• Nonprobationary education employees convicted of crimes listed in the statute are immediately terminated from employment without regard to fair dismissal procedures.

• If a conviction resulting in certificate revocation or employment termination is overturned on appeal, the employee must be immediately reinstated and reimbursed for back pay and benefits within 45 days.

• Act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor, allowing school districts to pursue additional legal action against employees based on underlying circumstances of convictions.