SB429 Summary

• Authorizes immediate termination of nonprobationary school employees convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude or any of 18 specified sex offenses involving children, by majority vote of the local board of education.

• Requires a pretermination hearing before the local board of education where the employee has 5 days to request the hearing and may respond to charges, offer evidence, and have counsel present at employee expense.

• Prohibits testimony and statements offered by the employee during board termination hearings from being used as evidence in related criminal proceedings, unless the employee chooses a public hearing or waives this protection.

• Establishes a hearing officer appeal process through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services where the employee must prove the board's decision should be set aside, with further appeal available to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

• Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.