AB 215 Summary

• Adds "egregious misconduct" (defined as immoral conduct constituting offenses under Sections 44010, 44011, or Penal Code Sections 11165.2-11165.6) as a basis for dismissal of permanent school employees.

• Establishes separate dismissal procedures for egregious misconduct charges: hearing initiated within 60 days (vs. 6 months for other charges), with expanded discovery rights comparable to civil actions, decided by single administrative law judge rather than Commission on Professional Competence.

• Removes restrictions on timing of dismissal notices (previously prohibited between May 15 and September 15); requires personal service for notices given outside instructional year.

• Extends general dismissal hearing timelines from 60 days to 6 months for commencement and 7 months for record closure; allows charges to be amended less than 90 days before hearing only upon good cause showing.

• Prohibits settlement agreements that prevent reporting of egregious misconduct to Commission on Teacher Credentialing or expunge credible complaints from personnel files; makes false allegations of egregious misconduct grounds for certificate revocation.